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Dragon capsule

SpaceX Dragon spacecraft
COTS2Dragon.6.jpg
The SpaceX Dragon CRS variant approaching the ISS during the C2+ mission in May 2012.
Description
Role ISS logistics
Crew None
Launch vehicle

Falcon 9 v1.0
(COTS Demo Flight 1CRS SpX-2)
Falcon 9 v1.1
(CRS SpX 3CRS SpX-7)

Falcon 9 full thrust
(CRS SpX-8–)
Maiden flight December 8, 2010; 6 years ago (2010-12-08)
(first orbital flight)
May 22, 2012; 4 years ago (2012-05-22)
(first cargo delivery to ISS)
Dimensions
Height 6.1 metres (20 ft)
Diameter 3.7 metres (12 ft)
Sidewall angle 15 degrees
Volume 10 m3 (350 cu ft) pressurized
14 m3 (490 cu ft) unpressurized
34 m3 (1,200 cu ft) unpressurized with extended trunk
Dry mass 4,200 kg (9,300 lb)
Payload to ISS 3,310 kg (7,300 lb), which can be all pressurized, all unpressurized or anywhere between. It can return to Earth 3,310 kg (7,300 lb), which can be all unpressurized disposal mass or up to 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) of return pressurized cargo
Miscellaneous
Endurance 1 week to 2 years
Re-entry at 3.5 Gs
Propellant NTO / MMH

Falcon 9 v1.0
(COTS Demo Flight 1CRS SpX-2)
Falcon 9 v1.1
(CRS SpX 3CRS SpX-7)

Dragon is a spacecraft developed by SpaceX, an American private space transportation company based in Hawthorne, California. Dragon is launched into space by the SpaceX Falcon 9 two-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle, and SpaceX is developing a crewed version called the Dragon V2 (formerly DragonRider). The Dragon spacecraft was originally designed for human travel, but so far has only been used to deliver cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). No private company had designed and flown a spacecraft without first being contracted by the government to do so. While carrying out resupply missions to the ISS, Space X has continued to work on the production of a human rated model. This model will be able to be controlled by the command center in Hawthorne, CA as well as by the crew of the spacecraft.

During its maiden flight in December 2010, Dragon became the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to be recovered successfully from orbit. On 25 May 2012, a cargo variant of Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to successfully rendezvous with and attach to the International Space Station (ISS). SpaceX is contracted to deliver cargo to the ISS under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program, and Dragon began regular cargo flights in October 2012. With the Dragon spacecraft and the Orbital ATK Cygnus, NASA seeks to increase its partnerships with domestic commercial aviation and aeronautics industry.


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