![\"Astronauts](\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/spacestation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2018\/04\/blog_iss055e009938.jpg\")
<\/a>The SpaceX Dragon<\/a> space freighter is open for business today as the Expedition 55<\/a> crew begins unloading and activating new time-sensitive space experiments aboard the International Space Station<\/a>.<\/p>\n Astronaut Scott Tingle<\/a> opened Dragon\u2019s hatch this morning and was the first to enter the spaceship. He and fellow NASA astronauts Drew Feustel<\/a> and Ricky Arnold<\/a> began offloading new science gear immediately afterward. Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai<\/a> tended to new mice shipped aboard Dragon and transferred them to habitats located inside Japan\u2019s Kibo laboratory module.<\/p>\n Some of the new space studies<\/a> will enable research into a variety of biological organisms to understand microgravity\u2019s long term effects on life systems. Scientists hypothesize their observations will benefit both crews in space and people on Earth. Other experiments will study physics phenomena both inside and outside the orbital lab with potential impacts on future space systems and industrial and manufacturing processes on the ground.<\/p>\n Robotics operators on the ground will command the Canadarm2 robotic arm to ungrip the newly-installed Dragon today. They will remotely maneuver the Canadarm2 on Friday to extract unpressurized cargo, including life support gear and external research<\/a>, from Dragon\u2019s exposed aft-end, also called its trunk. Dragon will remain attached to the Harmony module\u2019s Earth-facing port until early May.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Get The Details…<\/a> ISS<\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The SpaceX Dragon<\/a> space freighter is open for business today as the Expedition 55<\/a> crew begins unloading and activating new time-sensitive space experiments aboard the International Space Station<\/a>.<\/p>\n Astronaut Scott Tingle<\/a> opened Dragon\u2019s hatch this morning and was the first to enter the spaceship. He and fellow NASA astronauts Drew Feustel<\/a> and Ricky Arnold<\/a> began offloading new science gear immediately afterward. Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai<\/a> tended to new mice shipped aboard Dragon and transferred them to habitats located inside Japan\u2019s Kibo laboratory module.<\/p>\n Some of the new space studies<\/a> will enable research into a variety of biological organisms to understand microgravity\u2019s long term effects on life systems. Scientists hypothesize their observations will benefit both crews in space and people on Earth. Other experiments will study physics phenomena both inside and outside the \u2026 Continue reading
\nMark Garcia <\/p>\nDragon Opens Up Offering New Space Research<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
<\/a>Astronauts Scott Tingle (left) and Norishige Kanai watch the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft arrive moments before capturing it with the Canadarm2 robotic arm. <\/p>\n