#isscargo

[cldrb]

Liberado da Estação Espacial Internacional na data de hoje, o módulo de carga Progress MS3 reentra na atmosfera terrestre. . Undocked from the International Space Station today, cargo module Progress MS3 re-entry Earth's atmosphere. . Credit: NASA . #nasa #iss #isscargo #progressms03 #progress #roscosmos #earth #terra #atmosphere #atmosfera #space #espaço #astrogram #observatoriog1 #fiery #reentry #reentrada

[for-all-mankind]

Dragon CRS-9 arrived at the International Space Station, 58 hours after departing Cape Canaveral. The spacecraft was berthed to the Nadir, or Earth-facing port of the Harmony module at 10:03am EDT July 20th. 

At 2:27pm, the hatches between the two vehicles were opened and astronauts entered.

[for-all-mankind]

For the second time in its history, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is poised to land at Cape Canaveral just minutes after launching the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The CRS-9 mission will bring nearly 5,000 pounds of cargo, supplies, and experiments to the International Space Station. Tucked into Dragon’s external cargo drunk is IDA-2, the International Docking Adapter that will allow future crewed spacecraft to dock to the station.  IDA-1 was originally launched on CRS-7 last June, but was lost when the vehicle disintegrated during ascent. Launch will occur at 12:45am from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral. Around eight minutes after launch, the first stage will land at LZ-1, nine kilometers south of SLC-40. Beginning at around 12:25am, SpaceX will broadcast the launch live here.

[therealuniverse]

A great launch pic from my friend Amy Lynn, @astrogingersnap on Twitter. Proof you can capture awesome shots with a phone!

[therealuniverse]

Truly stunning to watch. It's pretty impressive to see all this work and research culminate in a stunning flash, a sonic boom, and a tiny little blip moving off into the void. Humans can do some pretty incredible stuff when we work together.

[therealuniverse]

CYGNUS LAUNCH TONIGHT

An Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled to make its way to the International Space Station tonight at 11:05 PM EST. I’ll be there snapping photos and probably shedding a single patriotic tear!

After Cygnus completes its ascent toward the ISS, crew members will capture the craft with the Space Station Robotic Manipulator System (also called the Robotic Arm) so that its contents can be loaded into the station. 

This mission is carrying the most weight of any Cygnus resupply -- about 7,500 pounds of cargo. In addition to provisions, emergency supplies, and hardware, the craft will be transporting a second portable 3D printer to the ISS. Exciting new experiments are also making their way into orbit, including adhesive devices known as “gecko grippers” that will help astronauts grapple items in space; the METEOR instrument that will make the first space-based chemical analyses of meteors entering Earth’s atmosphere; an investigation of the regolith (soil-like impact dust) found on small bodies such as asteroids; and the largest combustion experiment ever conducted in space. 

The combustion experiment, known as “Saffire,” will study the effects of open flames in space and improve safety practices on future missions. Most controlled flame experiments have been on a small scale, perhaps for obvious reasons, but because the experiment will be contained on an empty spacecraft, researchers can freely tear it the fuck up without causing undue risk to the crew. 

I’ll be posting photos from the launch site, plus more up-close looks at the mind-boggling machinery contained at the Kennedy Space Center, so stay tuned!

[jessicawasgross]

Crane practice for SLS booster @NasaSocial #NasaSocial #ISSCargo #Cygnus #launchday