The Dragon spacecraft has just been captured by the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm. Astronauts Koichi Wakata and Rick Mastracchio managed the operation and started moving the Dragon to the docking point of the Harmony module. The SpaceX spacecraft lifted off last Friday.

At the beginning of the maneuvers carried out by the Dragon spacecraft in its journey, a malfunction was discovered of some of Draco maneuvering thrusters. SpaceX mission control diagnosed a problem with isolation valves of the propulsion system, which was solved by switching to backup valves. This maneuver restored the functionality of all four thruster pods, two of which contain five Draco thrusters and two contain four for a total of 18 thrusters.

A precise analysis of the problem will be made at the return of the Dragon spacecraft to Earth but it seems to be different from that which threatened to cripple the previous mission, the SRC-2 or SPX-2, carried out in March 2013. In that case, the problem was in the valve of the propellant pressurization system.

Last year, it took a while to solve the problem, causing a delay in the arrival of the Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station. This time, it was possible to start the mission operations with only a short delay. Consequently, the Dragon started on schedule the series of the slow approach maneuvers to the Station.

The approach procedure of the Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station is long and delicate for security reasons. Every little step is checked and only if all goes well in the Dragon’s position and velocity they proceed with the next step. However, it’s a procedure already tested by the Dragon spacecraft in its previous missions.

Tomorrow, the astronauts on the International Space Station are scheduled to open the Dragon spacecraft’s hatch and start unloading everything that was brought into orbit. Subsequently, a series of experiments and other items to be brought back to Earth will be loaded on the Dragon, the only cargo spacecraft able to return to Earth intact.

The Dragon is scheduled to leave the International Space Station on May 18, 2014, with a total cargo of around 1,600 kg (about 3,500 pounds). The CRS-3 mission will be completed with its descent into the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California.

[ad name=”AmazonElectronics468″]