Astronaut David Saint-Jacques catches SpaceX shipment using Canadarm2
Dragon capsule delivers 2,500 kilograms of equipment, experiments
A SpaceX shipment arrived at the International Space Station following a weekend launch.
The Dragon capsule reached the orbiting complex Monday, delivering 2,500 kilograms of equipment and experiments.
Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques used the station's big robot arm — known as Canadarm2 — to capture the Dragon approximately 400 kilometres above the north Atlantic Ocean.
An external cable that normally comes off during launch dangled from the capsule, but did not interfere with the grappling.
Checkout this incredible time lapse video of this morning's capture of the <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> Dragon cargo craft by astronaut <a href="https://twitter.com/Astro_DavidS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Astro_DavidS</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/csa_asc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CSA_ASC</a>, backed up by <a href="https://twitter.com/AstroHague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AstroHague</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AskNASA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AskNASA</a> | <a href="https://t.co/cBNqC5JGaz">https://t.co/cBNqC5JGaz</a> <a href="https://t.co/IUp0FnpoW2">pic.twitter.com/IUp0FnpoW2</a>
—@Space_Station"Welcome on board, Dragon," Saint-Jacques radioed.
Speaking in both English and French, he congratulated ground teams for their help and said he's proud every time the station's 18-metre Canadian robot arm is used in orbit.
"Well done, well captured. Way to make it look easy," Mission Control said.
SpaceX launched the capsule Saturday from Cape Canaveral, Fla., the second station visit for this recycled Dragon. It also flew in 2017.
This is SpaceX's 17th delivery to the space station; the first was in 2012. Northrop Grumman is NASA's other shipper — its Cygnus cargo ship arrived just two weeks ago.
A behind-the-scenes look from this morning, while I was awaiting the big moment to capture Dragon with Canadarm2. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DareToExplore?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DareToExplore</a><br><br>Vue des coulisses alors que j’attends le grand moment ce matin : attraper le Dragon à l’aide du Canadarm2. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OsezExplorer?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OsezExplorer</a> <a href="https://t.co/HGVELWMA0s">pic.twitter.com/HGVELWMA0s</a>
—@Astro_DavidSThe Dragon will remain about a month, being filled with science samples for return to Earth. It's the only cargo ship capable of coming back intact.
Besides Saint-Jacques, the space station is home to three Americans and two Russians.