Dragon ship left the launch pad on October 7

The US Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) and US SpaceX private company and international partners have decided to fly the second Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) and also is SpaceX's first commercial flight on October 7.

According to a notice from NASA's website on October 3, the Dragon transport spacecraft brought goods to supply to ISS, expected to leave the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Base, Florida (USA) at 20 35 minutes on October 7 (local time).

On October 3, the Dragon ship placed on Falcon 9 boosters was moved to the Complex 40 space launcher in preparation for the mission. The ship is expected to arrive in ISS after three days of flight.

Dragon ship in flight to ISS in May

This will be the first of a total of 12 Dragon's commercial flights to the ISS by SpaceX, according to the company's contract of supply of goods (CRS) signed in 2008 with NASA.

Previously, according to NASA manager Charles Bolden, after the first flight to ISS at the end of May and achieved full success, SpaceX has been certified to be able to provide a cargo ship with cargo. to ISS.

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.