SpaceX's Dragon capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 11:42 a.m. EDT west of Baja California, Mexico, yesterday.
A beginning is now made where NASA would be able to divest much of its maintenance routine to private parties.
The Dragon capsule will be picked by a boat and transported to SpaceX's test facility in McGregor, Texas, for processing.
Before the craft returns to Texas, some sensitive cargo will be removed and taken to NASA within 48 hours.
The capsule has carried back micro-gravity experiments. The projects will be handed over to respective researchers
NASA has plans to invest in outsourcing commercial flights to bolster commercial space industry in America.
NASA will now set itself to evaluate the Dragon capsule's mission performance to close out remaining milestones. Once that work is completed NASA and SpaceX will set the target date for the company's first full cargo mission.
NASA also is helping spur innovation and development of new spacecraft and launch vehicles from the commercial industry to develop safe, reliable and cost-effective capabilities to transport astronauts to low Earth orbit and the space station.
Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS), a crew capsule and heavy-lift rocket are under development.
Exciting days are ahead for space science.
No comments:
Post a Comment