A little while ago the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft was captured by the robotic arm Canadarm2 from the International Space Station. The astronaut Alexander Gers, assisted by his colleague Reid Wiseman, managed the operation and started moving the Dragon to the docking point of the Harmony module. The spacecraft was launched last Sunday.

The approach of the Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station follows a lengthy and delicate procedure. The safety of the Station is the top priority, therefore each small step of the Dragon is checked and if all goes well in the spacecraft’s position and velocity they proceed with the next step. The procedure was tested by the Dragon in its previous missions but must always be followed carefully because a component of the approach systems may not work properly.

Generally, the astronauts of the International Space Station open the Dragon spacecraft’s hatch the day after it docked and start unloading the cargo that was brought into orbit. In this case, however, the docking took place less than two days before the arrival of three new crew members, which is a priority. There will be plenty of time to unload the Dragon’s cargo with the full crew.

The Dragon spacecraft will remain docked with the International Space Station until mid-October. A series of experiments and other items to be brought back to Earth will be loaded on it, which is the only cargo spacecraft able to return to Earth intact.

The Dragon will leave the International Space Station with a total cargo of around 1,700 kg (about 3,700 pounds). The CRS-4 mission will be completed with the descent into the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California. So far, there were no problems while during its previous missions there were issues more or less serious that, however, were solved. Space trips operated by private companies are becoming a routine and this confirms that we are living in a new space era.

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