Elon Musk's Space X are working closely with NASA (Image: GETTY)
On Saturday a Falcon rocket raced into the pre-dawn darkness, carrying a Dragon capsule with 5,500 pounds (2,500 kilograms) of goods, alleviating NASA from dependence on the Russian Soyuz resupply vehicle. Live coverage of the rendezvous and capture will air on NASA Television and the agency’s website beginning at 5:30am EDT (10.30am BST) this morning. The Dragon spacecraft will spend about four weeks attached to the space station, returning to Earth with more than 4,200 pounds of research, hardware and crew supplies.
SpaceX’s vice president, Hans Koenigsmann said: “Dragon is on the way, the orbiter is great, it’s right on the money.”
The SpaceX launch commentator gave a Star Wars themed send off to the revolutionary reusable craft, he said: “Until next time, May the Fourth be with you.”
This recycled Dragon spacecraft, which is making its second space trip, reached orbit on a Flacon 9 booster that has also been recycled from an earlier flight.
The delivery is a few days late because of electrical power shortages that cropped up first at the space
