CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The world’s first private supply spaceship flew tantalizingly close to the international space station Thursday, acing a critical test in advance of the actual docking.
The unmanned SpaceX Dragon capsule flew within 1½ miles of the orbiting lab as it performed a practice lap and checkout of its communication and navigation systems.
Officials at NASA and the SpaceX company declared the rendezvous a success and said the historic linkup is on track for today.
It is the first U.S. vessel to visit the space station since NASA’s shuttles were retired last summer — and the first private spacecraft to ever attempt a delivery. The Dragon is carrying 1,000 pounds of provisions.
SpaceX’s near-term objective is to help stockpile the space station, joining Russia, Europe and Japan in resupply duties.
This morning, two of the space station’s six astronauts, Andre Kuipers and Donald Pettit, will use the space station’s robot arm to grab the Dragon and attach it to the complex.
