Space X's Dragon Spacecraft Arrives At ISS, Astronauts Get Supplies

First Posted: Jul 21, 2016 06:27 AM EDT
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The Space X's Dragon supply spacecraft has reached the International Space Station on July 20. It carried 2.5 tons of research equipment and gear for the resident astronauts and cosmonauts.

Jeff Williams, NASA's veteran Expedition 48 Commander and Kate Rubins, the newly arrived NASA Flight Engineer used the station's 57.7 foot (17.6 meters) Canadarm2 robotic arm to reach out the incoming craft at 6:56 A.M. EDT. They were also assisted by astronaut Takuya Onishi from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, according to Space.

The Houston Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center stated that it was a good capture confirmed after a two-day rendezvous. The Dragon then was estimated to be at 30 feet (10 meters) away from the station.

"Congratulations to the entire team that put this thing together launched it, and successfully rendezvoused it to the International Space Station. We look forward to the work that it brings," radioed Williams, as noted by the Universe Today.

The Space X's Dragon was launched on a Falcon 9 last Monday (July 18). It contained almost 4,000 lbs. (1,800 kilograms) of supplies and hardware for the astronauts. They were also scientific equipment and research samples for more than 250 experiments. These experiments include the DNA sequencer, the Chernobyl fungi that might protect the human space travelers from radiation in the space, beating heart cells and a spacecraft temperature regulation device, among others.

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