Easter morning delivery for space station

SpaceX shipment arrives 2 days after Fla. launch

4/20/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Space-Station-31

    An image from NASA-TV shows the SpaceX Dragon resupply capsule approaching the International Space Station today.

    ASSOCIATED PRESS

  • An image from NASA-TV shows the SpaceX Dragon resupply capsule approaching the International Space Station today.
    An image from NASA-TV shows the SpaceX Dragon resupply capsule approaching the International Space Station today.

    CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.  — Space station astronauts have received a special Easter treat: a cargo ship full of supplies.

    The shipment arrived early today via a Dragon, versus a bunny.

    The SpaceX company’s cargo ship, Dragon, spent two days chasing the International Space Station following its launch from Cape Canaveral. Astronauts used a robot arm to capture the capsule 260 miles up.

    More than 2 tons of food, spacewalking gear and experiments fill the Dragon, including mating fruit flies, a little veggie hothouse and legs for the resident robot. NASA also packed family care packages for the six spacemen.

    On Wednesday, the stakes will be even higher when the crew conducts a spacewalk to replace a dead computer. NASA wants a reliable backup in place as soon as possible. This one failed April 11.