An unmanned capsule will be the first of a new fleet of commercial spacecraft being developed to deliver cargo to the station in the wake of the space shuttle retirement last year. The Dragon capsule will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
If SpaceX's April test flight goes smoothly, another Dragon capsule will make the first official cargo delivery run in August.
If SpaceX's April test flight goes smoothly, another Dragon capsule will make the first official cargo delivery run in August.
In addition to the California company, NASA has awarded a contract to Orbital Sciences of Dulles, Va., under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) programme.
Orbital's Cygnus vehicle could make its first launch to the space station on Sept 1, with a docking on Sept 6th.
The companies hope to eventually upgrade its capsules and rocket systems to carry people to orbit, including NASA crews to the space station.
Orbital's Cygnus vehicle could make its first launch to the space station on Sept 1, with a docking on Sept 6th.
The companies hope to eventually upgrade its capsules and rocket systems to carry people to orbit, including NASA crews to the space station.
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International Space Station
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