Dragon capsule attempts to dock with ISS this morning

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**Frazzled**

http://blog.chron.com/sciguy/2012/05/dragon-capsule-to-attempt-to-dock-with-space-station-this-morning/
Actually site has pic.

7:25 a.m. UPDATE: Now SpaceX has issued a “retreat” command after seeing some data from the Dragon spacecraft’s LIDAR system that engineers did not like. It is holding at 70 meters while the data is examined.

Dragon approaches the station. (NASA TV)
7:20 a.m. UPDATE: SpaceX has sent the commands needed to Dragon’s LIDAR ranging system, and the spacecraft will now resume moving toward a planned hold 30 meters from the station.

7:05 a.m. UPDATE: Now Dragon is in another unplanned hold, about 80 meters from the station. More work with the sensors. This hold is expected to last about 10 or 15 minutes.

7 a.m. UPDATE: Mission Control in Houston has cleared Dragon to move within 30 meters of the station. Updated docking time is 8:10 a.m. CT.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Good morning.

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will attempt to dock with the International Space Station later this morning.

An issue with the spacecraft’s thermal sensors has cropped up, so the spacecraft will move to within 200 meters of the station and then undergo some diagnostic testing. This is an unplanned hold.

Dragon uses both thermal and LIDAR ranging sensors to measure the distance between Dragon and the station. The LIDAR sensors are working fine.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Update: go given tomove in for the big hook!

8:30 a.m. UPDATE: Dragon has been given a “go” to continue moving toward the space station.

The astronauts onboard the International Space Station will be able to grab the Dragon spacecraft once it closes to within 10 meters.

8:15 a.m. UPDATE: Dragon continues to close in on the space station and has reached a planned “hold” 30 meters from the station.

The spacecraft must be grappled in the daylight, rather than in the dark, so NASA managers are still determining when best to have astronauts aboard the station grapple Dragon with the space station’s robotic arm.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
8:50 a.m. UPDATE: Dragon has moved to within 10 meters of the space station.

The crew aboard ISS has been given a “go” to capture Dragon!

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Docked!

**J-Roc77**

Without checking on any of this I am going to assume it is Capsule Corp from Dragon Ball Z.

http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/Capsule_Corporation

Actually curiosity got the better of me. The first private vessel to dock with the space station is pretty cool. Bringing supplies too! I would have better liked the name Planet Express, but Dragon is cool too.

**Grakmar**

And, with this event, "Space Trucker" is officially an occupation.

Where can I sign up?

**Orlanth**

They could have just done it. safety wasnt the real issue for the extra stops, the capsule is moving slowly and is easy to catch. its because its a first mission they need all the telemetry data to correlate for future launches. If something doesnt add up then you need to stop until it does so that next time you have the programming set and tested.

Nothing to worry about here, nothing that would constitute 'failure' or 'risk', no matter what the press may be thinking.