SpaceX capsule nears space station in test manouevre

The Dragon space capsule launched by US company SpaceX was within 350 meters (yards) of the International Space Station early Friday on a test maneuver ahead of a high-stakes berthing bid. "The Dragon spacecraft is inside 350 meters from the International Space Station and approaching the 250 meter point for demonstration maneuvers," NASA said in a statement. "Dragon will demonstrate retreat and hold maneuvers before moving to within 220 meters of the station." After further evaluation, the gumdrop-shaped Dragon will then move inside the so-called Keep Out Sphere, which starts at 200 meters, NASA said. The unmanned, cargo-carrying supply ship is on a mission to become the first privately owned craft to berth with the $100 billion space station, restoring US access to the space outpost after the shuttle program's end. Only Russia, Japan and Europe currently have supply ships that can reach the ISS. The United States lost that capacity when it retired its space shuttle fleet in 2011. Astronauts aboard the ISS are planning to help the berthing operation by reaching out with the station's robotic arm to grab the spacecraft so it can latch on to the Harmony module of the station. If NASA gives the final go-ahead, the grab attempt would begin around 1200 GMT, with the docking itself scheduled for around 1530 GMT, according to SpaceX and NASA.