AIAA Congratulates SpaceX on Successful Launch of Its Dragon Capsule

Capsule Expected to Rendezvous with International Space Station Later This Week

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) congratulates Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) on the successful launch of its Dragon capsule this morning from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

The capsule, borne aloft on the SpaceX Falcon 9 booster rocket, is expected to rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) later this week, docking with the ISS on Friday, May 25. If that link-up is successful, it will mark the first time that a private U.S. space corporation has successfully resupplied the ISS.

AIAA President Michael Griffin stated: “This morning we witnessed a landmark accomplishment in spaceflight: the successful launch of the first privately developed cargo delivery vehicle. Now on its way to the International Space Station after a beautiful launch on Falcon 9, the Dragon cargo vehicle carries with it the hopes of the space community for a successful Friday rendezvous and berthing. We at AIAA join in offering our congratulations for today’s launch, and heartfelt good wishes for a successful flight to ISS.”

AIAA is the world’s largest technical society dedicated to the global aerospace profession. With more than 35,000 individual members worldwide, and nearly one hundred corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org .