President Kennedy at Cape Canaveral

President John F. Kennedy, right, gets an explanation of the Saturn V launch system from Dr. Wernher von Braun, center, at Cape Canaveral in November 1963. NASA Deputy Administrator Robert Seamans is to the left of von Braun.

Fifty years ago, on Sept. 12, 1962, Kennedy gave an address at Rice University making the case for why the United States should go to the moon with the Apollo program, an initiative he'd launched the previous year. "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things," said Kennedy, "not because they are easy, but because they are hard."

Credit: NASA

Spacex Dragon Attached To Space Station In Spaceflight First

Trent J. Perrotto

Headquarters, Washington                                   

202-358-0321

trent.j.perrotto@nasa.gov

 

Josh Byerly

Johnson Space Center, Houston

281-483-5111

josh.byerly@nasa.gov

HOUSTON -- The International Space Station's Expedition 31 crew grappled and attached SpaceX's Dragon capsule to the space station Friday. This is the first time a commercial company has accomplished this type of space operation.

"Today marks another critical step in the future of American spaceflight," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "Now that a U.S. company has proven its ability to resupply the space station, it opens a new frontier for commercial opportunities in space -- and new job creation opportunities right here in the U.S. By handing off space station transportation to the private sector, NASA is freed up to carry out the really hard work of sending astronauts farther into the solar system than ever before. The Obama Administration has set us on an ambitious path forward and the NASA and SpaceX teams are proving they are up to the task."

Following a series of system tests and a successful fly-under of the space station Thursday, the Dragon capsule was cleared by NASA to approach the station Friday. Dragon then performed a series of intricate test maneuvers as it approached the orbiting laboratory. These maneuvers were required to demonstrate the maneuvering and abort capability of Dragon prior to approaching and moving into a 65-foot (20-meter) "berthing box" where it was grappled by NASA astronaut Don Pettit using the station's robotic arm at 9:56 a.m. EDT.

European Space Agency astronaut Andre Kuipers installed the capsule on the bottom of the station's Harmony node at 11:52 a.m. NASA astronaut Joe Acaba completed berthing operations by bolting the Dragon to Harmony at 12:02 p.m.

"Congratulations to the SpaceX and NASA teams," said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington. "There is no limit to what can be accomplished with hard work and preparation. This activity will help the space station reach its full research potential and open up space-based research to a larger group of researchers. There is still critical work left in this test flight. Dragon-attached operations and cargo return are challenging and yet to be accomplished."

The Dragon capsule lifted off Tuesday from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The demonstration mission is the second under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program, which provides investments intended to lead to regular resupply missions to the space station and stimulate the commercial space industry in America.

"The investments made by the United States to stimulate the commercial space industry are paying off," said Philip McAlister, director for Commercial Spaceflight Development at NASA Headquarters. "SpaceX achieved what until now was only possible by a few governments, and the company did it with relatively modest funding from the government.

The Dragon capsule is delivering 1,014 pounds of supplies to the station, which includes non-critical experiments, food, clothing and technology. Crew members will open the hatch to the capsule Saturday and unload the cargo during a four-day period. Dragon then will be loaded with 1,367 pounds of hardware and cargo no longer needed aboard the station in preparation for the spacecraft's return to Earth. Dragon and station hatches will be closed on May 30.

On May 31, the Expedition 31 crew members will detach Dragon from Harmony, maneuver it to a 33-foot release point and un-grapple the capsule. Dragon will deorbit approximately four hours after leaving the station, taking about 30 minutes to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and landing in the Pacific Ocean about 250 miles west of southern California.

For up-to-date SpaceX mission information and a schedule of NASA Television coverage, visit http://www.nasa.gov/spacex.

For more information about the International Space Station, visit http://www.nasa.gov/station.

For more information about NASA's commercial space programs, visit http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial.

- end -

NASA Awards Architecture And Engineering Contract For Bridges

Sonja Alexander                    

Headquarters, Washington

202-358-1761

sonja.r.alexander@nasa.gov

 

Michael Curie

Kennedy Space Center, Fla.                               

321-867-2468

michael.curie@nasa.gov

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA selected URS Corporation of Orlando, Fla., to perform architecture and engineering studies and provide designs and other professional services to replace and restore bridges at NASA's Kennedy Space Center and the adjacent Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The maximum potential value of this indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract will not exceed $30 million for work that starts in May and extends for five years, with four one-year options.

Work under the contract includes completing design packages and performing studies, and providing detailed cost estimates, surveys, reports, environmental permit applications and environmental certificates of compliance. URS will provide designs with low environmental impact and use sustainable materials.

For information about NASA and other agency programs, visit http://www.nasa.gov.

- end -

Statement by John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, On Launch of Falcon 9 Rocket and Dragon Spacecraft

David Weaver

Headquarters, Washington     

202-358-1898

david.s.weaver@nasa.gov

 

Phil Larson

Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President

202-456-6043

plarson@ostp.eop.gov

WASHINGTON -- Following Tuesday's launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, issued the following statement:

"Congratulations to the teams at SpaceX and NASA for this morning's successful launch of the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Every launch into space is a thrilling event, but this one is especially exciting because it represents the potential of a new era in American spaceflight. Partnering with U.S. companies such as SpaceX to provide cargo and eventually crew service to the International Space Station is a cornerstone of the president's plan for maintaining America's leadership in space. This expanded role for the private sector will free up more of NASA's resources to do what NASA does best -- tackle the most demanding technological challenges in space, including those of human space flight beyond low Earth orbit. I could not be more proud of our NASA and SpaceX scientists and engineers, and I look forward to following this and many more missions like it."

For more information on the SpaceX flight, visit http://www.nasa.gov/spacex.

For more information on the Office of Science and Technology Policy, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp.

- end -