ASIM
Launch and Transport
Falcon-9
The Falcon-9 rocket is a SpaceX launcher with two stages. It carries nine Merlin engines in the first stage capable of 1.5 million pounds of thrust in vacuum. The first stage will burn for 180 seconds. The second stage is powered by a single Merlin engine with a burn time of 375 seconds. It will fire multiple times to carry the payload into the desired orbit. The payload can be either the composite fairing for satellite launch or Dragon carrying ISS cargo.
Dragon
Dragon is a free-flying spacecraft from SpaceX delivering internal and external cargo to ISS. In 2012, Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft in history to deliver cargo to ISS. Today the Cygnus spacecraft from Orbital Sciences is the second commercial cargo vessel used with ISS. In addition the ATV from ESA, HTV from JAXA, and the Russian Soyuz and Progress carry cargo and crew to the space station. Only Dragon and HTV can carry external payloads to ISS in an un-pressurized module on the spacecraft. 10 minutes after ignition of the Falcon-9 first stage, Dragon is relased from the second stage and course is set for ISS. It takes about two days for Dragon to reach ISS where it approach within the reach of the Canadian robotic arm which will dock it to Node 2.