Photo credit: SpaceX
At approximately 7:27 pm EST, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lit up the nighttime sky over Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying four NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. Around twelve minutes later, the Dragon capsule, named Resilience, on the rocket’s nose separated from the rocket to began its 27.5-hour journey to the International Space Station. This marks the first operational trip into orbit for SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, which just received NASA certification this past week. Read nore for two videos and additional information.
The flight to the ISS is set to be entirely automated, although the crew can take control if necessary. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule can transport up to seven people, with the extra room in previous missions used for science experiments and supplies. The four astronauts aboard this mission will be joining two Russians and one American who flew to the space station last month from Kazakhstan. In the next 15-months, SpaceX expects to fly about seven Dragon missions for NASA, both crew and cargo.
- Bring to life the rocket launch that took humans to the moon with the meter-high (approximately 1: 110 scale) model rocket of the NASA Apollo Saturn V
- The Saturn V rocket kit includes 3 removable rocket stages (first, s-ii second, and s-ivb third) below the launch escape system, command and service...
- After building the Saturn V rocket, you can display the spacecraft horizontally with 3 stands; The Lunar Lander docks with the command and service...
By working together through these difficult times, you’ve inspired the nation, the world, and in no small part the name of this incredible vehicle, Resilience,” Commander Mike Hopkins said right before liftoff.
