A little while ago, SpaceX’s Dragon 2 spacecraft docked with the International Space Station’s Harmony module completing the first part of its CRS-28 mission. Astronaut Woody Hoburg monitored the operation assisted by his fellow astronaut Frank Rubio, but the cargo spacecraft, which blasted off when it was Monday morning in the USA, completed the maneuvers automatically without any problem.
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.
Previous missions already provided positive feedback regarding the possibility of reusing the new version of the Dragon cargo spacecraft. In SpaceX and NASA’s initial plans, each Dragon should be used up to 5 times but the new goal for SpaceX is to use each spacecraft up to 15 times. The newly arrived cargo spacecraft is the first on its fourth mission, therefore the results of the check-up that will be conducted after its return to Earth will start clarifying if its reuse can go beyond the initial plans.
The unpressurized section of the Dragon cargo spacecraft contains some highly efficient, roll-out iROSA solar arrays. This is the third of four shipments of these new panels, which are replacing the original ones installed on the International Space Station many years ago and which are now deteriorated and in some cases damaged. Like the previous iROSA panels, they will be installed during a spacewalk.
The CRS-28 mission will end in about three weeks with the return to Earth. The second version of the Dragon cargo spacecraft can stay in space much longer than the first version but for now, NASA hasn’t extended its missions and on the contrary, this one will be a little shorter than normal. The Dragon continues to be the only space freighter capable of returning cargo to Earth.
