SpaceX Dragon capsule nears ISS for docking
Monday, 4 March 2019
WASHINGTON, Mar 03 (AFP): SpaceX's Dragon capsule - launched on a test mission for NASA - was on Sunday approaching the International Space Station, where it was set to dock for the first time.
Dragon was gradually climbing in altitude toward the ISS, which is orbiting the Earth at around 400 kilometers altitude and at a speed of 28,000 kilometers per hour - orbiting the Earth in 90 minutes.
The capsule has made two orbits since its launch on Saturday from the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral in Florida.
On board the ISS, the crew - American Anne McClain, Russian Oleg Kononenko, and Canadian David Saint-Jacques - were scheduled to carry out a welcoming ceremony.
This time around, the only occupant on board the Dragon capsule was a dummy named Ripley - but NASA plans to put two astronauts aboard in July, although that date could be delayed.