Dragon ship is about to fly commercially

US private company SpaceX will launch the Dragon transport spacecraft for the second time to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) in October , RIA Novosti reports from Universe Today.

This will be the first of a total of 12 commercial flights of the Dragon ship to the ISS by SpaceX, according to the company's contract signed in 2008 with the US Agency for Aeronautics and Space (NASA).

Dragon transport spacecraft in flight to ISS in late May through - (Photo: Reuters / NASA)

NASA manager Charles Bolden said on Aug. 23 that after the first flight to ISS in late May has been a complete success, now SpaceX has been fully certified to be able to provide a ship. Transportation brings goods to ISS, according to Universe Today.

Reportedly, on May 31, after a nine-day journey, the Dragon returned to Earth successfully when safely landing in the Pacific Ocean, ending the historic mission of the first private ship to fly to ISS. .

This test flight helped SpaceX, owned by internet billionaire Elon Musk, open a new chapter in the exploration of the universe with the participation of private companies and organizations.

At the same time, the Dragon also filled the gap in the US space program, with the help of the country to restore space flights, first of all to transport goods to ISS, after the US shuttle fleet. expired last year.

In addition to contracting with NASA to make 12 flights to supply ISS, SpaceX also plans to develop the Dragon vessel to become a manned spacecraft to fly to ISS by 2015, to compete with Russia. , the country holds a monopoly in bringing people to space by Soyuz.

Currently each seat on the Soyuz ship that NASA has to pay for Russia is 63 million USD.