May 25 2012
From The Space Library
RELEASE: 12-172 SPACEX DRAGON ATTACHED TO SPACE STATION IN SPACEFLIGHT FIRST
HOUSTON -- The International Space Station's Expedition 31 crew grappled and attached SpaceX's Dragon capsule to the space station Friday. This is the first time a commercial company has accomplished this type of space operation. "Today marks another critical step in the future of American spaceflight," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "Now that a U.S. company has proven its ability to resupply the space station, it opens a new frontier for commercial opportunities in space -- and new job creation opportunities right here in the U.S. By handing off space station transportation to the private sector, NASA is freed up to carry out the really hard work of sending astronauts farther into the solar system than ever before. The Obama Administration has set us on an ambitious path forward and the NASA and SpaceX teams are proving they are up to the task." Statement from John P. Holdren, assistant to the President for science and technology policy Blog post from NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden on the SpaceX launch Following a series of system tests and a successful fly-under of the space station Thursday, the Dragon capsule was cleared by NASA to approach the station Friday. Dragon then performed a series of intricate test maneuvers as it approached the orbiting laboratory. These maneuvers were required to demonstrate the maneuvering and abort capability of Dragon prior to approaching and moving into a 65-foot (20-meter) "berthing box" where it was grappled by NASA astronaut Don Pettit using the station's robotic arm at 9:56 a.m. EDT. European Space Agency astronaut Andre Kuipers installed the capsule on the bottom of the station's Harmony node at 11:52 a.m. NASA astronaut Joe Acaba completed berthing operations by bolting the Dragon to Harmony at 12:02 p.m. "Congratulations to the SpaceX and NASA teams," said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington. "There is no limit to what can be accomplished with hard work and preparation. This activity will help the space station reach its full research potential and open up space-based research to a larger group of researchers. There is still critical work left in this test flight. Dragon-attached operations and cargo return are challenging and yet to be accomplished." The Dragon capsule lifted off Tuesday from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The demonstration mission is the second under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program, which provides investments intended to lead to regular resupply missions to the space station and stimulate the commercial space industry in America. "The investments made by the United States to stimulate the commercial space industry are paying off," said Philip McAlister, director for Commercial Spaceflight Development at NASA Headquarters. "SpaceX achieved what until now was only possible by a few governments, and the company did it with relatively modest funding from the government. The Dragon capsule is delivering 1,014 pounds of supplies to the station, which includes non-critical experiments, food, clothing and technology. Crew members will open the hatch to the capsule Saturday and unload the cargo during a four-day period. Dragon then will be loaded with 1,367 pounds of hardware and cargo no longer needed aboard the station in preparation for the spacecraft's return to Earth. Dragon and station hatches will be closed on May 30. On May 31, the Expedition 31 crew members will detach Dragon from Harmony, maneuver it to a 33-foot release point and un-grapple the capsule. Dragon will deorbit approximately four hours after leaving the station, taking about 30 minutes to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and landing in the Pacific Ocean about 250 miles west of southern California.
RELEASE: 12-173 STATEMENT BY JOHN P. HOLDREN, ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ON THE DOCKING OF THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
WASHINGTON -- Following the Friday, May 25, docking of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft with the International Space Station, John P. Holdren, assistant to the President for science and technology policy, issued the following statement: "For the first time, a private American company has successfully launched a spacecraft into orbit and berthed it with the International Space Station--an achievement of historic scientific and technological significance and a key milestone in President Obama's vision for America's continued leadership in space. That is exactly what the President had in mind when he laid out a fresh course for NASA to explore new scientific frontiers and take Americans even deeper into our solar system while relying on private-sector innovators--working in the competitive free market--to ferry astronauts and cargo to low Earth orbit and the International Space Station. It's essential we maintain such competition and fully support this burgeoning and capable industry to get U.S. astronauts back on American launch vehicles as soon as possible. I could not be prouder of our scientists and engineers--both government and private sector employees--who have contributed to this historic mission. A passion for discovery and a sense for adventure have always driven this nation forward, and I join all Americans in watching what future possibilities are enabled by today's great achievement."
MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-091 NASA SCHEDULES HUBBLE SCIENCE UPDATE FOR MAY 31 (UPDATE TIME CHANGE)
WASHINGTON -- NASA will host a Science Update Thursday, May 31, at 1:00 p.m. EDT to discuss new Hubble Space Telescope observations that allow astronomers to predict with certainty the next major cosmic event to affect our entire galaxy, sun, and solar system. The news conference will be held in NASA Headquarters' James E. Webb Auditorium at 300 E St. SW in Washington and be shown live on NASA Television and on the agency's website. It has been known for a long time that the Andromeda galaxy is approaching us. Because of uncertainties in Andromeda's motion, it has not been possible to determine whether the Milky Way will have a head-on collision or glancing blow with the neighboring galaxy billions of years in the future. Hubble's precise observations will settle this question. The briefing participants are: -- Roeland van der Marel, astronomer, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore -- Sangmo Tony Sohn, astronomer, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore -- Rosemary Wyse, professor, Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore -- John Grunsfeld, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington
MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-097 NASA ADMINISTRATOR CALLS STATION FOLLOWING SPACEX HISTORIC FEAT
WASHINGTON -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden offered his congratulations to the International Space Station Expedition 31 crew and mission flight control teams at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and SpaceX's headquarters in Hawthorne, Calif., following Friday's successful first-time berthing of a commercial company spacecraft, SpaceX's Dragon, to the space station. Bolden talked with NASA astronauts Don Pettit and Joe Acaba, and European Space Agency astronaut Andre Kuipers during a call to the space station Friday afternoon live on NASA Television. Bolden told the crew, "You made history today and have firmly locked into place the future direction of America's space program." At 9:56 a.m. EDT Friday, Pettit used the station's robotic arm to grapple Dragon. Kuipers then used the arm to attach the capsule to the station's Harmony node at 11:52 a.m. Acaba completed berthing operations by remotely bolting the Dragon to Harmony at 12:02 p.m. The crew members spent the rest of their day preparing to open the hatches between the two spacecraft on Saturday morning. The SpaceX demonstration mission to the space station is the second under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program, which provides investments intended to lead to regular resupply missions to the station and stimulate the commercial space industry in the United States.
