CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The six astronauts at the International Space Station got an early Easter treat with the arrival of a supply ship full of fresh food and experiments.
Instead of the usual bunny, Saturday's delivery came via a swan — Orbital ATK's Cygnus capsule, named after the swan constellation. The cargo carrier rocketed away from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Tuesday night.
It's the first of three shipments coming up in quick succession. A Russian cargo ship will lift off next week, followed by a SpaceX supply run the week after that.
The newly arrived Cygnus holds nearly 8,000 pounds of groceries, equipment and experiments. Among the newfangled research: robotic grippers modeled after geckos' feet and the ingredients for a large-scale, controlled fire. Orbital ATK hints Easter eggs may also be on board.
