Wednesday, May 23, 2012 The test flight of the Dragon space capsule, which launched atop SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, aims to show that commercial industry can restore US access to the ISS after NASA retired its space shuttle fleet last year. The mission is set to include a fly-by and berthing with the station in the next three days, before the capsule returns to Earth at the end of this month. Shortly after liftoff, the cargo- carrying spacecraft entered orbit and video images showed mission-control staff at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, jumping from their seats, hugging and clapping. Continue reading →