SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule successfully docks with space station in test mission

[Zorro]

Source: LA Times

A little more than a day after launch, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station early Sunday morning after autonomously maneuvering itself, marking another major milestone of this test mission.

The capsule did not have humans on board. Instead, it carried 400 pounds of supplies for the space station and a mannequin passenger named Ripley, outfitted with multiple sensors to measure her ride to space.

This was the first time a SpaceX capsule had attempted to attach itself to the station. During the Hawthorne company’s previous 16 resupply missions, its Dragon cargo capsule hovered below the station until it was grabbed by a robotic arm and attached to a port.

This time, the capsule gradually maneuvered itself closer to the station before docking on its own.

Read more: https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spacex-crew-dragon-20190303-story.html

[Maxheader]

1. Uh...Anyone

Want to volunteer for the 1st ride?..

[Adrahil]

6. I bet they have a line of volunteers,,,,

I was a flight test engineer for 25 years. Test pilots take these kind of risks all the time.

[Nitram]

7. I would without hesitation.

[mr_lebowski]

2. I have one question ... did they make Ripley look like Sigourney Weaver? (nt)

[cab67]

4. not that I can tell.

It was wearing a space suit.

Had it been up to me, I'd have included a plush orange tabby with the dummy.

[ChazInAz]

12. Quite a ship

The Falcon is certainly a lot better looking inside than the Nostromo.

[fascisthunter]

3. Wow!

[Iggo]

5. I saw the word "crew" and my heart stopped for a second.

"The capsule did not have humans on board."

Phew! Thought I missed an important news item...lol.

[PoliticAverse]

8. Ripley was the "crew"...

https://www.space.com/spacex-crew-dragon-dummy-called-ripley.html

[EarthFirst]

9. Which billionaire will be the first ISS tourist? nt

[Maxheader]

10. I'm glad besides the russian space program..

We have here the potential to go to the aid of the international space station..
If need be..

[Cold War Spook]

11. How many years until our first colony on Mars?

I hope we can keep the Earth livable until we are solidly on Mars.

[Polybius]

13. How long before we even send a human to Mars?

It was supposed to happen by the 2000 or earlier. At this rate I doubt we see it by 2050.