SpaceX supply ship arrives at space station with groceries
The Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday. SpaceX is on a resupply mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
A shipment of much-needed groceries and belated Christmas presents has finally arrived at the International Space Station.
The SpaceX company’s supply ship, Dragon, pulled up at the orbiting lab early Monday, two days after departing Cape Canaveral, Florida. Station commander Butch Wilmore used a robot arm to grab the capsule and its 5,000 pounds of precious cargo.
The space station’s six astronauts were getting a little low on supplies. That’s because the previous supply ship — owned by another company — was destroyed in an October launch explosion. NASA scrambled to get replacement equipment aboard Dragon, as did school children who rustled up new science projects. Then Dragon was stalled a month late by rocket snags.
Wilmore is especially eager to get more mustard. The station’s condiment cabinet is empty.
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