The private company, SpaceX, successfully landed its Dragon space capsule in the Pacific Ocean after a nine-day mission to the International Space Station.
Doing work formally done by NASA and the space shuttle, the capsule berthed with the ISS, delivering cargo and supplies to astronauts conducting experiments in orbit.
Last Tuesday, SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon Capsule on a maiden voyage to the ISS. Upon reaching the space station, a robotic arm docked the Dragon capsule so supplies to the station could be unloaded.
After a week in orbit, the unmanned capsule was released from the space station and safely returned back to Earth with return cargo, where it landed in the Pacific Ocean off the Coast of Mexico.
The completion of this mission marks the first time a commercial space company has successfully delivered cargo into space and returned to Earth.
“I congratulate SpaceX and all its employees for completing their mission to the International Space Station today,” said U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, who represents a portion of the Space Coast.
“This is an important achievement for both SpaceX and the commercial space industry and I’m excited about what the future will hold for space flight," the Rockledge Republican said.
