SpaceX’s CRS-5/SpX-5 Dragon is scheduled to berth with the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday morning. While a large amount of attention has been focused on the near-success of the first landing of a returning core stage on the Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship, the primary aim of the mission is Dragon’s delivery an array of cargo to the orbital outpost.
CRS-5:
The SpX-5/CRS-5 Dragon began her journey to the ISS atop of her Falcon 9 v1.1 partner on Saturday morning.
A quick look management review of the rocket’s ascent phase – and early on orbit operations of the Dragon – noted no issues for the duo.
Dragon herself would be forgiven for wondering why the the eyes of the space flight community were soon focused on the Atlantic Ocean, following her successful foray into Low Earth Orbit. However, that was somewhat understandable, as another Falcon 9 v1.1 core stage conducted a propulsive return to Earth.
While such efforts have taken place over a number of recent missions, this attempt involved the Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (ASDS), a landing platform vessel sporting the SpaceX’s logo as a target for the landing legs of the core stage.
The first stage made a valiant effort to hit its mark. However, the return was deemed to be too fast for a secure landing, resulting in the loss of the stage.
Although this allowed for certain mass media outlets to show a complete lack of understanding of the pre-announced odds relating to a successful landing, the reality is this attempt has provided another step forward for SpaceX’s ambitions of returning core stages for reuse.
The ASDS has since returned back to the coast, with photos circulating on social media – and collated in a NSF thread – showing some of the battle scars of a the core stage landing attempt.
SpaceX is understood to have gained some video footage from the event and may release it publicly in time.
Meanwhile, Dragon has merrily continued her orbital journey, conducting numerous burns to position herself for Monday’s arrival.
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A video of rocket wreckage being removed from the barge is in the O'Club.