International Space Station may require maneuver space debris evasion on Monday however it may only slightly delay the docking of a private spacecraft Dragon with the ISS, NASA ISS Program Director told reporters Michael Saffredini
A photo open source American spaceship Dragon © Photo: Space Exploration Technologies Corp Dragon will leave for its first “commercial” flight to the ISS on October 7 at 20.34 by local time (04.34 October 8 Moscow time) from the launch site at Cape Canaveral. In May, Dragon was already flying to the station with cargo, however, this flight was considered a demonstration. Saffredini noted that, according to experts, on Monday it is possible to approach the ISS with space debris that may require orbit correction station. “While everything looks good, most likely the correction isn’t will be required, “said Saffredini at a NASA press conference. According to his said if NASA and the ISS partners decide on the need orbital correction, the agency, together with SpaceX will adjust the plan flight of the ship. At the same time, Saffredini emphasized that this is only about the delay in docking, but not about the cancellation of the launch of the ship. “I cant present a scenario of development in which we we’ll ask SpaceX to delay the launch, ”a NASA spokesman said. SpaceX President Gwynn Shotwell explained that if launch will take place on schedule, rendezvous and docking with the ISS will occur approximately 53 hours after the launch of the ship. Dock Dragon using the manipulator station this time will be astronauts Akihiko Hoshide and Sanita Williams. According to Shotwell, this time SpaceX will not conduct special system testing communications and GPS ship that were part of the May program demonstration flight because “we were able to make sure that everything is working properly. ”
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