SpaceX Photos: 3rd Dragon Cargo Mission Soars to Space Station

SpaceX Packs Dragon

SpaceX (via Twitter as @SpaceX)

SpaceX tweeted this photo of their engineers packing cargo into the Dragon cargo ship for launch to the International Space Station. Image tweeted March 10, 2014.

Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science Hoisted

NASA

The Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science (OPALS) instrument is hoisted onto a shipping pallet for transfer to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. From there it will launch to the International Space Station.

APEX Experiment for SpaceX-3

NASA/Kim Shiflett

The Advanced Plant Experiment, or APEX, experiment as it is being prepared by John Carver, a project manager with Jacobs Technology. Image released March 7, 2014.

SpaceX-3 BRIC Experiment

NASA/Kim Shiflett

Terry Tullis, a QinetiQ North America mechanical engineer, prepares the Biological Research In Canisters, or BRIC, 18-1 and 18-2 experiments which will be launched to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The work is taking place in the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Image released March 7, 2014.

Biotube Experiment for SpaceX-3

NASA/Kim Shiflett

In the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, QinetiQ North America Project Manager Carole Miller, left, works with Allison Caron, a QinetiQ mechanical engineer in preparing the Biotube experiment which will be launched to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Image released March 7, 2014.

OPALS Experiment for SpaceX-3

NASA/Jim Grossmann

The Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science, or OPALS, experiment has been unpacked in a test cell at a Space Station Processing Facility offline laboratory at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The experiment is slated to fly aboard a SpaceX Dragon commercial resupply mission to the space station. The mission is expected to run 90 days after installation on the outside of the station. Image released July 11, 2013.

Prepping the OPALS SpaceX-3 Payload

NASA/Jim Grossmann

At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians uncover and check the Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science, or OPALS, experiment in a test cell at a Space Station Processing Facility offline laboratory. Image released July 11, 2013.

Dragon Rendezvous with ISS

NASA

This NASA graphic shows how the SpaceX Dragon capsule will rendezvous with the International Space Station. Launch is scheduled for March 16, 2014.

SpaceX Dragon Capsule Grapple and Berthing

NASA

This NASA graphic shows how the SpaceX Dragon capsule will be grappled by the International Space Station. Launch is scheduled for March 16, 2014.

SpaceX Dragon Capsule Departure and Re-Entry

NASA

This NASA graphic shows how the SpaceX Dragon capsule, after completing its mission, will depart the International Space Station. Launch is scheduled for March 16, 2014.

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