Artist's rendition of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft approaching the space station.
Credit: SpaceX
Dragon In Space - Animation
Artist's rendition of the space station's robotic arm moving SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft into place to attach it to the space station.
Credit: SpaceX
Dragon In Space - Animation
Artist's rendition of the Dragon spacecraft at the International Space Station.
Credit: SpaceX
Dragon In Space - Animation
Artist's rendition of the Dragon berthed at International Space Station.
Courtesy NASA
Dragon In Space - Animation
Artist's rendition of the Dragon spacecraft as it leaves the International Space Station.
Credit: SpaceX
Dragon In Space - Animation
Artist's rendition of the Dragon spacecraft in space.
Credit: SpaceX
Dragon In Space - Animation
Artist's rendition of the Dragon spacecraft as it orbits the Earth.
Credit: SpaceX
Dragon In Space - Animation
Artist's rendition of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft as it returns to Earth. Dragon's PICA-X heat shield protects the vehicle as it returns to Earth like a burning comet.
Credit: SpaceX
Dragon In Space - Animation
Artist's rendition of a water landing of the Dragon Spacecraft.
Courtesy NASA.
Preparing For The Mission
In preparation for the launch, the Falcon 9 rocket fires all 9 engines for 2 seconds as part of a day-long simulation of launch day.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft sits atop the Falcon 9 rocket at the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
SpaceX engineers at the company's Cape Canaveral Launch Control during a full countdown simulation.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket stands at the company's Cape Canaveral launch pad.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket stands at the company's Cape Canaveral launch pad.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket with a Dragon spacecraft rests horizontally in the company's hangar in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket with a Dragon spacecraft is rolled out to the company's launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
The Dragon spacecraft sits in the hangar at Cape Canaveral. The capsule rests on top of the trunk. Large square fairings on the side of the trunk cover the solar arrays.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
View looking at the nosecone of the Dragon spacecraft & Falcon 9 rocket as they roll to the launch pad in Cape Canaveral Florida on April 29, 2012.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
NASA astronaut Megan McArthur and others perform a crew equipment interface test on the Dragon spacecraft on March 28, 2012, in SpaceX's hangar in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
NASA astronaut Megan McArthur and others perform a crew equipment interface test on the Dragon spacecraft on March 28, 2012, in SpaceX's hangar in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
The Dragon spacecraft undergoes final preparations at SpaceX's headquarters in Hawthorne, California.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
The Dragon spacecraft in the hangar at Cape Canaveral, Florida, during processing.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
This diagram of the Dragon spacecraft shows the features of the vehicle.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
Illustration depicting key communication links to be employed during the COTS-2 mission.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
SpaceX engineers test the solar panels that will power the Dragon spacecraft in orbit.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
The COTS UHF Communications Unit system, shown here prior to delivery to NASA, was delivered via the space shuttle to the ISS. The system was installed prior to the approach and berthing on the final COTS mission and will see regular use in support of SpaceX's continuing CRS cargo resupply missions.
Credit: SpaceX
Preparing For The Mission
Astronauts visit SpaceX for Dragon training in September 2010. From left; Lee Archambault, Satoshi Furukawa (JAXA), Joe Acaba, Mike Fossum, and Dan Burbank receive Dragon communications unit training from SpaceX's Marco Villa. This is the unit that will be used aboard the station when Dragon visits.
Photo: Roger Gilbertson / SpaceX