SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket took the Dragon capsule into space on Saturday, where it docked yesterday with the International Space Station (ISS) to unload its 6000 lbs. of supplies.
That webcast in yesterday's post starts its launch coverage at 10 minutes, and it's really enjoyable. But in case you want to skip it, here's information from the video:
- it took off from the historic launch pad 39A, where the Saturn 5 rocket once stood
- it had to take off at the precisely correct second in order to match its orbit with ISS
- part of the payload is the Rollout Solar Array (ROSA) which will unfold in orbit to try out its flexible solar panel
- the first stage of the rocket is loaded with a million pounds of space-grade kerosene, liquid oxygen, and gaseous helium
- watch earth falling away after lift off (camera on exterior of rocket)
- watch Stage One come back to earth and land safely at Cape Canaveral
photo: spacex.com
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