SpaceX Dragon
SpaceX’s Dragon is firmly in the grip of the International Space Station’s robotic arm during the berthing operation. (Credit: NASA TV)

Two days after its launch, SpaceX’s Dragon cargo capsule was pulled in for its hookup to the International Space Station today as the spacecraft soared 252 miles above the California-Oregon state line.

Among the nearly 5,000 pounds of cargo were the first DNA sequencer destined for use in space, and a 5-foot-wide docking adapter that will accommodate future commercial space taxis – including an upgraded version of the uncrewed Dragon that pulled in today.

“We’ve captured us a Dragon,” said NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, who grappled the capsule with the station’s robotic arm. “We look forward to the work it brings.”

Dragon’s arrival marked the week’s second orbital delivery: A robotic Russian Progress cargo ship docked with the station on Monday night, bringing another 5,300 pounds of food, water, air, propellant and other supplies. It’ll take weeks to unload all the goodies.

SpaceX and Orbital ATK are resupplying the station under the terms of multibillion-dollar commercial contracts with NASA. In addition, Boeing and SpaceX have separate contracts to build crew-capable capsules for NASA’s use. Boeing is building a totally new type of spaceship called the CST-100 Starliner, while SpaceX is upgrading its Dragon to boost its safety capabilities and make it flightworthy for people as well as payloads.

Those space taxis, as well as the other types of spacecraft that rendezvous with the station, are designed to hook up with the International Docking Adapter that was delivered today. Eventually, two IDAs will be fitted to the station in time for the taxis’ first arrivals, which are currently scheduled as early as next year.

NASA had hoped to have one of the docking adapters in orbit a year ago, but it was destroyed along with the rest of a cargo shipment when a SpaceX Dragon and its Falcon 9 rocket were lost shortly after launch. It took months for SpaceX to investigate the mishap and return to flight.

Many of the items sent up on the freshly arrived Dragon will be used for scientific purposes: Lots of attention has focused on the palm-sized DNA sequencer, known as the MinION.

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, a biologist who joined the station’s crew earlier this month, will use the device to analyze prepared samples of DNA from a bacterium, a virus and a mouse. Those readings will be checked to see how the MinION works in weightlessness. Eventually, NASA hopes to use such devices for a wide range of genetic experiments in space.

Other experiments will test a new kind of three-dimensional solar cell that could increase the efficiency of power generation for the station; study how heart cells derived from skin cells perform in zero-G; compare the development of bone cells that are grown in weightlessness vs. magnetic levitation; and evaluate a new kind of computer chip that’s designed to withstand space radiation.

After everything is unloaded, astronauts will fill the Dragon with cargo that’s due to be sent back down to Earth on Aug. 29.

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