SoylentNews

fork(2) [soylentnews.org] writes:

      SpaceX is set to launch its 9th Dragon Spacecraft late Sunday night (actually, 12:44 a.m on Monday). Weather forecasters [af.mil] are currently predicting a 90% chance of favorable weather for the launch.

      According to The Verge [theverge.com], "The vehicle will carry around 3,800 pounds of fresh cargo and science experiments, including a space-based DNA sequencer called minION that will be used by NASA astronaut Kate Rubins to sequence DNA in space for the first time."

      In addition, the craft will carry a new International Docking Adapter [nasa.gov], or IDA, and its main purpose is to provide a port for spacecraft bringing astronauts to the station in the future.

Outfitted with a host of sensors and systems, the adapter is built so spacecraft systems can automatically perform all the steps of rendezvous and dock with the station without input from the astronauts. Manual backup systems will be in place on the spacecraft to allow the crew to take over steering duties, if needed.

      "It's a passive system which means it doesn't take any action by the crew to allow docking to happen and I think that's really the key," said David Clemen Boeing's director of Development/Modifications for the space station.

      The IDA stands about 42 inches tall and is 63 inches in diameter on the inside. Sensors and other fittings ring the perimeter of the adapter and give it an overall diameter of about 94 inches. Spacecraft flying to the station will use the sensors on the IDA to track to and help the spacecraft's navigation system steer the spacecraft to a safe docking without astronaut involvement.

      Florida Today [floridatoday.com] also reports:

About 10 minutes of liftoff, the first stage of the Falcon 9 will fly back to a landing pad near the tip of Cape Canaveral for the first time since December, when SpaceX achieved its first booster landing.

SpaceX has landed four boosters so far, including three at sea, in its effort to develop reusable rockets that could dramatically lower launch costs.

Original Submission