Dragon berths to ISS at 14:06 GMT - Polidicks

[quote]#Dragon was installed to #ISS at 10:06a ET. Crew opens the hatch tmw to start unloading its 2.5 tons of cargo[/quote] [URL]https://twitter.com/nasa/status/457884171856146432[/URL] [IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Blq7OlgCcAEZSD8.png[/IMG] [IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Blq7v5_CQAMjZBd.jpg:large[/IMG]

Surely the weight of unloading cargo doesn't really matter up there.

[QUOTE=Midas22;44596288]Surely the weight of unloading cargo doesn't really matter up there.[/QUOTE] It requires energy to move around. Both human-energy and propulsion energy

For a moment I was imagining an actual dragon latching onto the ISS, biting at the airlocks :v: Awesome to see SpaceX's program is going strong though

I assume it's just to emphasize the amount of cargo.

[QUOTE=Midas22;44596288]Surely the weight of unloading cargo doesn't really matter up there.[/QUOTE] F=Ma no-matter what the local gravity is like. Sure, things don't fall to the floor but a 10kg object is a 10kg object.

I couldn't help but imagine a gigantic fireball spewing cannon that they had installed. "Unleash the Dragon's flame!"

[QUOTE=Novangel;44596304]I assume it's just to emphasize the amount of cargo.[/QUOTE] Hopefully it reminds people just how expensive it is to get even small amounts of cargo into space. Talking of the cargo though, the payload has some interesting things in it. Including some stuff to try and grow food in space. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_CRS-3#Primary_payload[/url]

[QUOTE=Midas22;44596288]Surely the weight of unloading cargo doesn't really matter up there.[/QUOTE] weight and mass still matter in zero-g/microgravity. afaik if you try to move something with a greater mass than yourself in freefall or zero gravity, then the force you exert just pushes you away from it.

The hardware they've got onboard to-be-installed is impressive. A full hydroponics system and laser communciations, I'm betting this will extend the life of the ISS by atleast another decade.

[QUOTE=LoneWolf_Recon;44596351]The hardware they've got onboard to-be-installed is impressive. A full hydroponics system and laser communciations, I'm betting this will extend the life of the ISS by atleast another decade.[/QUOTE] how do those systems extend the life of the station itself? It extends the usefulness, not the actual component life of the station.

Wiki says Dragon can take over 7,000 lbs to the ISS. Wonder why they aren't using it to capacity.

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;44596388]Wiki says Dragon can take over 7,000 lbs to the ISS. Wonder why they aren't using it to capacity.[/QUOTE] It's the first flight I think...

[QUOTE=Midas22;44596288]Surely the weight of unloading cargo doesn't really matter up there.[/QUOTE]No not really, it doesn't matter (oh god that pun). It's just that bringing 2.5 tons of cargo to the ISS is an impressive feat.

rrerr

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;44596388]Wiki says Dragon can take over 7,000 lbs to the ISS. Wonder why they aren't using it to capacity.[/QUOTE] While this is the largest cargo load yet, it might just be the case that they don't have that much cargo to send up. There are 4 other cargo craft servicing the space station at the moment so it's certainly possible that there is just not that much cargo that needs to go up. There are at least 9 more CRS missions left for the dragon capsule so they have plenty of opportunity to send up a full load, if they needed it.

all of these Ivy League space travel intellectuals are making me feel out of place

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;44596388]Wiki says Dragon can take over 7,000 lbs to the ISS. Wonder why they aren't using it to capacity.[/QUOTE]Probably because they have no need to do that. Could also be that the capsule is out of space to store the cargo in.

[QUOTE=download;44596404]It's the first flight I think...[/QUOTE] Dragon has flown 5 times before, and berthed with the ISS 4 times.

[QUOTE=dije;44596268] [IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Blq7v5_CQAMjZBd.jpg:large[/IMG][/QUOTE] That looks like a screenshot from a game.

[QUOTE=Desuh;44596461]That looks like a screenshot from a game.[/QUOTE]It's quite surreal, don't you agree?

[QUOTE=trotskygrad;44596385]how do those systems extend the life of the station itself? It extends the usefulness, not the actual component life of the station.[/QUOTE] I suppose they don't, but testing new tech will still be interesting for future missions.

[QUOTE=LoneWolf_Recon;44596351]The hardware they've got onboard to-be-installed is impressive. A full hydroponics system and laser communciations, I'm betting this will extend the life of the ISS by atleast another decade.[/QUOTE] HD camera rig, legs for robonaut, a new EVA suit, garden, and laser communication rig. The second stage of the rocket also carried a few hundred Pico satellites and 7 nano satellites.

[QUOTE=danharibo;44596419]While this is the largest cargo load yet, it might just be the case that they don't have that much cargo to send up. There are 4 other cargo craft servicing the space station at the moment so it's certainly possible that there is just not that much cargo that needs to go up. There are at least 9 more CRS missions left for the dragon capsule so they have plenty of opportunity to send up a full load, if they needed it.[/QUOTE] That could be the case. Also, I suspect that if one of the cargo flights failed, they would want the ability to double up on the next mission to make up for it.

They don't want to put all their very expensive eggs into one basket. They got a Cygnus and another Dragon going up next month so they don't need to stuff everything into one. [editline]20th April 2014[/editline] Whoops next dragon is not next month but its fairly soon.

[QUOTE=OvB;44596530]HD camera rig, legs for robonaut, a new EVA suit, garden, and laser communication rig. The second stage of the rocket also carried a few hundred Pico satellites and 7 nano satellites.[/QUOTE] Holy shit, they're deploying Robonaut? Is he now able to perform an EVA?

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;44596388]Wiki says Dragon can take over 7,000 lbs to the ISS. Wonder why they aren't using it to capacity.[/QUOTE] I assume its either cost or NASA are being very cautious, this is only the third (?) CRS flight. Wouldn't surprise me if they don't want to risk a lot of cargo ending up in the ocean / burnt up.

SpaceX webcast showed him crawling around station like a spider so I think so.

[QUOTE=LoneWolf_Recon;44596578]Holy shit, they're deploying Robonaut? Is he now able to perform an EVA?[/QUOTE] oh god it looks terrifying [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/R2_climg_legs_demo.jpg/406px-R2_climg_legs_demo.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=Uber|nooB;44596614]oh god it looks terrifying [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/R2_climg_legs_demo.jpg/406px-R2_climg_legs_demo.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] Gotta be careful with things like that, before we know it it will be controlling the station like SS13.