SpaceX’s Dragon Cargo Capsule Successfully Launches to International Space Station and Rocket Makes a Safe Landing At Sea
The space industry witnessed another success as SpaceX launched its Dragon cargo capsule on its twentieth International Space Station (ISS) resupply mission on July 25, 2019. The Falcon 9 rocket took off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, putting the cargo capsule into orbit and then returning to Earth, landing on a drone ship. This mission marked the first time the same Falcon 9 rocket had been used for the third time.
Dragon Capsule to Deliver Supplies to ISS
The Dragon cargo capsule was launched to deliver supplies, equipment, and experiments to ISS. It is carrying approximately 5,000 pounds of items, including new batteries to upgrade the space station’s power storage, a science instrument to study the growth of plants in space, and materials to support more than 20 experiments. The capsule is expected to arrive at ISS on July 27, 2019, where astronauts aboard the station will use a robotic arm to capture it and bring it to the docking station.
Successful Landing: Another Feather in Falcon 9’s Cap
After launching Dragon capsule, the Falcon 9 rocket returned and landed on the ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The landing was perfect, and the rocket was recovered undamaged. It is the 44th successful landing for SpaceX, further proving that Falcon 9’s reusability is bringing down the cost of space launches.
Reusability – the Future of Space Transportation
SpaceX’s breakthroughs in rocket reusability have given the industry a new direction, as they have the potential to solve the high expenses of space transportation. Reusing rockets drops the cost of launches significantly, and this is a crucial factor in the emergence of both commercial space travel and space exploration. In 2017, SpaceX landed the Falcon 9 multiple times, and last year, the company launched the same rocket twice in the same weekend. With each successful reuse, the engineering is improving and modifying the design for an even better product.
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Summary:
SpaceX’s Dragon cargo capsule was launched successfully on July 25, 2019, marking the twentieth International Space Station resupply mission. The Falcon 9 rocket was used for the third time and made a flawless landing on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The Dragon capsule has approximately 5000 pounds of supplies aboard, which include materials to support more than 20 experiments and new batteries to upgrade the station’s power storage. SpaceX’s breakthrough in reusability has opened doors for cost-effective space transportation, playing a crucial role in the emergence of both commercial space travel and space exploration. #NEWS