May 31, 2012

SpaceX Dragon Returns to Earth from ISS

The first commercial visitor to the ISS splashed down successfully in the Pacific after a supply run. John Matson reports

SUBSCRIBE TO 60-Second Space

Apple | Spotify | RSS

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

“And the SpaceX team is confirming that Dragon has successfully splashed down at 10:42 A.M. Central Time. Dragon is in the water.” NASA Mission Control, announcing that the first commercial spacecraft to reach the International Space Station has returned to Earth safely.

The Dragon capsule was built by the California company SpaceX. It landed in the Pacific on May 31st and was retrieved by recovery boats after returning from delivering supplies to the ISS.

“It took up 1,014 pounds of cargo, it is now bringing back 1,367 pounds of return items. This is also an important capability, because Dragon will be able to bring home science experiments as well as other items.”

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

More importantly, the mission demonstrated that a private company could do what only government space agencies had done before: rendezvous with the space station, safely dock with it and return to Earth.

The Dragon was unmanned, but could be configured to carry astronauts. NASA is banking that companies such as SpaceX will help fill the void left by the retirement of the space shuttle in 2011. But that’s all in the future. Today, SpaceX is already flying high.

—John Matson

[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American