Jason Davis • Jul 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
Progress rocket exhaust plume flying into the rising sun. Scheduled to dock here Monday night. Incredible sight! pic.twitter.com/mJ022oOJqf
— Jeff Williams (@Astro_Jeff) July 16, 2016
Can you find the Progress approaching us? Zooming back out gives you an idea of scale. pic.twitter.com/GC2xFbCw9n
— Jeff Williams (@Astro_Jeff) July 19, 2016
#Progress resupply begins final approach before docking to Pirs docking compartment. https://t.co/C7LVQGQ6Xn https://t.co/en1JENXlQP
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) July 19, 2016
Dragon berthing, Wednesday, July 20
#Dragon chasing @Space_Station seen from Leiden NL. Gr8 work @Marco_Langbroek! Watch now https://t.co/k5fTYSSoop pic.twitter.com/t9vqsQlfHG
— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) July 20, 2016
Congrats @Astro_Jeff & @Astro_Kate7 for successful Dragon capture today! SpX8 pic from April over frozen Lake Baikal pic.twitter.com/D39sxFov9I
— Tim Peake (@astro_timpeake) July 20, 2016
Congrats to the team on capture of @SpaceX #Dragon and Godspeed to the team getting it berthed to @Space_Station! pic.twitter.com/saO8uQcJ4g
— Victor Glover (@VicGlover) July 20, 2016