SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012
2150 GMT (5:50 p.m. EDT)
SpaceX says it has delivered a subset of the cargo returned to Earth inside the Dragon spacecraft to NASA, fulfilling one of the few remaining objectives in the test flight which ended with a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday.

The delivery occurred two days after Dragon returned to Earth with more than 1,300 pounds of equipment, hardware, and experiment samples.

The early access to Dragon's cargo load will allow NASA to retrieve precious time-sensitive payloads such as biological experiments and refrigerated samples.

The rest of Dragon's cargo will be unloaded when the spacecraft reaches SpaceX's test facility in McGregor, Texas, later this month.
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012
1930 GMT (3:30 p.m. EDT)
The top NASA manager in charge of the agency's commercial cargo transportation program hailed SpaceX's demonstration flight to the International Space Station as a success and indicated approval for continued resupply missions under a $1.6 billion contract would be a mere formality. "



Read our full story.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
2315 GMT (7:15 p.m. EDT)
Placing an exclamation point on a flawless nine-day flight to the International Space Station, SpaceX's commercial Dragon spaceship made an automated pinpoint splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, completing a feat never before achieved by private industry.

The gumdrop-shaped capsule, blackened by the heat of a high-speed re-entry, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean about 560 miles west of Baja California at 11:42 a.m. EDT (1542 GMT).

A fleet of recovery vessels, staffed with SpaceX engineers and divers, retrieved the capsule from the sea and set course for the California coast.

"This couldn't have gone any better," said Elon Musk, SpaceX's CEO and chief designer. "I'm just overwhelmed with joy."



Read our full story.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1820 GMT (2:20 p.m. EDT)
Speaking with reporters from SpaceX headquarters in California, Elon Musk says recovery crews are in the process of attaching cables to the Dragon spacecraft to hoist it on the deck of a ship for the trip back to port.

Dragon's re-entry and splashdown were very accurate, he said.

"It appears as though we were really hitting the bullseye in accuracy, perhaps less than a mile," Musk said.

"In baseball terminology, this would be a grand slam," Musk said. "This was bigger success than we had a reasonable right to expect."
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1656 GMT (12:56 p.m. EDT)
Elon Musk says recovery boats are now approaching Dragon to attach cables to the spacecraft.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1650 GMT (12:50 p.m. EDT)
NASA plans a news conference at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT), and we still stream it live.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1621 GMT (12:21 p.m. EDT)
Dragon's mission lasted 9 days, 7 hours, and 58 minutes from liftoff to splashdown.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1608 GMT (12:08 p.m. EDT)
SpaceX is sending commands to shut down Dragon in preparation for recovery by boat.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1602 GMT (12:02 p.m. EDT)
Dragon is reported to be in a stable position.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1600 GMT (12:00 p.m. EDT)
SpaceX just sent a manual command to separate Dragon's parachutes. And NASA confirms the chutes were detached.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1556 GMT (11:56 a.m. EDT)
Still awaiting a visual on the Dragon spacecraft.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1554 GMT (11:54 a.m. EDT)
The recovery boats have made contact with the Dragon spacecraft, and a P-3 Orion aircraft overhead has spotted parachutes in the water.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1552 GMT (11:52 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX reports #Dragon splashed down fairly close its target at 27 degrees north latitude and 120 degrees west longitude.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1551 GMT (11:51 a.m. EDT)
Another tweet from Elon Musk: "P3 planes are meant to track submarines, so should be able to find Dragon either way."
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1549 GMT (11:49 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX founder and chief designer Elon Musk just tweeted: "Splashdown successful!! Sending fast boat to Dragon lat/long provided by P3 tracking planes."

The recovery team includes a 185-foot barge, an 80-foot crew boat, and two 25-foot fast boats for dispatch to the capsule when it splashes down.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1543 GMT (11:43 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX reports Dragon has splashed down at 11:42 a.m. EDT (1542 GMT). We are awaiting confirmation of the splashdown point.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1541 GMT (11:41 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is designed to splash down at a speed of about 11 mph. In orbit, it was traveling more than 17,000 mph.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1537 GMT (11:37 a.m. EDT)
The three main parachutes have deployed to slow Dragon's descent toward the Pacific Ocean. Splashdown expected at 11:44 a.m. EDT (1544 GMT).
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1535 GMT (11:35 a.m. EDT)
Dragon's two drogue parachutes have deployed at an altitude of 45,000 feet.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1533 GMT (11:33 a.m. EDT)
The first images of Dragon are now being received via an infrared camera on a P-3 chase plane over the Pacific Ocean.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1530 GMT (11:30 a.m. EDT)
Airplanes at the splashdown site report they are picking up the first traces of Dragon on their infrared sensors. No live video yet.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1527 GMT (11:27 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX says Dragon is now in an expected period of communications blackout as plasma builds up outside the vehicle. Temperatures outside are expected to reach up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

SpaceX should regain communications with Dragon at about 11:33 a.m. EDT (1533 GMT).
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1525 GMT (11:25 a.m. EDT)
The spacecraft should now be flying through the upper reaches of the atmosphere at entry interface over the Pacific Ocean south of Alaska.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1520 GMT (11:20 a.m. EDT)
Dragon should encounter the upper reaches of the atmosphere - a point known as entry interface - at 11:25 a.m. EDT (1525 GMT). Officials expect a communications blackout from 10:27 a.m. to 10:33 a.m. EDT, followed by deployment of the capsule's parachutes beginning at 10:35 a.m. EDT.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1517 GMT (11:17 a.m. EDT)
Dragon's blunt end is covered with Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator, or PICA, a tough thermal protection system designed to withstand a high-speed, fiery atmospheric entry for missions returning to Earth from locations in deep space, such as asteroids, the moon, or Mars.

NASA's Stardust capsule, which returned dust from a comet, used PICA for a heat shield. And the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover now en route to the red planet carries a PICA heat shield.

Dragon uses a formula known as PICA-X, which SpaceX says is an improvement over the formula used on Stardust. The PICA-X material protected the first Dragon spacecraft's re-entry in December 2010.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1513 GMT (11:13 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX has confirmed a good separation of Dragon's trunk section as the craft descends back toward Earth. The disposable trunk is designed to burn up in the atmosphere, while the capsule carries a heat shield to survive re-entry.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1513 GMT (11:13 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX has confirmed a good separation of Dragon's trunk section as the craft descends back toward Earth. The disposable trunk is designed to burn up in the atmosphere, while the capsule carries a heat shield to survive re-entry.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1503 GMT (11:03 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX reports Dragon is in the proper position for trunk separation.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1501 GMT (11:01 a.m. EDT)
The capsule's Draco thrusters have shut down, concluding Dragon's deorbit burn. The next milestone is jettison of the craft's trunk section, a module containing solar panels and outfitted to carry unpressurized cargo. That will come at 11:09 a.m. EDT (1509 GMT).
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1459 GMT (10:59 a.m. EDT)
About two minutes left in the deorbit burn.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1454 GMT (10:54 a.m. EDT)
Everything is going well in the deorbit burn so far.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1451 GMT (10:51 a.m. EDT)
Flying high above the Indian Ocean, the Dragon spacecraft is now firing its Draco thrusters for the deorbit burn, committing the capsule for return to Earth. The burn is expected to last 9 minutes, 50 seconds.

Dragon is carrying more than 1,300 pounds of cargo from the space station in its pressurized cabin. The capsule would be the only robotic cargo freighter able to retrieve equipment from the space station and return it to Earth for analysis or repairs.

Dragon is flying about 200 miles in front of the space station now.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1449 GMT (10:49 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX reports Dragon is putting itself in the correct orientation for this retrograde, or braking maneuver, to slow its velocity and drop from orbit.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1441 GMT (10:41 a.m. EDT)
NASA says it is unlikely the Expedition 31 crew on the International Space Station will see the re-entry of Dragon. The capsule will be nearly 400 miles in front of the complex when it encounters the upper fringes of the atmosphere, and Dragon will be flying in sunlight.

The deorbit burn ignition is now about 10 minutes away.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1418 GMT (10:18 a.m. EDT)
The door to Dragon's navigation bay was closed and latched earlier this morning in preparation for re-entry.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1355 GMT (9:55 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX mission control in California is "go" for Dragon's deorbit burn at 10:51 a.m. EDT (1451 GMT).

Controllers are setting up the spacecraft for the burn of its Draco thrusters, which will fire for 9 minutes, 50 seconds, to slow Dragon's velocity by about 223 mph. That's enough to allow the ship to drop from orbit and enter Earth's atmosphere.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1321 GMT (9:21 a.m. EDT)
The engine burn to begin Dragon's descent is due to begin in about 90 minutes, aiming the capsule for a splashdown point about 560 miles west of Baja California, where three recovery boats contracted by SpaceX are on station to receive the capsule.

Dragon's de-orbit burn is set for 10:51 a.m. EDT (1451 GMT), setting up the spacecraft to plunge back into Earth's atmosphere at 17,000 mph, flying from northwest to southeast over the North Pacific before deploying drogue parachutes and main chutes.

Dragon will also jettison its trunk, an unpressurized section which houses the craft's solar panels, at 11:09 a.m. EDT (1509 GMT). The trunk will burn up in the atmosphere.

The craft's Draco thrusters will periodically fire during re-entry to refine Dragon's trajectory to reach the desired landing zone in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

The capsule's drogue stabilization parachutes will deploy at an altitude of 45,000 feet at 11:35 a.m. EDT (1535 GMT). Three 116-foot main parachutes will unfurl 10,000 feet above the water at 11:36 a.m. EDT (1536 GMT).

Dragon is designed to splash down at a vertical speed of about 11 mph. SpaceX says the craft can safely land even it one of its main parachutes fails.

American Marine is providing the vessels for the recovery. A 185-foot barge with a crane will lift the capsule aboard its deck for the voyage back to port. An 80-foot crew ship and two 25-foot inflatable recovery boats are also in the flotilla.

About a dozen SpaceX engineers and a four-person dive team will assist with Dragon's recovery from the sea.

Once the Dragon spacecraft is aboard the primary barge, the fleet will sail for the Port of Los Angeles, where crews will access a limited amount of the capsule's more than 1,300 pounds of cargo returning from the space station.

The early access is a demonstration by SpaceX for NASA in preparation for future flights, which may carry sensitive biological samples or experiments requiring quick examination.

SpaceX will transport Dragon to its test site in McGregor, Texas, for post-flight processing and to offload the rest of its cargo.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1030 GMT (6:30 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX will soon close Dragon's navigation bay door to prepare for the ship's re-entry. The compartment holds the spacecraft's thermal and laser rendezvous sensors, star tracker system, and the grapple fixture used by the space station's robotic arm.

The closure of the bay door is a critical step to ensure Dragon can withstand up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit during the peak heating of re-entry.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1003 GMT (6:03 a.m. EDT)
NASA verifies Dragon is on a safe trajectory away from the space station. It has now passed outside of the keep-out sphere, an imaginary 200-meter circle around the complex.

"Everything looking safe and sound," said Josh Byerly, a NASA spokesperson.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1003 GMT (6:03 a.m. EDT)
NASA verifies Dragon is on a safe trajectory away from the space station. It has now passed outside of the keep-out sphere, an imaginary 200-meter circle around the complex.

"Everything looking safe and sound," said Josh Byerly, a NASA spokesperson.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
1001 GMT (6:01 a.m. EDT)
Dragon's three departure burns have been completed to send the spacecraft on a safe course away from the space station.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
0955 GMT (5:55 a.m. EDT)
The distance between Dragon and the space station is about 100 meters, 0r 328 feet.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
0952 GMT (5:52 a.m. EDT)
The second departure burn is complete. Dragon will soon re-orient itself in a yaw maneuver before a third separation rocket firing.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
0950 GMT (5:50 a.m. EDT)
The first of three rocket burns have been completed to steer Dragon away from the International Space Station. The station crew issued a departure command on a control panel to send the spacecraft away.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
0949 GMT (5:49 a.m. EDT)
The robotic arm has released Dragon!
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
0945 GMT (5:45 a.m. EDT)
Mission control just told the space station crew they are "go" for release of Dragon in a few minutes.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
0931 GMT (5:31 a.m. EDT)
Release of the Dragon should occur around 5:50 a.m. EDT (0950 GMT).
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
0924 GMT (5:24 a.m. EDT)
Mission control in Houston just told the crew to expect a "go" for release of Dragon at 5:45 a.m. EDT (0945 GMT).
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
0922 GMT (5:22 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX has commanded Dragon into a free drift, a mode in which the craft's thrusters are deactivated to ensure they do not fire as the robotic arm releases the capsule.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
0905 GMT (5:05 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is now in the release position between 30 feet and 40 feet from the space station. SpaceX mission control in California is now activating and checking the craft's systems before it can depart.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
0836 GMT (4:36 a.m. EDT)
After Dragon's release at 5:35 a.m. EDT (0935 GMT), its Draco thrusters will fire twice at 5:36 a.m. and 5:37 a.m. EDT to begin moving away from the International Space Station.

The spacecraft will conduct a yaw maneuver to re-orient itself for departure at 5:42 a.m. EDT, then another rocket burn is set for 5:45 a.m. EDT. Dragon will exit the keep-out sphere at 5:46 a.m. EDT. The keep-out sphere is an imaginary safety zone extending 200 meters, or 656 feet, in all directions from the space station.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
0816 GMT (4:16 a.m. EDT)
The robot arm is now moving Dragon away from the space station.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
0813 GMT (4:13 a.m. EDT)
Dragon's removal from the space station occurred 9 days and 23 minutes following its launch from Florida on a Falcon 9 rocket. The craft spent 5 days, 16 hours, and 5 minutes attached to the space station.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
0807 GMT (4:07 a.m. EDT)
The bolts and latches holding Dragon to the space station have been released, and astronaut Joe Acaba will soon start moving the spacecraft to its release point with the robot arm.
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
0750 GMT (3:50 a.m. EDT)
A series of 16 bolts that rigidly connected the Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station is being methodically loosened to allow astronaut Joe Acaba to pull the capsule away from the complex at about 4:05 a.m. EDT (0705 GMT).

The station's robotic arm already has a firm grasp on the spacecraft.

The Canadian arm will move Dragon to a predetermined point beneath the space station and is scheduled to release the craft at 5:35 a.m. EDT (0935 GMT), setting the stage for a series of rocket burns by the capsule to depart the vicinity of the outpost.

Dragon is schedule to close the door to its navigation bay at 7:07 a.m. EDT (1107 GMT), a critical step to ensure the craft is protected against the harsh 3,000 degree Fahrenheit temperatures of re-entry.

A 9-minute, 50-second firing of Dragon's Draco thrusters is set for 10:51 a.m. EDT (1451 GMT) to brake the craft from orbit, followed by splashdown in the Pacific Ocean west of Baja California at 11:44 a.m. EDT (1544 GMT).

Check out a timeline showing the sequence of events today.

And view a diagram and map illustrating Dragon's departure and splashdown point in the Pacific Ocean.
MONDAY, MAY 28, 2012
2030 GMT (4:30 p.m. EDT)
The crew aboard the International Space Station on Monday unloaded fresh supplies from the Dragon spacecraft's cargo hold and began installing equipment back inside the ship for return to Earth.

Don Pettit and Andre Kuipers quickly removed more than 1,000 pounds of food, experiments, and other gear from Dragon's pressurized module shortly after wake-up Monday.

Dragon hauled 674 pounds of food, clothing, pantry supplies, and mementos to the station.

Pettit also activated student-built experiment mixing tubes launched aboard Dragon inside a commercial NanoRacks module.

Other payloads delivered inside Dragon included ice bricks to keep experiment samples cool, laptop computer equipment, and cargo bags to be used on future flights.

Pettit and Kuipers also loaded most of the 1,455 pounds of cargo selected for return to Earth into Dragon.

The returning payloads include 315 pounds of crew preference items, 205 pounds of experimental hardware, and 760 pounds of utilization equipment, such as a water filtration bed, a pump for the station's urine processing system, water containers, and a multiplexer.

Dragon will also land with spacesuit components used by previous crew members.

NASA flight controllers penciled in Monday and Tuesday for cargo transfers, but the astronauts completed all of Tuesday's work today.

"A big thank you from the SpaceX and Houston teams for unpacking Dragon so quickly and efficiently," mission control radioed the crew Monday afternoon.

The commercial spacecraft is due to depart the complex Thursday at about 6 a.m. EDT (1000 GMT). Astronauts will remove the capsule from the space station with a robotic arm, then position the ship below the outpost and order it to fly away.

Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean west of California is expected a few hours later.

Dragon arrived at the space station Friday after a three-day rendezvous following liftoff from Florida atop a Falcon 9 rocket.

The spacecraft is on a test flight to prove it is ready to transport valuable supplies to and from the station under a 12-flight, $1.6 billion contract with NASA.
MONDAY, MAY 28, 2012
1120 GMT (7:20 a.m. EDT)
Two astronauts who helped capture and berth the Dragon supply ship said Saturday they would be comfortable flying a human-rated version of the craft on commercial flights to the International Space Station.

Read our full story.
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012
1830 GMT (2:30 p.m. EDT)
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station opened the door on the lab's first commercial resupply craft Saturday, accessing more than 1,000 pounds of food, clothing and experiments stowed inside. But one of the most vital functions of the privately-owned cargo ship - its ability to safely return space station equipment to Earth - is yet to be demonstrated.

Read our full story.
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012
1315 GMT (9:15 a.m. EDT)
Check out photos of Dragon's arrival from the viewpoint of astronauts aboard the space station.
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012
1014 GMT (6:14 a.m. EDT)
"It kind of reminds me of the cargo capability that I could put in the back of my pickup truck, and the smell inside smells like a brand new car," said Don Pettit, the space station flight engineer who opened Dragon's hatch a few minutes ago.
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012
0956 GMT (5:56 a.m. EDT)
Astronauts are inspecting the inside of the Dragon spacecraft now, wearing masks and eye protection. The official hatch opening time was 5:53 a.m. EDT (0953 GMT) as the space station flew 253 miles over the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand.
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012
0953 GMT (5:53 a.m. EDT)
Astronaut Don Pettit has opened the Dragon hatch and entered the spacecraft.
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012
0951 GMT (5:51 a.m. EDT)
Mission control just gave the crew a "go" for hatch opening.
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012
0950 GMT (5:50 a.m. EDT)
The astronauts will be wearing safety goggles, ear plugs and masks as they enter Dragon. This is a safety precaution.
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012
0950 GMT (5:50 a.m. EDT)
The astronauts will be wearing safety goggles, ear plugs and masks as they enter Dragon. This is a safety precaution.
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012
0942 GMT (5:42 a.m. EDT)
The hatch on on the Harmony side of the connecting port between the space station and Dragon is already open, and the astronauts are waiting on pressure to equalize between the two vehicles before proceeding with hatch opening.

The crew is running nearly two hours ahead of schedule this morning.
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012
0933 GMT (5:33 a.m. EDT)
Pressure between Dragon and the space station is equalizing before the hatch can be opened.
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012
0929 GMT (5:29 a.m. EDT)
The International Space Station's Expedition 31 crew is running ahead of schedule for this morning's hatch opening to the Dragon spacecraft. The astronauts are expected to open the hatch very soon, then install air ventilation into the capsule's pressurized compartment to mix up the atmosphere inside for about 20 minutes.

The Dragon spacecraft has about 350 cubic feet of internal volume, of which about 245 cubic feet is used to store cargo.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
The International Space Station's robotic arm on Friday reached out and snared a cargo carrier built by SpaceX, making history after the privately-built Dragon spacecraft made a cautious laser-guided approach to the complex, becoming the first commercial spaceship to reach the massive scientific research facility.

Astronaut Don Pettit at the controls of the station's Canadian robotic arm grappled the free-floating Dragon spacecraft at 9:56 a.m. EDT (1356 GMT) as it hovered about 30 feet below.

"Looks like we've got a Dragon by the tail," Pettit radioed mission control moments after he locked onto the craft with the space station's 58-foot Canadian robot arm.

Read our full story.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1755 GMT (1:55 p.m. EDT)
The space station crew will open the hatch to Dragon tomorrow at 7:40 a.m. EDT (1140 GMT), test the ship's pressurized cabin for contaminants, then begin offloading more than 1,000 pounds of cargo.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1722 GMT (1:22 p.m. EDT)
"There's so much that could have gone wrong, and it went right," said Elon Musk, SpaceX's founder, CEO and chief designer. "We were able to overcome some last-minute issues with some fast thinking at NASA mission control and SpaceX mission control, and we got it there."

"I think this is going to be recognized as a significant step forward for space travel," Musk said from SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, Calif., amid cheers and chants from the assembled workforce.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1620 GMT (12:20 p.m. EDT)
We will air a news conference with NASA and SpaceX officials at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT).
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1606 GMT (12:06 p.m. EDT)
The space station crew will open the hatch and enter the Dragon spacecraft Saturday, beginning work to unload cargo from the pressurized capsule and install equipment tagged for return to Earth.

Dragon is scheduled to remain at the space station until May 31.

Mating of the Dragon with the space station occurred 3 days, 8 hours, and 18 minutes after the flight blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Fla.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1603 GMT (12:03 p.m. EDT)
All 16 bolts in the common berthing mechanism have driven to create a firm connection between Dragon and the Harmony module. The commercial spacecraft is now part of the International Space Station, the first U.S. vehicle to visit the outpost since the last space shuttle mission departed in July 2011.

Final berthing occurred at 12:02 p.m. EDT (1602 GMT) as the space station flew over the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1559 GMT (11:59 a.m. EDT)
Mission control reports second-stage capture is underway between Dragon and the space station's Harmony module.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1552 GMT (11:52 a.m. EDT)
First-stage capture is complete, and 16 bolts will soon drive to firmly attach Dragon to the space station.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1547 GMT (11:47 a.m. EDT)
The robot arm has positioned Dragon in the so-called ready-to-latch position at the Harmony module's Earth-facing berthing port.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1522 GMT (11:22 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX is repositioning Dragon's solar arrays to configure the spacecraft for the space station to resume attitude control and move back to its normal orientation in orbit.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1504 GMT (11:04 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is now aligned with its home port for the next six days - the nadir common berthing mechanism on the Harmony connecting node.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1454 GMT (10:54 a.m. EDT)
The robot arm is driving Dragon toward alignment with the Earth-facing berthing port on the station's Harmony module.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1442 GMT (10:42 a.m. EDT)
Flight engineer Joe Acaba will soon begin preparing the common berthing mechanism port on the station's Harmony module to receive Dragon.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1429 GMT (10:29 a.m. EDT)
Mission control told the crew they can continue with preparations to berth the Dragon spacecraft on the International Space Station. The process should be complete by 4:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. EDT (2030-2100 GMT).
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1422 GMT (10:22 a.m. EDT)
Pettit says Dragon's berthing system looks to be clear of debris. "It looks like a clean interface," Pettit said.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1415 GMT (10:15 a.m. EDT)
An early inspection of Dragon shows it appears to be in good shape, but a more thorough look will occur in daylight. Orbital sunrise is just a few minutes away.

Meanwhile, Pettit and Kuipers have begun the procedure to move Dragon to the install position on the nadir, or Earth-facing, port on the space station's Harmony node.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1358 GMT (9:58 a.m. EDT)
"Looks like we've got a Dragon by the tail," station flight engineer Don Pettit said moments after grappling the craft over northwest Australia.

Applause broke out in mission control centers in Houston and Hawthorne, Calif., upon news of the capture.

"Looks like this sim went really well," Pettit joked. "We're ready to turn it around and do it for real."
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1356 GMT (9:56 a.m. EDT)
Capture confirmed! Dragon has arrived at the International Space Station, making history and becoming the first commercial spaceship to reach the huge orbiting scientific research complex.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1353 GMT (9:53 a.m. EDT)
The robotic arm, driven by NASA astronaut Don Pettit, is now in motion toward Dragon's grapple fixture.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1350 GMT (9:50 a.m. EDT)
The crew is "go" for capture of Dragon. Views from the camera at the end of the lab's 58-foot Canadian robotic arm show a clear picture of the grapple fixture on Dragon as the duo orbit over the Indian Ocean.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1348 GMT (9:48 a.m. EDT)
Dragon has arrived at the capture point 10 meters, or 32 feet, below the space station. NASA flight director Holly Ridings is polling the space station control team for a "go" for capture.

"The crew is ready," Andre Kuipers just radioed the ground.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1347 GMT (9:47 a.m. EDT)
Dragon has arrived at the capture point 10 meters, or 32 feet, below the space station. NASA flight director Holly Ridings is polling the space station control team for a "go" for capture.

"The crew is ready," Andre Kuipers just radioed the ground.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1343 GMT (9:43 a.m. EDT)
The space station and Dragon have passed into orbital darkness over the Southern Ocean. External lights on the space station have been activated to help the astronauts see Dragon as it moves inside 50 feet from the complex.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1336 GMT (9:36 a.m. EDT)
The crew has until 10:02 a.m. EDT (1402 GMT) to capture Dragon, or else they must wait until at least 10:28 a.m. EDT (1428 GMT). A grapple before 10:02 a.m. would be in darkness, but it's up to the crew if they want to do the procedure at night.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1333 GMT (9:33 a.m. EDT)
Mission control reports it will take another 20 minutes for Dragon to reach the capture point below the space station.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1329 GMT (9:29 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is now firing thrusters to nudge it closer to the space station. Its next destination is a hold point just 10 meters, or 32 feet, from the 450-ton orbiting outpost.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1327 GMT (9:27 a.m. EDT)
NASA and SpaceX are "go" for Dragon to leave its current position and move even closer to the space station.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1323 GMT (9:23 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX mission director John Couluris polled his team in Hawthorne, Calif., and all controllers are "go" for Dragon to depart the 30-meter hold point. NASA will soon poll the space station team in Houston.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1319 GMT (9:19 a.m. EDT)
Meanwhile, SpaceX engineers are evaluating settings for Dragon's LIDAR laser system for the final phase of the craft's high-speed, high-altitude rendezvous with the International Space Station. They want to avoid any more bad data that could trigger a retreat or abort.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1314 GMT (9:14 a.m. EDT)
Dragon has arrived at the 30-meter (98-foot) hold point. Officials are considering when the spacecraft would need to depart this position to be in the capture box at the appointed grapple time.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1307 GMT (9:07 a.m. EDT)
NASA is now targeting 10:40 a.m. EDT (1440 GMT) for capture of Dragon.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1303 GMT (9:03 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is now approaching the space station again after SpaceX adjusted the LIDAR laser sensors to narrow their field-of-view, avoiding anomalous readings from reflections off Japan's laboratory module.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1236 GMT (8:36 a.m. EDT)
Dragon's LIDAR sensor works by bouncing laser signals off the space station, creating a 3D map of the complex and giving Dragon's computer data on the craft's distance, closure rate, and orientation.

It seems like the ship's LIDAR system was receiving stray reflections from a structure on the space station's Japanese Kibo laboratory module, so SpaceX wants to see how to resolve the issue.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1233 GMT (8:33 a.m. EDT)
This will likely push Dragon's capture by the space station robotic arm after the new target time of 9:10 a.m. EDT (1310 GMT).
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1228 GMT (8:28 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is now holding about 72 meters, or 236 feet, from the space station after SpaceX told the spacecraft to stop its retreat. NASA says SpaceX is looking at data from Dragon's LIDAR sensor.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1225 GMT (8:25 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX just commanded a retreat of the Dragon spacecraft away from the International Space Station. Awaiting word on the reason for this maneuver.

Dragon was at a range of 59 meters, or 193 feet, from the station at the time of the retreat command.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1221 GMT (8:21 a.m. EDT)
Dragon's approach has resumed.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1220 GMT (8:20 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX has finished its commanding of Dragon's LIDAR rendezvous system, and Dragon will soon start edging closer to the space station again.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1202 GMT (8:02 a.m. EDT)
Data show Dragon is now about 78 meters, or 255 feet, from the space station. SpaceX is changing modes on Dragon's LIDAR laser ranging instrument. This hold was not part of the normal plan going into the rendezvous.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1201 GMT (8:01 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX is halting Dragon's approach now. We're awaiting word on the reason.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1158 GMT (7:58 a.m. EDT)
As we approach this morning's targeted capture time, mission control in Houston just informed the station crew the new grapple time should be 9:10 a.m. EDT (1310 GMT).
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1144 GMT (7:44 a.m. EDT)
Mission control has cleared Dragon to fly to the next planned hold point 30 meters, or 98 feet, beneath the space station. But engineers are still closely watching the craft's thermal sensor data to see if it agrees with information generated from Dragon's laser sensors.

It will take 30 minutes for Dragon to move to the next hold point. NASA is working out a new estimate of when Dragon will be grappled this morning.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1134 GMT (7:34 a.m. EDT)
Dragon responded and is holding at 150 meters.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1132 GMT (7:32 a.m. EDT)
Kuipers has issued the hold command for Dragon to halt its approach and hover 150 meters, or 492 feet, at a position between Earth and the space station.

This hold will give engineers additional time to analyze the performance of Dragon's rendezvous systems, particularly thermal cameras designed to help locate and track the space station.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1120 GMT (7:20 a.m. EDT)
And the spacecraft has restarted its movement toward the space station, flying closer to the complex at a deliberate pace of about one-tenth of a mile per hour.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1119 GMT (7:19 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is go to enter the safety zone around space station, which extends to a distance of 200 meters in all directions. But Andre Kuipers will call another hold at a distance of 150 meters, or 492 feet.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1114 GMT (7:14 a.m. EDT)
Responding to a command from the station crew, the Dragon spacecraft has paused 200 meters, or 656 feet, from the International Space Station to give the thermal tracking camera a chance to obtain better data on the positions of the two vehicles in orbit.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1103 GMT (7:03 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is now moving to an unplanned hold point 200 meters, or 656 feet, from the space station in hopes of improving data from the ship's two thermal sensors. SpaceX reports Dragon's LIDAR laser ranging instruments are working fine.

The thermal and laser sensors independently measure the distance between Dragon and the space station to feed into the craft's guidance system.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1057 GMT (6:57 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX and NASA controllers are analyzing data from the laser and thermal sensors aboard Dragon to ensure they have good agreement on the position of Dragon and the space station.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1035 GMT (6:35 a.m. EDT)
Engineers are evaluating sensor data before approving Dragon's continued approach to the space station.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1030 GMT (6:30 a.m. EDT)
Astronaut Megan Behnken in mission control says Dragon will remain in this holding pattern for a few more minutes. Andre Kuipers aboard the space station is checking Dragon's position relative to camera trackers showing where the craft should be located.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1022 GMT (6:22 a.m. EDT)
Andre Kuipers just issued the hold command after mission control in Houston told him to send the signal a bit earlier than planned. SpaceX says they see the spacecraft slowing down.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1019 GMT (6:19 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is again flying toward the space station. Andre Kuipers will push the button to send a hold command to Dragon at the 235-meter point.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1018 GMT (6:18 a.m. EDT)
Standing by for Dragon to resume its approach.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1016 GMT (6:16 a.m. EDT)
Mission control just informed the space station crew that engineers are spending some extra time analyzing data from Dragon's thermal imager, so it will continue flying in formation at the 250-meter hold point for a bit longer than planned.

Dragon carries a laser guidance sensor package and two thermal cameras to aid its final rendezvous with the space station.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1006 GMT (6:06 a.m. EDT)
The Dragon spacecraft has returned to the 250-meter hold position. The next move will be for Dragon to move back to the 235-meter point, where Kuipers will send a hold command by pushing a button on a panel inside the space station.

If all goes well with the next test, Dragon will continue approaching the space station, passing inside of the safety keep-out sphere to a 30-meter hold point.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
1000 GMT (6:00 a.m. EDT)
Andre Kuipers has sent the retreat command to Dragon via a UHF communications link between the capsule and the space station.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0956 GMT (5:56 a.m. EDT)
Dragon has resumed its approach.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0956 GMT (5:56 a.m. EDT)
Dragon has resumed its approach.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0955 GMT (5:55 a.m. EDT)
Dragon will momentarily resume moving closer to the space station, and Andre Kuipers will issue a retreat command when the craft reaches a range of 235 meters.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0944 GMT (5:44 a.m. EDT)
Dragon will soon depart the 250-meter hold point and fly to a point 220 meters below the space station, at which time astronauts will command Dragon to retreat back to the 250-meter position, where it will automatically pause and restart its approach.

A second approach will be held at 220 meters by the crew, then Dragon will resume its flight up the R-bar, the imaginary line drawn between the space station and the center of the Earth.

Meanwhile, Dragon's laser guidance sensors will be thoroughly checked a final time to verify it is ready for precise navigation requirements necessary close to the station. The laser sensor provides range, closing rate and attitude information on the station as Dragon autonomously approaches.

These are the final demonstrations required before mission control gives a "go" for Dragon to move inside the 200-meter keep-out sphere and proceed to a hold point 30 meters below the station, then ultimately to a capture position at a range of 10 meters.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0940 GMT (5:40 a.m. EDT)
Dragon and the space station just passed into sunlight over the western United States.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0933 GMT (5:33 a.m. EDT)
Mission control in Houston reports Dragon's position is acceptable.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0931 GMT (5:31 a.m. EDT)
Andre Kuipers aboard the space station reports the Dragon spacecraft is slightly forward of where on-board trackers expected it to to be.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0931 GMT (5:31 a.m. EDT)
Andre Kuipers aboard the space station reports the Dragon spacecraft is slightly forward of where on-board trackers expected it to to be.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0929 GMT (5:29 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is holding 250 meters, or 820 feet, beneath the space station.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0924 GMT (5:24 a.m. EDT)
Range between Dragon and the space station is now about 315 meters, or about 1,033 feet.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0920 GMT (5:20 a.m. EDT)
Dragon has completed a 180-degree yaw maneuver to align itself for final approach to the space station, and the craft is moving to a hold point at a range of 250 meters.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0911 GMT (5:11 a.m. EDT)
NASA astronaut Don Pettit will man the station's robot arm during this morning's capture of the Dragon spacecraft. European Space Agency flight engineer Andre Kuipers will assist Pettit at the controls of the arm in the station's windowed cupola.

"We've been doing quite a bit of training, particularly oriented towards the crew role, which is flying the robotic arm and capturing the SpaceX vehicle when it gets in a holding pattern near space station," Pettit said. "Then the arm will maneuver the Dragon vehicle to one of our docking ports, then we'll fasten it to station, and then we can go about outfitting the vestibule and opening the hatch."

Hatch opening is scheduled for Saturday morning, following Dragon's capture at 7:59 a.m. EDT (1159 GMT) and berthing about four hours later.

"That whole process is going to be a long day for us," Pettit said. "It's going to be 10 hours plus to get all of that done. If we have a few hitches on the way, we may have to put it all on hold and pick it up the next day."

Dragon will become the only operational cargo vehicle with the ability to return equipment from the space station to Earth.

"If all of that happens according to plan, it will be great to have significant payload down capability once again," Pettit said. "Everybody talks about getting payload up to station, but one of thing that's sorely missing in the wake of the shuttle retirement is getting payload back down. We have all kinds of useful things that we want to get back down to Earth but currently don't really have a way to get them back down."

"Currently, we have no way to get our frozen samples back. Crucial to the life science experiments that we are doing on space station, particularly the human physiology experiments," Pettit said. "We have blood, urine, and spit samples, we have all these things frozen in our freezers ... and they're down at minus-95 to minus-98 Centigrade. These samples have to remain frozen all the way to the laboratory to where they're going to be analyzed. Currently, Dragon will be the only way to get these samples back to Earth, and that will allow the science behind all our human physiology [experiments] to continue."
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0904 GMT (5:04 a.m. EDT)
Cameras on the International Space Station have spotted Dragon backdropped against Earth. The duo just passed into orbital sunset south of Australia.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0844 GMT (4:44 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is now entering the approach ellipsoid, an imaginary ellipse around the space station. Don Pettit aboard the space station says his monitors show the spacecraft is about 1,200 meters, or about 3,900 feet, below the complex.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0821 GMT (4:21 a.m. EDT)
Dragon just completed an approach initiation burn to aim for a point 350 meters directly below the space station, where the craft should arrive in about 45 minutes. Then Dragon will conduct a yaw alignment maneuver before proceeding to a hold point 250 meters below the space station.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0742 GMT (3:42 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is now about 10 kilometers, or 6.2 miles, behind and 1.4 kilometers, or 0.9 miles, below the space station.

Familiarize yourself with Dragon's rendezvous.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0704 GMT (3:04 a.m. EDT)
A height-adjustment burn was just completed by Dragon's thrusters to begin this morning's rendezvous profile. Two midcourse correction burns are planned at 3:17 a.m. (0717 GMT) and 3:34 a.m. EDT (0334 GMT) before a co-elliptic at 3:46 a.m. EDT (0346 GMT).

An approach initiation burn is scheduled for 4:11 a.m. EDT (0811 GMT), when Dragon is at a point 1.4 kilometers, or 4,600 feet, below the space station. Arrival at a position 250 meters, or 820 feet, below the complex is expected at about 5:21 a.m. EDT (0921 GMT).

A series of demonstrated abort and hold maneuvers will begin at 5:36 a.m. EDT (0936 GMT), in which the crew aboard the space station will issue commands for Dragon to abort and hold its approach. Dragon's laser range-finder will also be fully vetted during this period.

Dragon will converge on the space station from below, holding again at a distance of 30 meters, or 98 feet, for engineers to verify all is ready for the craft to proceed to a capture point about 30 feet below the station.

Astronaut Don Pettit will grapple the Dragon at about 7:59 a.m. EDT (1159 GMT).
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
0155 GMT (9:55 p.m. EDT Thurs.)
The International Space Station mission management team just gave a "go" for integrated operations between the space station and Dragon spacecraft.

Integrated operations will begin around 3 a.m. EDT (0700 GMT), after which the space station control team in Houston will have authority over the progress of the mission. SpaceX controllers in California will continue sending commands to Dragon after approval from Houston.

We will have live streaming video and comprehensive updates on Dragon's progress beginning at 2 a.m. EDT (0600 GMT).
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
1430 GMT (10:30 a.m. EDT)
All systems are in good shape for tomorrow's rendezvous and berthing with the International Space Station, according to NASA and SpaceX officials.

The commercial Dragon spacecraft flew about 8,000 feet directly beneath the space station this morning after astronauts and engineers successfully proved the ship's relative GPS navigation system and tested a communications link between the craft and the station crew.

In a news conference from Houston and SpaceX headquarters in California, officials said today's activities went as expected.

Dragon fired its thrusters to enter a looping trajectory around the space station, eventually arriving at a point below and behind the complex - much like it did earlier today - to start a second rendezvous with the outpost.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
1137 GMT (7:37 a.m. EDT)
The space station flight control team has declared the UHF commanding demo complete. There are no indications of any problems with this morning's fly-under demonstration, but NASA and SpaceX officials will meet later today to go over the data before approving tomorrow's berthing activity.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
1133 GMT (7:33 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX will soon turn off Dragon's strobe light, which was activated as a demo command issued by the space station crew.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
1125 GMT (7:25 a.m. EDT)
The space station is flying out of communications range with the ground, but Dragon should now be coasting 1.6 miles directly underneath the complex.

The next engine burn is set for 7:57 a.m. EDT (1157 GMT) to lower Dragon's orbit as it begins a flyaround ahead, above, then behind the space station to set up for a rendezvous with the outpost tomorrow, when the craft will continue all the way to berthing if NASA gives a "go" after reviewing data from today's testing.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
1122 GMT (7:22 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is now flying under the space station. It's still a few minutes until closest approach.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
1118 GMT (7:18 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is now flying under the space station. It's still a few minutes until closest approach.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
1057 GMT (6:57 a.m. EDT)
After astronauts sent a successful command to turn on Dragon's strobe light, the space station's cameras have spotted the spacecraft as it approaches from below and behind the complex. It appears as a bright dot above Earth's limb.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
1050 GMT (6:50 a.m. EDT)
Dragon will fly directly under the space station in about 30 minutes.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
1048 GMT (6:48 a.m. EDT)
Kuipers reports Dragon is too brightly illuminated by the sun to visually confirm whether the strobe light turned on, but telemetry indicates the test was a success. This is a crucial point in today's fly-under because it tests the station's ability to issue abort and hold commands to Dragon in the event of a problem during final rendezvous and berthing tomorrow.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
1047 GMT (6:47 a.m. EDT)
Telemetry is showing the command was successfully issued by Kuipers. Awaiting word on whether the strobe light illuminated.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
1046 GMT (6:46 a.m. EDT)
Space station flight engineer Andre Kuipers is now checking out the UHF communications link between the complex and Dragon. This will involve telling Dragon's strobe light to turn on as a check of the station's ability to command Dragon.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
1041 GMT (6:41 a.m. EDT)
Dragon's thermal camera has spotted the International Space Station, according to SpaceX.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
1026 GMT (6:26 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX is configuring for two-way communications with the space station, and the test to issue a command to turn on Dragon's strobe light is expected to be about 10 minutes away. And the station reports their monitors now show data from Dragon.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0958 GMT (5:58 a.m. EDT)
Astronaut Don Pettit in the space station's cupola reports he sees the Dragon spacecraft out the window.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0956 GMT (5:56 a.m. EDT)
Initial data on Dragon's relative GPS demo looks good, NASA says.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0954 GMT (5:54 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is now 23 kilometers, or 14 miles, behind the space station and 2.5 kilometers, or 1.6 miles, below it.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0943 GMT (5:43 a.m. EDT)
Dragon's relative GPS navigation test is mostly complete, but SpaceX and NASA engineers will spend a few minutes analyzing data to check if the system worked as expected.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0929 GMT (5:29 a.m. EDT)
Coming in a few minutes will be the relative GPS navigation demo, which will use a communications link between Dragon and the space station to compare their locations in space using positioning data from GPS satellites.

The relative GPS technique is how Dragon navigates to the space station before switching to laser and thermal imaging sensors for more precise navigation in the final phase of rendezvous.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0926 GMT (5:26 a.m. EDT)
The crew command panel, the device the astronauts will use to send commands to Dragon, has been tested by flight engineer Andre Kuipers and is functional. The crew will command Dragon's strobe light to turn on later in this flyby demo.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0913 GMT (5:13 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is expected to cross directly underneath the space station at about 7:26 a.m. EDT (1126 GMT). The crossing of the R-bar - an imaginary line between the station and Earth - will mark Dragon's closest approach to the complex today.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0859 GMT (4:59 a.m. EDT)
Astronaut Don Pettit aboard the space station is troubleshooting a problem with a robotics work station in the lab's cupola due to be used to grapple Dragon tomorrow as it hovers about 30 feet below the outpost. NASA says it's no issue if the work station is not recovered in time. There is a backup robotic arm control station in the Destiny laboratory module.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0847 GMT (4:47 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX reports Dragon's fly-under will occur at a distance of 2.4 kilometers, or 1.5 miles, under the space station.

Space station flight engineer Andre Kuipers is powering up the UHF communications unit linking the complex with Dragon. The crew will issue a command to turn on Dragon's strobe light via the UHF system at about 6:28 a.m. EDT (1028 GMT). That is a key test of the crew's ability to tell Dragon to abort or hold its approach when it moves closer to the station tomorrow.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0844 GMT (4:44 a.m. EDT)
The co-elliptic burn is complete and Dragon is now at an altitude 1.6 miles below that of the International Space Station, beginning today's fly-under activities. Dragon's relative GPS navigation and the space station crew's command to turn on Dragon's strobe light are coming up.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0843 GMT (4:43 a.m. EDT)
A thruster firing has begun to level off Dragon's climb to a point 1.6 miles under the space station's orbit. Dragon is now about 40 kilometers, or about 25 miles, behind the space station now.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0758 GMT (3:58 a.m. EDT)
The burn is complete, and the next maneuver is set for 4:43 a.m. EDT (0843 GMT).
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0757 GMT (3:57 a.m. EDT)
The height-adjust burn is underway to place Dragon on a trajectory 2.5 kilometers, or 1.6 miles, below the space station. Dragon is now about 60 kilometers, or 37 miles, behind the space station.

Views of the Dragon capsule today may be tough to see, but there is a chance it may appear as a small white dot at times as it flies near the space station.

"The views today will be nothing compared to what we're going to be seeing tomorrow," Byerly said.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0723 GMT (3:23 a.m. EDT)
Dragon is now about 100 kilometers (62 miles) behind the space station and 9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles) below the space station, mission control in Houston just radioed the crew.

Rendezvous procedures now are running about an hour late.

SpaceX and NASA are go for a height-adjustment burn at 3:58 a.m. EDT (0758 GMT). A so-called co-elliptic burn will follow on the other side of the world 45 minutes later to place Dragon on course for its 1.6-mile fly-under of the space station.

The timeline calls for the communications test between the space station and Dragon to occur at 6:28 a.m. EDT (1028 GMT). The vehicles are linked via a system called the COTS UHF Communications Unit, or CUCU.

A command panel inside the space station is available for the crew to issue instructions to Dragon. Today's demo will be for the crew to command an external light on Dragon to turn on, verifying the link works. The system is required for the crew to order Dragon to hold, abort, and prepare for capture with the robotic arm.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0655 GMT (2:55 a.m. EDT)
Crews of engineers inside SpaceX's mission control in Hawthorne, Calif., have tracked Dragon's mission since launch. The control team has worked 24 hours a day, overseeing Dragon's maneuvers to catch up with the space station over the last couple of days.

SpaceX controls the Dragon spacecraft, but space station mission control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston has authority over the mission when the ship passes within about a mile-and-a-half of the complex during Friday's planned rendezvous and berthing.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0636 GMT (2:36 a.m. EDT)
Two firings of Dragon's thrusters are planned at 3:58 a.m. EDT (0758 GMT) and 4:43 a.m. EDT (0843 GMT) to place the capsule on course for a point 2.5 kilometers, or about 1.6 miles, under the space station.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0624 GMT (2:24 a.m. EDT)
SpaceX chief Elon Musk just tweeted: "About 110 miles away and the spacecraft is now in direct communication with the space station."
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
0401 GMT (12:01 a.m. EDT)
After a succession of rocket burns to fine-tune its pursuit of the International Space Station, the commercial Dragon spacecraft is due for a flyby of the complex Thursday, a crucial prerequisite for the ship's arrival at the outpost Friday.

Read our full story.



Read our earlier status center coverage.