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Enter the Dragon

Tomorrow (Saturday 19 May) will see the Dragon spacecraft lifting off from Cape Canaveral in a bid to make space history. Read on for our whistle-stop guide to the big event...

An artist's impression of the Dragon spacecraft (image credit: SpaceX)

 

What's the big occasion?

Created by the private company SpaceX, Dragon is aiming to become the first commercial craft to dock with the International Space Station (ISS).

Dragon will launch on top of the Falcon 9 rocket, also designed and built by SpaceX. The spacecraft will reach its preliminary orbit after about 10 minutes, before going it alone to the ISS. If all goes well, Dragon should be welcomed by the ISS crew on the fourth day of the flight.

Why’s it important?

For this test flight, Dragon will only be carrying cargo to the orbital outpost. But, with NASA retiring its space shuttles last year, Dragon is one of the spacecraft tipped to some day transport astronauts to the ISS. A successful flight to the ISS would show that the company’s up for the challenge, as well as representing a major milestone for commercial space travel.

And if Dragon does one day transport humans to the ISS, Mars could be next on SpaceX’s destination list...

Where can I watch it?

Lift-off is scheduled for 4:55 am Eastern Daylight Time – that’s 9:55 am in the UK. It’ll be streamed live on NASA TV and SpaceX.com, so don't forget to set the alarm clock.

Read more about the mission here, or click here to see a stunning photo taken by one of the astronauts currently on board the ISS.

Comments: 2

The launch was successful.

Tue, 2013-01-08 10:35
LannieU

The launch was successful.

When commercial space travel funds itself....

Sat, 2012-05-19 15:04
Anonymous1952

...that will "major milestone for commercial space travel".

SpaceX would be more accurately described as public private partnership than "commercial space travel".

At least 40% of the Dragon is publicly funded by NASA. Plus SpaceX is using the publicly financed facilities at Cape Canaveral. Their only "business" is supplying the ISS which is funded with taxes from around the world.

The problem is not the public private partnership which in many ways is very healthy and appropriate.

The problem is too many of those associated with SpaceX are opposing public funding of our social safety nets as they sing the praises of free market capitalism while at the same time they lap up massive subsidies from the public trough.

When hedge funds, venture capitalists, private business banks, and capital raised from stock sales fund 100% of such projects, then their advocates can brag about the success of private sector space travel.