At 7.38am GMT (or 2.48 EST) on Saturday (this) morning, SpaceX - the private Californa-based areospace manifacturer and space transportation company, have launched an unmanned module from Cape Canaveral in florida. The capsule is known as Crew Dragon and it is planned to get to the International Space Station (ISS) by 11am (GMT) on Sunday.
Crew Dragon was launched unmanned. Instead a 'smart' dummy, Ripley was placed into the capsule. Ripley is equipped was multiple sensors along with wearing a custom made SpaceX suit. Ripley is gathering data about the flight - seeing how it could affect the astonauts which are planned to be transported.
Ripley has been given an livestream to show the launch. You could see from either inside the capsule or from Ripley's point of view. I just hope they publish a full version to watch after. How I would watch that! There is even a small stuffed planet Earth toy. It's a cute toy with a big role as it will demonstrate when the capsule has made it to microgravity by floating around the capsule. I just hope that Ripley gets (if the dummy can) to play with the stuffed Earth.
The Crew Dragon is a crucial piece of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The program aims to developing private spacecraft in order to transport people to and from the ISS. Two companies, Boeing and SpaceX, are involved in this project. They are developing their own capsules to transport astronauts. But obviously before that happens, the capsules have to be tested.
It is an important step for America too. America have been unable to launch astonauts from their home soil since 2011 when the Space Shuttle was retired. Instead of being launched in Florida, the launches have been carried out at the Baikonaur Cosmodrone in Kazakhastan. This has always been reliant on the co-operation of the Russian Space Agency. Even British astonaut Tim Peake has been launched into space from Kazakhastan. So today has marked a major step forward.
The Crew Dragon Capsule has been launched mounted onto the top of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets. These are rockets which can be brought back to Earth (Watch this YouTube Video!). Plus, these rockets uses liquid Oxygen and rocket-grade Kerosine to fuel the launch. As Crew Dragon soared into space and went into orbit, the Falcon 9 rockets landed on SpaceX's drone ships which were in the altantic. This was SpaceX's 39th successful landing.
Hopefully this rocket will develop into the Falcon Heavy - a rocket which could lift heavier loads.
When Crew Dragon makes its way to the ISS, it will orentate itself to a free port before attaching itself. The series of lazers and software should dock without any help from the astonauts on the ISS. It is planned for once the capsule has landed that there will be a welcoming party. The three astronauts currently on the ISS will board the capsule, remove the cargo along with meet Ripley. Some tests will be carried out on the Crew Dragon before the capsule returns to Earth for Friday. #
Twitter's Response and Videos
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This is Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Credit: Visit Forida) |
Ripley has been given an livestream to show the launch. You could see from either inside the capsule or from Ripley's point of view. I just hope they publish a full version to watch after. How I would watch that! There is even a small stuffed planet Earth toy. It's a cute toy with a big role as it will demonstrate when the capsule has made it to microgravity by floating around the capsule. I just hope that Ripley gets (if the dummy can) to play with the stuffed Earth.
Ripley pic.twitter.com/Z9Ztram8Ai— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 1, 2019
The Crew Dragon is a crucial piece of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The program aims to developing private spacecraft in order to transport people to and from the ISS. Two companies, Boeing and SpaceX, are involved in this project. They are developing their own capsules to transport astronauts. But obviously before that happens, the capsules have to be tested.
It is an important step for America too. America have been unable to launch astonauts from their home soil since 2011 when the Space Shuttle was retired. Instead of being launched in Florida, the launches have been carried out at the Baikonaur Cosmodrone in Kazakhastan. This has always been reliant on the co-operation of the Russian Space Agency. Even British astonaut Tim Peake has been launched into space from Kazakhastan. So today has marked a major step forward.
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This is Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhastan (Credit: Space) |
Hopefully this rocket will develop into the Falcon Heavy - a rocket which could lift heavier loads.
When Crew Dragon makes its way to the ISS, it will orentate itself to a free port before attaching itself. The series of lazers and software should dock without any help from the astonauts on the ISS. It is planned for once the capsule has landed that there will be a welcoming party. The three astronauts currently on the ISS will board the capsule, remove the cargo along with meet Ripley. Some tests will be carried out on the Crew Dragon before the capsule returns to Earth for Friday. #
Twitter's Response and Videos
— Pete Delis (@DelisPete) March 2, 2019
— Ken (@fylerthecreator) March 2, 2019
Most beautiful shot of Falcon 9 Launch time lapse #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/nQmp8oj0PY— ً (@PO5IT1VE) March 2, 2019
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