A little while ago, SpaceX’s Dragon 2 spacecraft docked with the International Space Station’s Harmony module. Astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur monitored the operation, but the cargo spacecraft, which blasted off last Sunday, completed the maneuvers automatically without any problem. In fact, the spacecraft arrived about half an hour ahead of schedule.

The Dragon spacecraft’s approach to the International Space Station follows a procedure that has become routine but remains long and delicate. The Station’s safety is the top priority so every little step of the Dragon gets checked. Only if all goes well in the spacecraft’s position and velocity they proceed with the next step and in case of any problems can be aborted at every step. The Dragon 2 carries out all the maneuvers automatically up to the docking and the procedure can be interrupted until the last moment.

The CRS-23 mission will end in about a month with the return to Earth. NASA provided indications on the possibility of doubling the duration of this mission because the Dragon 2 space freighter can stay in space much longer than the first version but for now, SpaceX’s resupply missions continue to last about a month. The Dragon continues to be the only space freighter capable of returning cargoes to Earth.

The CRS-23 mission is also important for the evaluations regarding the reuse of the space freighter since this Dragon 2 is the same one used for the CRS-21 mission. This new version is easier to refurbish after a flight, as SpaceX took advantage of the experience accumulated over the years with the first version. The hardest test will come at the end of this mission with the return to Earth and in particular with the entry into the atmosphere. If the splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico goes as expected, the Dragon 2 will be meticulously examined to assess its condition. On various occasions, the first generation Dragon freighters were used a second time while the Dragon 2 was designed to be used up to 5 times.