Jason DavisJul 20, 2016

Multimedia recap: Two launches, a landing, a docking, and a berthing

Four days of cargo craft mania came to a close at the International Space Station this morning, as astronauts Kate Rubins and Jeff Williams snagged an approaching SpaceX Dragon vehicle and berthed it to the laboratory's Harmony module.

On Saturday, a Progress supply vehicle blasted off from Baikonur, followed by an early Monday morning launch of SpaceX's Dragon from Cape Canaveral in Florida. For just the second time, SpaceX flew the spent first stage of its Falcon 9 carrier rocket back to Florida for an upright landing. The company has also managed to recover three spent rockets using their autonomous drone ship.

For what may have been the first time ever—according to NASA TV commentator Rob Navias—two cargo spacecraft were briefly en route to the ISS at the same time. Progress arrived first and docked early Tuesday morning, with Dragon completing its journey Wednesday.

Here's a multimedia roundup of two launches, a landing, a docking, and a berthing.

Progress launch, Saturday, July 16

Dragon launch and Falcon landing, Monday, July 18

CRS-9

CRS-9

CRS-9

CRS-9

CRS-9

Progress docking, Tuesday, July 18

Причаливание ТГК

Dragon berthing, Wednesday, July 20

Dragon причаливает к МКС

CRS-9 Dragon draws near
CRS-9 Dragon draws near The eighth contracted SpaceX Dragon cargo craft to reach the International Space Station, and ninth overall, is seen out the complex's window on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Dragon is carrying a new docking adapter for future commercial crew vehicles.Image: Roscosmos

Стыковка Dragon с МКС

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