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SPACEX’S NEW DRAGON capsule successfully docked on the International Space Station today, NASA and SpaceX confirmed during a live broadcast of the mission.
“We can confirm hard capture is complete,” NASA said.
The announcement was met with applause at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
The docking began at 10.51 am Irish time, more than 400 kilometres above the Earth’s surface, north of New Zealand – and 27 hours after the capsule’s launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Although the contact appeared slow, the ISS and the capsule were moving at a speed of over 27,000 kilometres per hour in orbit around the Earth.
On board the ISS, the crew – American Anne McClain, Russian Oleg Kononenko, and Canadian David Saint-Jacques – were scheduled to open the airlock at 1.30 pm Irish time.
The mission is a test launch with only a dummy on board the capsule ahead of a manned flight scheduled for later this year.
The Dragon capsule will remain on the ISS until Friday before detaching to splash down in the Atlantic. It will be slowed by four parachutes, in what is the one of the mission’s riskiest stages.
The launch is a key step towards resuming manned space flights from US soil after an eight-year break.
SpaceX, founded by billionaire Elon Musk, has made the trip to the ISS a dozen times before since 2012, but only to refuel the station.
Transporting people is a more complex task, requiring seats, a pressurised cabin with breathable air, temperature regulation and emergency infrastructure.
‘NASA ‘rocking’ again’
After its shuttle program was shut down in July 2011 following a 30-year run, NASA began outsourcing the logistics of its space missions.
It pays Russia to get its people up to the ISS orbiting research facility at a cost of $82 million (€72 million) per head for a round trip.
In 2014, the US space agency awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing for them to take over this task. In SpaceX’s case, NASA has agreed to pay $2.6 billion (€2.29 billion) for six round trips to the ISS.
The switch from NASA owning spacecraft to paying private firms for a service was initiated under former president Barack Obama – but due to development delays, has come to fruition under US President Donald Trump.
“We’ve got NASA “rocking” again. Great activity and success. Congrats to SPACEX and all!” Trump tweeted Saturday evening.
Return to the Moon
Since 2017, NASA’s official mission has been to return to the Moon – a project awarded $21.5 billion (€18.9 billion) by Congress in the 2019 budget.
Jim Bridenstine, head of the US space agency, has explained NASA wants to reduce costs in low orbit to devote resources to getting back to the Moon and constructing a small space station in lunar orbit in the 2020s.
“As a country, we’re looking forward to being one customer of many customers, in a robust commercial marketplace in low Earth orbit, so that we can drive down costs and increase access in ways that historically have not been possible,” he said yesterday following Dragon’s launch.
But Musk has admitted that marketing travel in the Dragon capsule is not a priority – and he is more interested in distant exploration of the solar system.
At the post-launch press conference yesterday, he reiterated his dream for a permanent Moon base – and sending people to Mars.
Musk has already locked in his first private customer to fly to the Moon: Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa. But it won’t happen before 2023 – with the rocket, far more powerful than that used for the Dragon mission, still in development.
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Instead of taxing, shaming, guiltomg, regulating and penalising every little bit of joy we have in our day, how about incentivising inventord to invent our way out of these problems?
@Neal Ireland Hello.: There are disposable biodegradable cups, give a bit of a tax break fore using these, and put a tax on the others because 200 million trow away cups is out of order. Carrot and Stick, because starbucks and similar outlets do not understand carrot.
@ktsiwot: or simply ban non compostable cups and lids stirrers etc
@Leitrim303: the compostable cups are very good but realistically though, how many of those compostable cups end up in the food bin as opposed to a general waste bin?
@Thomas Murray: at least any cup that will end up in a hedge or in the sea will decompose and not cause harm to sea life etc
@Neal Ireland Hello.: put the tax on companies not the consumer to change the cups they use simples! No big deal, stop screwing the consumer
@kevinhunt101: If companies get taxed coffee goes up to cover this customer gets screwed either way
@Jim: no as in if compostable cups should have no tax! :)
@ktsiwot:
The problem with the compostable cups is that you have to bring them to a brown bin (or your composter) for them to be actually composted. If they go in the street litter bins or at the unsegregated bins at shops and garages. The reusable cup really is the way to go- the challenge is for people to get one, and then get into the habit of using them. IMO.
That’s crazy! I got a hard plastic coffee cup in the 2€ shop and it’s brilliant! Dishwasher proof too! I bring it everywhere
@CC: I’m going to say what everyone is thinking. You’re a liar. It’s not practical to carry a reusable cup everywhere you go. Do you hand your cup over the counter and demand they wash it too? Where do you store it? Do remnants of your previous beverage not destroy your backpack/handbag because you sure as hell don’t keep it in your pocket. I’m all for doing my bit for the environment but I’m sorry (not sorry) at the expense of practically, I’d rather sit in and enjoy it that way.
They are really not that much of an inconvenience. It’s a cup. Not exactly the largest item in the world. OP said it’s dishwasher safe so assume it’s washed before they leave the house and can easily be carried until they get home/to work where they, you guessed it, wash it for the next day.
@Carl: and what about the hipster in his skinny jeans where does he keep it when he’s out for the day drawing onions and what not? I get they’re washable but you are talking about one use during the day. Not everyone has one coffee or go from point A to point B.
A hipster wouldn’t use a reusable cup. It’s too mainstream
@Ian Breathnach: I have used them for years and rinse them once I’m in work or if I am not in the office and I’m finished I find a nearby drain to pour the remainder down so nothing is left to spill in my bag. The fact that your argument is that you can’t carry it everywhere you go is redundant. Effort is needed on everyone’s behalf to change the way things are. And no one drinks hot drinks EVERYWHERE they go, most people work in an environment where they can either leave their cup in a car, in a bag or on a desk etc. It’s not rocket science and the fact you’re so staunchly against making any kind of effort by the sounds of things is ridiculous and as such you’re part of the problem. What do you suggest we do? Tax those buying hot takeaway drinks? That’s not fair, they’re already expensive enough. And to answer your question, yes I’ve brought my cup into many places to reuse, they rinse the cup without you even asking and give you a discount on the drink you’re buying. It’s a win win.
@Ian Breathnach: turn your head to the left or the right. See that? That’s your shoulder. Follow it down, yep, your arm. All the way… past the elbow… the wrist… What’s that?!? A hand!! And there’s another one over here!!! You’re not hiking Kilimanjaro. If you don’t have a bag you can hold a cup for a few minutes until you find somewhere to put it down!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlVihGsFiOC/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1k25mo6l3xr0s
@Ian Breathnach: why would everyone think it’s a lie when many of us carry cups? It’s no big deal, fits easily into a handbag, sealable lids so never had a leak and even if I couldn’t rinse it out I drink black coffee so that really wouldn’t be a problem either. Personally I don’t like drinking from plastic so have a couple of glass and one of stainless steal. I reckon I now use single use cups less than 10% of the time.
@Ian Breathnach:
Some people find solutions to simple problems, others seem to find ridiculous problems in simple solutions.
A cup is no more hassle that a coat or a bag or an umbrella.
@Ian Breathnach: how dare you call me a liar! I absolutely do! I carry it everywhere with me. I make a coffee in the morning bring it into my job where there is a KITCHEN! Rinse it and make another . Jesus Christ I don’t even understand why I’m explaining myself to someone so negative and uncertain about people’s work places / circumstances etc. WHATEVER
@Ian Breathnach: many types of reusable cups that flatten to the size of the lid are on sale, simply rinse after you use them and you can stash them in your man bag, Hey presto B-)
@Clairy Rooney: poor Ian’s not familiar with the concept of washing or giving a toss about the environment :-(
@Ian Breathnach: here’s a thought, you could get 2-3 of them and a small back pack ….. I know it may seem as extreme outside of the box thinking , but, it’s a credible solution.
Ireland has the worst plastic recycling of any other country in the EU per capita. Its shocking. I went to buy a cool drink yesterday, only about 4 drinks came in alt packaging, coconut water was one. But 99% of the drinks came in plastic bottles.
We have a crisis on our hands and it needs to be addressed at the source! Fine companies for using plastics. Find alt packaging. It is needed!!!
We have been living in a throw away Society for the last 60 years just thought I would throw that in !
@Johnny Mason: https://www.instagram.com/p/BlVihGsFiOC/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1k25mo6l3xr0s
“There is no such place as away”
Ya, a person in the office here. A new cup EVERY morning. I’ve inadvertently raised environmental issues in random conversation to try get her thinking about it. I might just get her a reusable cup and tell her why.
@Zossima: hahaha and what would you say to her when you give it to her? “I got this for you cause well emm your a disgrace to the environment”.
@CC: maybe not as candid as that but she’s in her 40’s she should have more awareness about these things.
@Zossima: I’m 21 and I’ve plenty of awareness about it , that’s surprising!
@Zossima: maybe go talk to your office manager or eco officer and ask them to promote it by corprate social responsibility as they can start an awareness programme for all employees not just the one beside you.
@Chipstix: in fairness to the company they re always promoting a green environment with recycling stations in every office and canteen. It’s even metric’d and is an end of year goal to be 40 % more environmental friendly over last year. However individuals make their own choices. She’s in the office now, NEW CUP AGAIN. Looks like a latte
@Zossima: you might have to explain it in child format as I don’t think a lot of people are getting the message about the impact plastic and throw away waste is having on the planet
@Zossima: You’d be happy to publicly shame a colleague for your own personal sense of wellbeing and superiority?
@Zossima: Maybe it’s time to get a bit of work done now Zossima?
@Ian Breathnach: people who care about the environment are superior. I don’t even have to walk anymore, I float around on a cloud of entitlement.
You should reply to this Ian so I can ignore it, smugly
@Zossima: enlightenment haha
@Zossima: ‘Shush’ is the only appropriate response to people like you, in the office, on the street, in fact anywhere. I read your comment in starbucks and i asked for a second disposable cup and threw about 10 straws in the bin without using them. #knowyourplace
@Zossima: I think it was a freudian slip…..
@Ian Breathnach: there’s no public shaming in having a quiet chat with someone.
@EillieEs: They is equally no shame in telling said busy body to go F themselves
@King Billy II: when it comes to the environment, recycling, etc there’s no such thing as a busy body
Ban them. Simple.
Ireland is shocking when it comes to recycling, fast food chains should have separate bins for food, recyclables and rubbish. More needs to be done.
@Rob: I agree. No reusable cup….no coffee, simple. And sell them cheap on the premises too.
@Rob: exactly ban them. Ban plastic trays for fruit and veg also. I m sick to death of looking at trays of 6or 8 apples or pears while shopping for my dad who lives alone and might like two apples two pears and two oranges oh and 1lemon not a net of three.
Use compostable cups and lids then dispose of them in your food waste bin. The government and councils need to put 3 bins on the streets. General , dry recycling and food waste to allow people to dispose of correctly.
By the way lids on standard PE cups are NOT recyclable as they’re made from polystyrene, even though they go in the recycling bin they’re separated by the waste company and incinerated.
@Keith Synnott: Yeah, it’s surprising the amount of people that don’t know that. Compostable lids all the way!
I say some people sitting there reading this article and commenting etc probably have a coffee in a takeaway cup sitting in front of them haha!!
@CC: yes probably but it’s starting the awareness surely that’s a good thing. It’s not a crime to be unaware.
There is a huge amount of plastic which cannot be recycled. A lot of it is used for wrapping fruit and cardboard cartons. Only plastic can be recycled should be allowed and legislation is urge ntly required.
Very percise numbers I’d love to know how they got this figure
@James O’Brien: Count the number of coffee stirrers used in a year, calculate the number of stirrers used on average per cup of coffee, divide one by the other then divide by 365. Then you launch a nationwide survey on the number of hours each coffee shop is open per hour, using this figure average out the number across the 24 hours in a day and divide by this number. Couldn’t be easier.
@Crocodylus Pontifex: coffee stirrers (those skinny wooden lolly-pop sticks) have to be the most useless invention ever. No matter how many you use they still don’t stir the sugar.
Just ban the sale of non-recyclable cups! I can’t say anything I’m responsible for 3 of them at least a day! None of your mocha choca bullship though, strong and black one sugar please! Coffee , it’s both a miracle and a curse at the same time!
@Hardly Normal: that would be fine, if there were cups that could be recycled. Since they can’t be recycled, what’s the alternative?
Reusable mugs are fine for people that buy lots, but that isn’t true for everyone.. Ive used maybe 3 take away cups so far this year, for example.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: well first off the eu should probably give grants to recycling companies to invest in the machinery that would seperate the plastic from the cardboard in the cups we use now. Alternatively you still ban the use of non-recyclable cups and insist they use cups that are fully recyclable that have already been invented a few years back.
And many out the window of the cars/vans around the country.
Well it improved the problem with plastic bag’s, but on it’s own, it won’t be enough. This requires more work with the corporations that use disposable plastic, to see what will make them change. Hitting the consumer for everything is lazy and will only give limited improvements.
The math is wrong.
Apologies in advance if it’s against rules to post this but Keep Cup are donating 100% of profits from the online sale of Sea Shepherd x KeepCups to Sea Shepherd during Plastic Free July. I’ve been using these cups for a couple of years and find them great, keeps coffee warmer than single use cups, they’re robust and they don’t leak.
http://eu.keepcup.com/keepcup-series/sea-shepherd/sea-shepherd-brew.html
What needs to change is coffee culture. We should do as the italian/french/spanish and most of the rest of the world and drink our coffee in a cafe, take 10mins to relax and then move on. That and keep cups…keep cups are great
If you work in an office, there should be no reason for you to use a disposable cup, bring a reusable cup from the office to your local starbucks, drink coffee, bring back to office.
also the coffee shops need to do more to give discounts for brining in a reusable cup starbucks gives 35cent but, their coffee/tea is more expensive than anywhere, so you’re not really getting a discount.
Not to mention the millions of polystyrene cups in public service offices, hospitals etc. Tried to get them to buy paper in my place but no go till the tender goes out again next year. More BS
@Kevin Slater: that’s disgraceful
I dont get all this walking around with coffee , why not sit down in ure home or in the coffee shop and use a real live cup ceramic or pottery etc…. if your in work bring in a ceramic cup and wash it after each use . Whats with everyone nowadays spending a fortune on take away coffees ?? Why
I have a reusable cup and in some places your made to feel like their something wrong with you when you give it to them. One dope this morning filled up a coffee into a normal disposable cup and poured it into my reusable one throwing it into the bin and handing it to me.
I do not drink coffee from plastic or paper cups. Tried that one once in the airport and I could not take more than 1 sip.
Hit these businesses in the pocket. Stop buying their products. Things will change very quickly.
They have tried recycling bins on the streets. just dont work. Ban the disposable coffee cups and put a return deposit on plastic bottles and cans
What is the point with the compostable cups etc when they will still be put in the Bin if we are lucky.. why are there no recycle bins etc on our streets beside each other surely it makes sense to recycle that just put a tax on get the Money and not do anything to stop it going to landfill…
Nobody looking at bigger picture in Goverment Buildings as usual
Ban them all and buy a “collapsible coffee cup”, you’re sorted.
have your say