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ISS Captures SpaceX Dragon Capsule

Posted by Soulskill on from the congratulations-folks dept.

Today at 9:56AM EDT (13:56 GMT) the robotic arm on the International Space Station successfully captured SpaceX's Dragon capsule. It's the first time a commercial craft has connected with the ISS, and the first time a spacecraft made in the U.S. has gone to the station since the retirement of the shuttle. The approach was delayed temporarily as engineers worked out bad sensor readings due to light reflected off the ISS's Kibo laboratory. "To work around the problem, SpaceX narrowed the field of view for the laser sensor so that it wouldn't pick up light from the offending reflector. Dragon then returned to the 30-meter checkpoint and moved in for the final approach." If all goes well today, the capsule will most likely be opened tomorrow. Video of the operation is being broadcast live on NASA TV.

8 of 217 comments (clear)

  1. Smaug? by MikeMacK · · Score: 4, Funny

    It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him. Dragons may not have much real use for all their wealth, but they know it to an ounce as a rule, especially after long possession...

  2. That Kibo, still making trouble... by jeffb+(2.718) · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now that Usenet is fading into history, is He monitoring the Slashdot feed? We'll see.

  3. Re:Hooray. by JustOK · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, you're saying they're really good at covering it all up.

    --
    rewriting history since 2109
  4. Re:Tractor Beam by Moheeheeko · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can't, Obi-Wan dicked with it.

  5. Re:Hooray. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    They enslaved a whole race of people to build their space ship, and funded it by committing terrible acts of piracy on the high seas. The cannon balls whooshed over head and the pirates plundered everyone's sense of humor. It was terrible. A dark day for humanity and jokes.

  6. need some space Chinamen to build a space railroad by Thud457 · · Score: 1, Funny

    I, for one, welcome an era of interplanetary robber-barons as long as they build us a economical & functional space infrastructure.

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  7. Am I the only one . . . by StefanJ · · Score: 4, Funny

    . . . who hopes that there's an inflatable, spring-loaded Xenomorph puppet poised behind the capsule's hatch?

    "Heh - heh. You'll find a complimentary set of new underwear for the crew in Bin 13."

  8. Re:sorry, unconstructive emotional comment'n'all, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    But none of those things were cool until we did them in the US.