SpaceX, one of Elon Musk’s successful companies, the first of it’s kind to privatize the rocket industry has a reason to celebrate today! It’s shuttle, Dragon is set to return to Earth today. After spending a month at the International Space Station, collecting NASA samples and cargo, Dragon is finally coming back. It’s said to be approximately carrying 3,500 lbs of cargo!
Overnight, the Dragon has been preparing for it’s return trip and completing final check at the ISS. The stations’ robotic arms will let it loose at about 4:40 am PT, and will start it’s journey back to earth at 6:25 am PT. SpaceX tells us,
“Dragon will then complete a series of departure burns, followed by a powerful deorbit burn.”
The shuttle will then deploy it’s parachutes and splash into the Pacific Ocean at 12:05 pm PT. Though the shuttle is now only capable of landing in water, it will eventually propulsively land, on land.
This must be one proud day for Elon Musk! You can watch the action live below: