On the watch for a Dragon

ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst on the lookout for the arrival of the 4th Dragon supply vessel, 23 September. Working with NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, Alexander used the Station’s 17 m-long Canadarm2 robotic arm to capture and berth the fourth Dragon supply vessel.

Setting up a temporary robotics workstation in the Station’s Cupola observatory module, the astronauts monitored the approaching six-tonne craft until it stopped 10 m from the Station. Working two joysticks, Alexander moved Canadarm2 to hold Dragon-4. From there, the spacecraft was berthed to the Space Station’s Harmony module.

Follow Alexander and his mission via http://alexandergerst.esa.int