SpaceX Dragon
Dragon and Dragon V2 (Red Dragon Click here)
The Dragon contract is now finished and replaced with Dragon V2
In 2010 SpaceX became the first privately owned company to send a spacecraft into orbit and recover it, using an uncrewed Dragon capsule. They estimate Dragon can carry seven astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for $20m (£12.5m) a seat. Later this year, Dragon is scheduled to begin a series of 12 cargo missions to the ISS.
"The company was founded ... to advance the cause of human space flight. That's the whole purpose of our existence"
Garrett Reisman, SpaceX
Dragon (V1)
2014 Human launch date (postponed to 2015 using Dragon V2 see lower down page) (Now July 2017)
7 total crew capacity
$75m Nasa funding so far*
Sea landings
with parachutes
Square opening of 1.3m (50") Berthing port
The Dragon spacecraft is receiving development grants from Nasa, as part of the commercial crew development programme. Dragon is launched on a Falcon 9 rocket, also built by SpaceX, unlike most of its competitors, which will initially use the Atlas 5. Although current operation calls for a water landing, SpaceX intends to develop a thruster system that would eventually allow Dragon to make a soft touch-down on land.
Berthing with the International Space Station 25 May 2012
Successful Berthing
SpaceX are planning to fly a used Dragon spacecraft on its eleventh Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) cargo mission to the station in early 2017.
“We will be reflying our first Dragon capsule on CRS-11,” using the company’s designation for that cargo mission, known as SpX-11 by NASA.
seven-seater Dragon V2
On 29 May 2014 SpaceX unveiled the Version 2 Dragon man rated slated for first unmanned test launch late 2015 - 2016
The V2 uses SuperDraco thruster engines enabling soft landings anywhere.
Dragon V2 Capsule (Hires)
From the unveiling, it appears much work on life support still needs to be finalised the flight duration is similar to the 1966 NASA Gemini capsule that had to offer accessible storage for food three freeze-dried meals a day, bathroom using hoses and bags, and was cleaned by jettisoning out to space. (hopefully not like Gemini that just opened the hatch and everything that wasn't attached was sucked out into space!). The seats look dangerous for landings in the event of a high g touch down.
V2 Docking versus the V1's Berthing port
The V2 has a fully autonomous Docking capability therefore not requiring the use of the ISS robotic arm (called Berthing).
The V2 will use the new International Docking System Standard (IDSS) system with a diameter of 800 millimetres (31 in), due to be launched on the next dragon mission CRS-9.
Like the current ISS Docking ports being a circular port of 0.8m (31") are smaller than its Berthing ports, so the Dragon version one with its square opening of 1.3m (50") Berthing port will still be used for transporting whole equipment racks.
One important aspect of the V2 docking capability it enables the Dragon capsule to leave on its own without the use of the ISS robot arm; vital for Manned vehicles in an emergency. The IDSS includes pyrotechnics for contingency undocking.
V2 Test Article
Test Version
SpaceX pad abort test use a test version of its Crew Dragon capsule May 2015 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Simulating an emergency, just seconds after liftoff, and pull the Dragon capsule to safety as SpaceX had to make sure it’s safe, Before humans are ever allowed on board, in case a rocket malfunctions.
Pad Launch Abort test
Additional tests will then be done both this year and next year, before the first human flight they hope to launch in July 2017.
“We anticipate doing our uncrewed mission to the International Space Station on this upgraded crew vehicle later in ’16. And shortly follow thereafter with our crew flight in early 2017,” said SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell. (Now delayed to 2018)
The latest version of the V2 will no longer have landing legs for propulsive landings.
CRS17 preparing to Birth at ISS with ISS logo displayed for previous mission 6th May 2019
Note the ISS logo just below the P in SPACEX