Dragon In Space - Animation

Dragon and Falcon 9 Second Stage, post Second Stage Separation Event. Courtesy NASA

Dragon In Space - Animation

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

Illustration depicting key communication links to be employed during the second Dragon Spacecraft flight as part of SpaceX’s NASA COTS program.

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

The COTS UHF Communications Unit system, shown here prior to delivery to NASA, will be delivered via the Space Shuttle to the ISS. The system will be installed prior to the approach and berthing on the final COTS mission, and will also see regular use in support of our continuing CRS cargo resupply missions.

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