SpaceX Dragon cleared for cargo run in October

« Back to Article

Image of 17 Use your left and right arrow keys to navigate the gallery

« Prev | Next »

SpaceX Mission Control Center in Hawthorne, California (Photo: SpaceX)

Dragon being grasped by ISS robot arm (Photo: NASA)

US astronauts inspecting Dragon after docking (Photo: NASA)

Dragon approaching ISS (Photo: NASA)

Dragon on barge after return from ISS (Photo: SpaceX)

Launch of Dragon atop Falcon 9 booster (Photo: SpaceX)

Launch of Dragon atop Falcon 9 booster (Photo: NASA)

Dragon being recovered (Photo: SpaceX)

Dragon approaching the ISS (Photo: NASA)

ISS seen from Dragon (Photo: SpaceX)

Dragon's solar array (Photo: SpaceX)

Dragon lands in the Pacific ocean via parachutes (Photo: NASA/US Navy)

Dragon awaiting recovery in the Pacific (Photo: Mike Altenhofen/SpaceX)

Dragon approaching the ISS (Photo: NASA)

Dragon grappled by robot arm (Photo: NASA)

Article Summary

The age of commercial space flight starts this autumn. In October, SpaceX’s Dragon space freighter will make its first scheduled commercial visit to the International Space Station (ISS). On Thursday, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida that Dragon had completed its certification under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program and was cleared for commercial operation. Holder also announced that Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser manned spacecraft has passed its program implementation plan review and will go on to further development.

« Back to SpaceX Dragon cleared for cargo run in October

Other Images from this Gallery