SPACEX LAUNCHES DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT TOWARDS ISS

On Tuesday, May 22, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon capsule on a demonstration flight towards the International Space Station. The launch occurred at 3:44 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

During the flight, the Dragon capsule will conduct a series of check-out procedures to test and prove its systems, including the capability to rendezvous and berth with the space station. Planned evaluations include a flyby of the station at a distance of approximately 1.5 miles to validate the operation of sensors and flight systems necessary for a safe rendezvous and approach. The spacecraft also will demonstrate the ability to abort the rendezvous. Once Dragon successfully proves these capabilities, it will be cleared to berth with the space station.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[zak gezon]

14:27 This man deserves the victory air guitar if anybody ever has, ever

[Jacek Nasiadek]

Finally! Commentary in metric in a NASA video!

[Morgan French-Stagg]

Aaaand it only takes a private company to do it....

[airdaleva42]

Agreed But seems kind of sad to think that is what it would take.

[excitingride]

I just wish that I will be able to see all the space exploration during my life time including the human flight to other planets. Well, at least to Planet Mars.

[l pesce]

Excellent video. Congratulations to SpaceX. As for the metric system and the USA, you got it all wrong. Change NASCAR to metric, then "everybody" will learn it, not just the scientists and teachers in school.

[Strider2112]

@dhbiza yeah, that's one of the saddest parts of the american education system. Metric is far better with science and engineering, yet they seem to refuse to want to learn it.

[dhbiza]

That is my point exactly, SpaceX is US and should have support in the US. As a former part time science teacher I can assure you nothing got blank stares faster than talking to students in the metric system...it was meaningless to them and also to most adults.

[Strider2112]

lol unless you're in ANY country except US, and parts of Canada and England...

[Strider2112]

hasn't NASA always run in metric?

[roylopear]

Skip to engine shutdown/view of SpaceX control room: 10:00