Space Exploration Technologies — aka SpaceX — made history in April when its Dragon spacecraft became private industry’s first space vehicle to dock to the International Space Station.
This week, the company released a video highlighting key moments from that historic mission, including:
- May 22: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched the Dragon spacecraft into orbit from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
- May 23: Dragon orbited Earth as it traveled toward the International Space Station.
- May 24: Dragon’s sensors and flight systems were subjected to a series of tests to determine if the vehicle was ready to attach to the space station.
- May 25: NASA gave Dragon the GO to attempt berthing with the station. Dragon approached. It was successfully captured by the station’s robotic arm.
- May 26: US astronaut Don Pettit opened Dragon’s hatch and the astronauts entered.
- May 31: After six days at the International Space Station, Dragon departed for its return to Earth, carrying a load of cargo for NASA. SpaceX completed its historic mission when Dragon splashed down safely in the Pacific.