Space & Astronomy

SpaceX rocket launches, hailed as 'new era'

By T.K. Randall
May 22, 2012 ·  28 comments

Image Credit: NASA Celebrated by NASA as a "historic mission", the launch marks the first time a private company has sent a spacecraft to the space station and is set to kick start a new era of spaceflight and exploration. "We're now back on the brink of a new future, a future that embraces the innovation the private sector brings to the table," said NASA administrator Charles Bolden. "The significance of this day cannot be overstated. While there is a lot of work ahead to successfully complete this mission, we are off to a good start."

The Dragon capsule will carry 1,200 pounds of supplies for the crew of the ISS which will be unloaded when it docks with the station in about three days time. It will remain docked for three weeks while the astronauts retrieve the supplies and then stock it back up with used science equipment for return back down to Earth.[!gad]Celebrated by NASA as a "historic mission", the launch marks the first time a private company has sent a spacecraft to the space station and is set to kick start a new era of spaceflight and exploration. "We're now back on the brink of a new future, a future that embraces the innovation the private sector brings to the table," said NASA administrator Charles Bolden. "The significance of this day cannot be overstated. While there is a lot of work ahead to successfully complete this mission, we are off to a good start."

The Dragon capsule will carry 1,200 pounds of supplies for the crew of the ISS which will be unloaded when it docks with the station in about three days time. It will remain docked for three weeks while the astronauts retrieve the supplies and then stock it back up with used science equipment for return back down to Earth.

Source: NASA | Comments (28)

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