SpaceX Dragon 1

{{short description|Partially reusable cargo space capsule}} {{about|the original Dragon spacecraft|Other SpaceX Dragons|SpaceX Dragon|other dragons|Dragon (disambiguation)}} {{Redirect|Dragon 1}} {{Use American English|date=September 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox spacecraft class | name = Dragon | image = CRS-20 Dragon–Enhanced.jpg | image_caption = Dragon approaching the International Space Station during the CRS-20 mission, the last flight of the Dragon 1 | manufacturer = SpaceX | designer = | country = United States | operator = SpaceX | applications = ISS logistics | dry_mass = {{cvt|4201|kg}}<ref name="SpXBroc"/> | payload_capacity = {{Unbulleted list | {{cvt|6000|kg}} to orbit<ref name="Dragon"/> | {{cvt|3310|kg}} to ISS<ref>"Audit Of Commercial Resupply Services to The International Space Station", Office of Inspector General, page 9, https://oig.nasa.gov/docs/IG-18-016.pdf</ref> | {{cvt|3000|kg}} return cargo<ref name=Dragon>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/dragon|title=SpaceX Dragon specs|access-date=May 15, 2007|archive-date=April 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412113142/http://www.spacex.com/dragon}}</ref> }} | crew_capacity = 0 | volume = {{Unbulleted list | {{cvt|11|m3}} pressurized<ref name="Dragon"/> | {{cvt|14|m3}} unpressurized<ref name="sx20090918"/> | {{cvt|34|m3}} unpressurized with extended trunk<ref name="sx20090918"/> }} | length = {{cvt|6.1|m}}<ref name="SpXBroc">{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/SpaceX_Brochure_V7_All.pdf|title=SpaceX Brochure – 2008|access-date=December 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320032815/http://www.spacex.com/SpaceX_Brochure_V7_All.pdf|archive-date=March 20, 2012}}</ref> | diameter = {{cvt|3.7|m}}<ref name="SpXBroc"/> | status = Retired | built = 14 | lost = 1 | first = {{Unbulleted list | {{Start date|2010|12|08}} (first orbital flight) | May 22, 2012 (first cargo delivery to ISS)<ref name=LaunchAtLast/> }} | last = March 7, 2020 | stagedata = {{Infobox rocket/stage | name = Thruster details | engines = 18 × Draco | thrust = | SI = | time = | propmass = | fuel = {{chem2|N2O4}} / {{chem2|CH6N2}}<ref name=FAA2012/> }} | derivatives = {{Unbulleted list | DragonLab | Dragon 2 | Dragon XL | Red Dragon }} | next = SpaceX Dragon 2 | image_size = 300px | retired = 13 }} {{Private spaceflight}}

'''SpaceX Dragon 1''' is a class of fourteen partially reusable cargo spacecraft developed by SpaceX, an American private space transportation company. The spacecraft flew 23 missions between 2010 and 2020. Dragon was launched into orbit by the company's Falcon 9 launch vehicle to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). It was succeeded by the Dragon 2 spacecraft which has both crewed and cargo versions.

During its maiden flight in December 2010, Dragon became the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to be recovered successfully from orbit. On May 25, 2012, Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to successfully rendezvous with and attach to the ISS.<ref name=FirstDock/><ref name="NYT-20120525">{{cite web|last=Chang|first=Kenneth|title=Space X Capsule Docks at Space Station|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/26/science/space/space-x-capsule-docks-at-space-station.html|date=May 25, 2012|work=New York Times|access-date=May 25, 2012|archive-date=June 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603203029/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/26/science/space/space-x-capsule-docks-at-space-station.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=SpaceX's Dragon Docks With Space Station—A First|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/05/120525-spacex-dragon-robot-arm-international-space-station-nation/|publisher=National Geographic|date=May 25, 2012|access-date=May 28, 2012|archive-date=September 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909213434/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/05/120525-spacex-dragon-robot-arm-international-space-station-nation/|url-status=dead}}</ref> SpaceX contracted to deliver cargo to the ISS under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program, and Dragon began regular cargo flights in October 2012.<ref name="InOrbitOctober2012">{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/17943-spacex-dragon-capsule-space-cargo-launch.html|title=Liftoff! SpaceX Dragon Launches 1st Private Space Station Cargo Mission|publisher=Space.com|date=October 8, 2012|access-date=October 8, 2012|archive-date=September 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930064954/http://www.space.com/17943-spacex-dragon-capsule-space-cargo-launch.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=oct8Launch/><ref name=sepLaunch/><ref name="augLaunch">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16rfcTbU_D4&t=7m35s|title=Press Briefed on the Next Mission to the International Space Station|date=March 20, 2012|publisher=NASA|access-date=April 11, 2012|archive-date=April 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405145242/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16rfcTbU_D4&t=7m35s|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> With the Dragon spacecraft and the Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus, NASA sought to increase its partnerships with domestic commercial aviation and aeronautics industry.<ref name="space-081223">{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/news/081223-nasa-spacestation-cargo-contract.html|title=NASA Taps SpaceX, Orbital Sciences to Haul Cargo to Space Station|publisher=Space.com|date=December 23, 2008|access-date=March 1, 2011|archive-date=August 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805164451/http://www.space.com/news/081223-nasa-spacestation-cargo-contract.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On June 3, 2017, the C106 capsule, largely assembled from previously flown components from the CRS-4 mission in September 2014, was launched again for the first time on CRS-11, after being refurbished.<ref name="AWN-2017">{{cite news|url=http://aviationweek.com/space/spacex-advances-space-hardware-reuse-latestflight|title=SpaceX Advances Space Hardware Reuse With Latest Flight|date=June 3, 2017|author=Mark Carreau|publisher=Aviation Week Network}}{{Dead link|date=October 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The last flight of the Dragon 1 spacecraft launched March 7, 2020 (UTC) on cargo resupply mission (CRS-20) to International Space Station (ISS). This was the last mission of SpaceX's first Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract, and marked the retirement of the Dragon 1 fleet. Further SpaceX commercial resupply flights to ISS under the second Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-2) program use the Cargo Dragon variant of the Dragon 2 spacecraft, which is capable of fully automated docking with the ISS.<ref name="spacenews.com">{{cite web|title=Falcon 9 launches final first-generation Dragon|url=https://spacenews.com/falcon-9-launches-final-first-generation-dragon/|website=spacenews.com|date=March 7, 2020|access-date=March 10, 2020|archive-date=March 10, 2020|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20200310095940/https://spacenews.com/falcon%2D9%2Dlaunches%2Dfinal%2Dfirst%2Dgeneration%2Ddragon/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History == SpaceX began developing the Dragon spacecraft in late 2004, making a public announcement in 2006 with a plan of entering service in 2009.<ref name=Brian/> Also in 2006, SpaceX won a contract to use Dragon for commercial resupply services to the International Space Station for the American federal space agency, NASA.<ref name=sfn20060818/>

=== NASA ISS resupply contract === ==== Commercial Orbital Transportation Services ==== thumb|left|upright|An early Dragon pressure vessel, photographed during factory tests in 2008. [[File:DragonEye on STS-133.jpg|right|thumb|The DragonEye system on {{OV|103}} during STS-133]]

In 2005, NASA solicited proposals for a commercial ISS resupply cargo vehicle to replace the then-soon-to-be-retired Space Shuttle, through its Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) development program. The Dragon space capsule was a part of SpaceX's proposal, submitted to NASA in March 2006. SpaceX's COTS proposal was issued as part of a team, which also included MD Robotics, the Canadian company that had built the ISS's Canadarm2.

On August 18, 2006, NASA announced that SpaceX had been chosen, along with Kistler Aerospace, to develop cargo launch services for the ISS.<ref name="sfn20060818">{{cite web |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0608/18cots/|title=NASA selects crew, cargo launch partners|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=August 18, 2006|archive-date=December 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201033239/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0608/18cots/|access-date=December 18, 2011}}</ref> The initial plan called for three demonstration flights of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft to be conducted between 2008 and 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/168735main_AIAA_2007_COTS.pdf|title=Commercial Crew & Cargo Program Overview|last=Thorn|first=Valin|date=January 11, 2007|publisher=NASA|access-date=April 15, 2012|archive-date=October 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020051528/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/168735main_AIAA_2007_COTS.pdf|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref><ref name="msnbc COTS contract 20080818">{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14411983|title=SpaceX, Rocketplane win spaceship contest|first=Alan|last=Boyle|newspaper=NBC News|date=August 18, 2006|author-link=Alan Boyle|access-date=December 18, 2011|archive-date=November 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104163712/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14411983/|url-status=dead}}</ref> SpaceX and Kistler were to receive up to US$278 million and US$207 million respectively,<ref name="msnbc COTS contract 20080818"/> if they met all NASA milestones, but Kistler failed to meet its obligations, and its contract was terminated in 2007.<ref name="RpK Plug Pulled">{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/news/071019-rocketplane-pulledplug.html|first=Brian|last=Berger|title=Time Runs out for RpK; New COTS Competition Starts Immediately |publisher=Space.com|date=October 19, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805002430/http://www.space.com/4517-time-runs-rpk-cots-competition-starts-immediately.html|archive-date=August 5, 2011 |access-date=December 9, 2010}}</ref> NASA later re-awarded Kistler's contract to Orbital Sciences Corporation.<ref name="RpK Plug Pulled"/><ref name="NSF-COTS">{{cite news|last=Bergin|first=Chris|title=Orbital beat a dozen competitors to win NASA COTS contract|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/02/orbital-beat-a-dozen-competitors-to-win-nasa-cots-contract/|access-date=December 18, 2011|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=February 19, 2008|archive-date=April 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405145227/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/02/orbital-beat-a-dozen-competitors-to-win-nasa-cots-contract/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Commercial Resupply Services Phase 1 ==== On December 23, 2008, NASA awarded a US$1.6 billion Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract to SpaceX, with contract options that could potentially increase the maximum contract value to US$3.1 billion.<ref name="SpaceX Cargo Contract 20081223">{{cite press release|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20081223|title=F9/Dragon Will Replace the Cargo Transport Function of the Space Shuttle after 2010 |publisher=SpaceX|date=December 23, 2008|access-date=January 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721083827/http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20081223|archive-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> The contract called for 12 flights, with an overall minimum of {{convert|20000|kg}} of cargo to be carried to the ISS.<ref name="SpaceX Cargo Contract 20081223"/>

On February 23, 2009, SpaceX announced that its chosen phenolic-impregnated carbon ablator heat shield material, PICA-X, had passed heat stress tests in preparation for Dragon's maiden launch.<ref>{{cite press release|title=SpaceX Manufactured Heat Shield Material Passes High Temperature Tests Simulating Reentry Heating Conditions of Dragon Spacecraft|date=February 23, 2009|publisher=SpaceX|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090223|access-date=July 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103023806/https://spacex.com/press.php?page=20090223|archive-date=January 3, 2010}}(original link is dead; see version at [http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090223005140/en/SpaceX-Manufactured-Heat-Shield-Material-Passes-High businesswire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924023029/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090223005140/en/SpaceX-Manufactured-Heat-Shield-Material-Passes-High |date=September 24, 2015 }} (accessed September 1, 2015)</ref><ref name="a&s201201">{{cite news|last=Chaikin|first=Andrew|title=1 visionary + 3 launchers + 1,500 employees = ?: Is SpaceX changing the rocket equation?|url=http://www.airspacemag.com/space-exploration/Visionary-Launchers-Employees.html?c=y&page=2|access-date=November 13, 2011|newspaper=Air and Space Smithsonian|date=January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207232709/http://www.airspacemag.com/space-exploration/Visionary-Launchers-Employees.html?c=y&page=2|archive-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref> The primary proximity-operations sensor for the Dragon spacecraft, the DragonEye, was tested in early 2009 during the STS-127 mission, when it was mounted near the docking port of the Space Shuttle ''Endeavour'' and used while the Shuttle approached the International Space Station. The DragonEye's lidar and thermography (thermal imaging) abilities were both tested successfully.<ref name="SpaceX Update 20090923">{{cite press release |title=UPDATE: Wednesday, 23 September 2009|url=http://www.spacex.com/updates_archive.php?page=2009_2|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=December 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419063103/http://www.spacex.com/updates_archive.php?page=2009_2|archive-date=April 19, 2012|date=September 23, 2009}}</ref><ref>[http://www.spacex.com/updates.php Update: 23 September 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727153858/http://www.spacex.com/updates.php |date=July 27, 2013 }}. SpaceX.com. Retrieved November 9, 2012.</ref> The COTS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) and Crew Command Panel (CCP) were delivered to the ISS during the late 2009 STS-129 mission.<ref name="CUCU">{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/03/spacex-activation-dragons-cucu-onboard-iss/|title=SpaceX announce successful activation of Dragon's CUCU onboard ISS|last=Bergin|first=Chris|date=March 28, 2010|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|access-date=April 27, 2012|archive-date=September 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911233729/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/03/spacex-activation-dragons-cucu-onboard-iss/|url-status=live}}</ref> The CUCU allows the ISS to communicate with Dragon and the CCP allows ISS crew members to issue basic commands to Dragon.<ref name=CUCU/> In summer 2009, SpaceX hired former NASA astronaut Ken Bowersox as vice president of their new Astronaut Safety and Mission Assurance Department, in preparation for crews using the spacecraft.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Former astronaut Bowersox Joins SpaceX as vice president of Astronaut Safety and Mission Assurance|date=June 18, 2009|publisher=SpaceX|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090618 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118115539/http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090618|archive-date=January 18, 2012|access-date=December 22, 2012}}</ref>

As a condition of the NASA CRS contract, SpaceX analyzed the orbital radiation environment on all Dragon systems, and how the spacecraft would respond to spurious radiation events. That analysis and the Dragon design – which uses an overall Fault tolerance triple redundant computer architecture, rather than individual radiation hardening of each computer processor – was reviewed by independent experts before being approved by NASA for the cargo flights.<ref name=aw20121118/>

During March 2015, it was announced that SpaceX had been awarded an additional three missions under Commercial Resupply Services Phase 1.<ref name="nsf-20150303nasacrs1addlaward"/> These additional missions are SpaceX CRS-13, SpaceX CRS-14 and SpaceX CRS-15 and would cover the cargo needs of 2017. On February 24, 2016, SpaceNews disclosed that SpaceX had been awarded a further five missions under Commercial Resupply Services Phase 1.<ref name="sn-20160224spxwinsaddlcrs1"/> This additional tranche of missions had SpaceX CRS-16 and SpaceX CRS-17 manifested for FY2017 while SpaceX CRS-18, SpaceX CRS-19 and SpaceX CRS-20 and were notionally manifested for FY2018.

==== Commercial Resupply Services Phase 2 ==== The ''Commercial Resupply Services-2'' (CRS-2) contract definition and solicitation period commenced in 2014. In January 2016, NASA awarded contracts to SpaceX, Orbital ATK, and Sierra Nevada Corporation for a minimum of six launches each, with missions planned until at least 2024. The maximum potential value of all the contracts was announced as US$14 billion, but the minimum requirements would be considerably less.<ref name="WashintonPostJan142016">{{cite news|title=Sierra Nevada Corp. joins SpaceX and Orbital ATK in winning NASA resupply contracts|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/01/14/nasa-expected-to-soon-announce-contracts-to-resupply-the-international-space-station/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 14, 2016|access-date=August 2, 2020|archive-date=September 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908122455/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/01/14/nasa-expected-to-soon-announce-contracts-to-resupply-the-international-space-station/|url-status=live}}</ref> No further financial information was disclosed.

CRS-2 launches began in late 2019.

==== Demonstration flights ==== [[File:COTS2 Dragon is berthed.jpg|left|thumb|The CRS Dragon being berthed to the ISS by the Canadarm2 manipulator during the COTS 2 mission.]] Interior of the COTS 2 Dragon capsule.|thumb|right Recovery of the COTS 2 Dragon capsule on May 31, 2012.|thumb|right

{{multiple image | align = right | image1 = SpX CRS-2 launch - cropped.jpg | width1 = 173 | alt1 = | caption1 = The Dragon spacecraft being launched on a Falcon 9 v1.0 rocket.

| image2 = SpX-3 launch.1.jpg | width2 = 134 | alt2 = | caption2 = The Dragon spacecraft being launched on a Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket. | footer = }}

The first flight of the Falcon 9, a private flight, occurred in June 2010 and launched a stripped-down version of the Dragon capsule. This Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit had initially been used as a ground test bed to validate several of the capsule's systems. During the flight, the unit's primary mission was to relay aerodynamic data captured during the ascent.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/COTS09209.xml&channel=awst|title=SpaceX, Orbital Explore Using Their Launch Vehicles To Carry Humans|date=September 20, 2009|author=Guy Norris|publisher=Aviation Week|access-date=October 26, 2012}}{{dead link|date=November 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20100607|title=SpaceX Achieves Orbital Bullseye With Inaugural Flight of Falcon 9 Rocket: A major win for NASA's plan to use commercial rockets for astronaut transport |date=June 7, 2010|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=June 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617022442/http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20100607|archive-date=June 17, 2011}}</ref> It was not designed to survive re-entry, and did not.

NASA contracted for three test flights from SpaceX, but later reduced that number to two. The first Dragon spacecraft launched on its first mission – contracted to NASA as COTS Demo Flight 1 – on December 8, 2010, and was successfully recovered following re-entry to Earth's atmosphere. The mission also marked the second flight of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle.<ref name="BBCLaunchDec2010">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11948329|title=Private space capsule's maiden voyage ends with a splash|publisher=BBC News|date=December 8, 2010|access-date=November 16, 2011|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042147/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11948329|url-status=live}}</ref> The DragonEye sensor flew again on STS-133 in February 2011 for further on-orbit testing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/07/sts-133-spacexs-dragoneye-late-installation-discovery/|title=STS-133: SpaceX's DragonEye set for late installation on Discovery|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=July 19, 2010|access-date=April 24, 2013|archive-date=September 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920052323/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/07/sts-133-spacexs-dragoneye-late-installation-discovery/|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a re-entry license for the Dragon capsule, the first such license ever awarded to a commercial vehicle.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/nov/10-298_NASA_Statements.html|date=November 22, 2010|title=NASA Statements on FAA Granting Reentry License To SpaceX|access-date=April 24, 2013|archive-date=April 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406213908/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/nov/10-298_NASA_Statements.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The second Dragon flight, also contracted to NASA as a demonstration mission, launched successfully on May 22, 2012, after NASA had approved SpaceX's proposal to combine the COTS 2 and 3 mission objectives into a single Falcon 9/Dragon flight, renamed COTS 2+.<ref name=LaunchAtLast/><ref name="Spaceflight Now 20111209">{{cite web|last=Ray|first=Justin|title=SpaceX demo flights merged as launch date targeted|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/003/111209dates/|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=December 9, 2011|access-date=December 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103110134/http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/003/111209dates/|archive-date=January 3, 2012}}</ref> Dragon conducted orbital tests of its navigation systems and abort procedures, before being grappled by the ISS' Canadarm2 and successfully berthing with the station on May 25, 2012, to offload its cargo.<ref name="FirstDock">{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/05/spacexs-dragon-historic-attempt-berth-with-iss/|title=SpaceX's Dragon captured by ISS, preparing for historic berthing|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=May 25, 2012|access-date=May 25, 2012|archive-date=September 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910194855/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/05/spacexs-dragon-historic-attempt-berth-with-iss/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WiredBerth">[https://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/05/spacex-docking/ "ISS welcomes SpaceX Dragon"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228124911/http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/05/spacex-docking/ |date=February 28, 2014 }} ''Wired'' May 25, 2012, Retrieved September 13, 2012</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/05/spacexs-dragon-achieving-milestones-falcon-9-ride/|title=SpaceX's Dragon already achieving key milestones following Falcon 9 ride|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=May 22, 2012|access-date=May 23, 2012|archive-date=May 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525070943/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/05/spacexs-dragon-achieving-milestones-falcon-9-ride|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=40906|title=NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 22 May 2012|publisher=NASA via SpaceRef.com|date=May 22, 2012|access-date=May 23, 2012|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001060851/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=40906|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://frenchtribune.com/teneur/1211418-cargo-aboard-dragon-spacecraft-be-unloaded-may-28|title=Cargo Aboard Dragon Spacecraft to Be Unloaded On May 28|author=Pierrot Durand|publisher=French Tribune|date=May 28, 2012|access-date=May 28, 2012|archive-date=April 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430084041/http://frenchtribune.com/teneur/1211418-cargo-aboard-dragon-spacecraft-be-unloaded-may-28|url-status=live}}</ref> Dragon returned to Earth on May 31, 2012, landing as scheduled in the Pacific Ocean, and was again successfully recovered.<ref name="Accomplished">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18273811|title=Splashdown for SpaceX Dragon spacecraft|publisher=BBC|date=May 31, 2012|access-date=June 21, 2018|archive-date=June 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601040307/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18273811|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://businesstech.co.za/news/general/13755/spacex-dragon-capsule-opens-new-era/|title=SpaceX Dragon Capsule opens new era|publisher=Reuters via BusinessTech.co.za|date=May 28, 2012|access-date=April 27, 2013|archive-date=July 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714175720/http://businesstech.co.za/news/general/13755/spacex-dragon-capsule-opens-new-era/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On August 23, 2012, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced that SpaceX had completed all required milestones under the COTS contract, and was cleared to begin operational resupply missions to the ISS.<ref>[http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/crew-cargo-milestones.html "NASA Administrator Announces New Commercial Crew And Cargo Milestones"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823214855/http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/crew-cargo-milestones.html |date=August 23, 2012 }} NASA August 23, 2012, Retrieved September 4, 2012 {{PD-notice}}</ref>

==== Returning research materials from orbit ==== Dragon spacecraft can return {{convert|3500|kg}} of cargo to Earth, which can be all unpressurized disposal mass, or up to {{convert|3000|kg}} of pressurized cargo, from the ISS,<ref name=Dragon/> and is the only current spacecraft capable of returning to Earth with a significant amount of cargo. Other than the Russian Soyuz crew capsule, Dragon is the only currently operating spacecraft designed to survive re-entry. Because Dragon allows for the return of critical materials to researchers in as little as 48 hours from splashdown, it opens the possibility of new experiments on ISS that can produce materials for later analysis on ground using more sophisticated instrumentation. For example, CRS-12 returned mice that have spent time in orbit which will help give insight into how microgravity impacts blood vessels in both the brain and eyes, and in determining how arthritis develops.<ref name="spaceflightinsider">{{cite web|title=SpaceX CRS-12 mission comes to a close with Dragon's splashdown|url=https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/spacex-crs-12-mission-comes-close-dragon-splashdown/|publisher=SpaceFlight Insider|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2020|archive-date=August 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811181250/https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/spacex-crs-12-mission-comes-close-dragon-splashdown/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Operational flights ==== {{main|#List of missions}}

Dragon was launched on its first operational CRS flight on October 8, 2012,<ref name=InOrbitOctober2012/> and completed the mission successfully on October 28, 2012.<ref name=bbc20121028/> NASA initially contracted SpaceX for 12 operational missions, and later extended the CRS contract with 8 more flights, bringing the total to 20 launches until 2019. In 2016, a new batch of 6 missions under the CRS-2 contract was assigned to SpaceX; those missions are scheduled to be launched between 2020 and 2024.

==== Reuse of previously flown capsules ==== CRS-11, SpaceX's eleventh CRS mission, was successfully launched on June 3, 2017, from Kennedy Space Center LC-39A, being the 100th mission to be launched from that pad. This mission was the first to re-fly a previously flown Dragon capsule. This mission delivered 2,708 kilograms<ref name="Dragon_reused">{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/06/03/cargo-manifest-for-spacexs-11th-resupply-mission-to-the-space-station/|title=Cargo manifest for SpaceX's 11th resupply mission to the space station|publisher=Spaceflight Now|last=Clark|first=Stephen|access-date=June 3, 2017|archive-date=August 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809111921/https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/06/03/cargo-manifest-for-spacexs-11th-resupply-mission-to-the-space-station/|url-status=live}}</ref> of cargo to the International Space Station, including Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER).<ref name="nasa-nicer-manifest">{{cite web|title=The Neutron star Interior Composition ExploreR Mission|url=https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/nicer/|publisher=NASA|access-date=February 26, 2016|quote=Previously scheduled for a December 2016 launch on SpaceX-12, NICER will now fly to the International Space Station with two other payloads on SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)-11, in the Dragon vehicle's unpressurized Trunk.|archive-date=May 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513154225/https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/nicer/|url-status=live}}</ref> The first stage of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle landed successfully at Landing Zone 1. This mission launched for the first time a refurbished Dragon capsule,<ref name="dragon-reuse">{{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-to-reuse-dragon-capsules-on-cargo-missions/|title=SpaceX to reuse Dragon capsules on cargo missions|publisher=SpaceNews|first=Jeff|last=Foust|date=October 14, 2016|access-date=November 11, 2017|archive-date=August 18, 2017|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170818133125/http://spacenews.com/spacex-to-reuse-dragon-capsules-on-cargo-missions/|url-status=live}}</ref> serial number C106, which had flown in September 2014 on the CRS-4 mission,<ref name="nsf-20170528">{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/spacex-static-fire-crs-11-falcon-9/|title=SpaceX static fires CRS-11 Falcon 9 Sunday ahead of ISS mission|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|first=Chris|last=Gebhardt|date=May 28, 2017|access-date=May 30, 2017|archive-date=December 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221103147/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/spacex-static-fire-crs-11-falcon-9/|url-status=live}}</ref> and was the first time since 2011 a reused spacecraft arrived at the ISS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/06/spacexs-crs-11-dragon-station-arrival/|title=SpaceX's CRS-11 Dragon captured by Station for a second time|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|website=www.nasaspaceflight.com|date=June 5, 2017 |access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=August 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806115924/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/06/spacexs-crs-11-dragon-station-arrival/|url-status=live}}</ref> Gemini SC-2 capsule is the only other reused capsule, but it was only reflown suborbitally in 1966.

CRS-12, SpaceX's twelfth CRS mission, was successfully launched on the first "Block 4" version of the Falcon 9 on August 14, 2017, from Kennedy Space Center LC-39A at the first attempt. This mission delivered {{convert|2349|kg}} of pressurized mass and {{convert|961|kg}} unpressurized. The external payload manifested for this flight was the CREAM cosmic-ray detector. This was the last flight of a newly built Dragon capsule; further missions used refurbished spacecraft.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/07/tdrs-priority-crs-12-dragon-launch-dates-realign/|title=TDRS-M given priority over CRS-12 Dragon as launch dates realign|publisher=NASASpaceFlight|first=Chris|last=Gebhardt|date=July 26, 2017|access-date=January 11, 2020|archive-date=August 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818032624/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/07/tdrs-priority-crs-12-dragon-launch-dates-realign/|url-status=live}}</ref>

CRS-13, SpaceX's thirteenth CRS mission, was the second use of a previously flown Dragon capsule, but the first time in concordance with a reused first-stage booster. It was successfully launched on December 15, 2017, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40 at the first attempt. This was the first launch from SLC-40 since the AMOS-6 pad anomaly. The booster was the previously flown core from the CRS-11 mission. This mission delivered {{convert|1560|kg}} of pressurized mass and {{convert|645|kg}} unpressurized. It returned from orbit and splashdown on January 13, 2018, making it the first space capsule to be reflown to orbit more than once.<ref name="nsf20180113">{{cite news|last1=Bergin|first1=Chris|last2=Gebhardt|first2=Chris|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/01/spacexs-crs-13-dragon-home/|title=SpaceX's CRS-13 Dragon returns home|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|date=January 13, 2018|access-date=January 14, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114021619/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/01/spacexs-crs-13-dragon-home/|url-status=live}}</ref>

CRS-14, SpaceX's fourteenth CRS mission, was the third reuse of a previously flown Dragon capsule. It was successfully launched on April 2, 2018, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station SLC-40. It was successfully berthed to the ISS on April 4, 2018, and remained berthed for a month before returning cargo and science experiments back to Earth.

CRS-15, CRS-16, CRS-17, CRS-18, CRS-19, and CRS-20 were all flown with previously flown capsules.

=== Crewed development program === In 2006, Elon Musk stated that SpaceX had built "a prototype flight crew capsule, including a thoroughly tested 30-man-day life-support system".<ref name="Brian">{{cite web|last=Berger|first=Brian|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11699810|title=SpaceX building reusable crew capsule|publisher=NBC News|date=March 8, 2006|access-date=December 9, 2010|archive-date=April 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405145259/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11699810|url-status=dead}}</ref> A video simulation of the launch escape system's operation was released in January 2011.<ref name="sxvid20110114">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ulp6g|title=SpaceX – Commercial Crew Development (CCDEV)|at=3:48|format=video|date=June 19, 2015|access-date=August 19, 2016|archive-date=September 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927065408/http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ulp6g|url-status=live}}</ref> Musk stated in 2010 that the developmental cost of a crewed Dragon and Falcon 9 would be between US$800 million and US$1 billion.<ref>[http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1010/11commercialcrew/ "NASA expects a gap in commercial crew funding"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715061837/http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1010/11commercialcrew/ |date=July 15, 2015 }} Spaceflightnow.com October 11, 2010, Retrieved February 28, 2011</ref> In 2009 and 2010, Musk suggested on several occasions that plans for a crewed variant of the Dragon were proceeding and had a two-to-three-year timeline to completion.<ref name="This Week in Space">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifwFa5DtIps|title=This Week in Space interview with Elon Musk|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=January 24, 2010|access-date=November 28, 2016|archive-date=March 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330140148/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifwFa5DtIps|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Augustine">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O81Zq02eStg|title=Elon Musk's SpaceX presentation to the Augustine panel|publisher=YouTube|date=June 2009|access-date=April 27, 2013|archive-date=July 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730114104/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O81Zq02eStg|url-status=live}}</ref> SpaceX submitted a bid for the third phase of CCDev, CCiCap.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-details-bid-to-win-nasa-shuttle-replacement-370213/|title=Boeing details bid to win NASA shuttle replacement|last=Rosenberg|first=Zach|date=March 30, 2012|publisher=FlightGlobal|access-date=April 15, 2012|archive-date=July 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715093036/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-details-bid-to-win-nasa-shuttle-replacement-370213/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=230715a3035c3af460f542da1ad80562&tab=core&_cview=0|title=Commercial Crew Integrated Capability|date=January 23, 2012|publisher=NASA|access-date=January 25, 2012|archive-date=May 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515181307/https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=230715a3035c3af460f542da1ad80562&tab=core&_cview=0|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> This evolved into the Crew dragon variant of the SpaceX Dragon 2.

== Development funding == In 2014, SpaceX released the total combined development costs for both the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and the Dragon capsule. NASA provided US$396 million while SpaceX provided over US$450 million to fund both development efforts.<ref name="AtlanticCouncil20140604">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYocHwhfFDc| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605154442/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYocHwhfFDc&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=June 5, 2014 |title=Discussion with Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO, SpaceX |publisher=Atlantic Council|first=Gwynne|last=Shotwell|time=12:20–13:10|date=June 4, 2014|access-date=June 8, 2014|quote=''NASA ultimately gave us about $396 million; SpaceX put in over $450 million ... [for an] EELV-class launch vehicle ... as well as a capsule''}}</ref>

== Production == thumb|SpaceX Dragon capsules being manufactured at SpaceX's factory thumb|right|A Dragon capsule being shipped out of SpaceX HQ in Hawthorne, California, February 2015.

In December 2010, the SpaceX production line was reported to be manufacturing one new Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket every three months. Elon Musk stated in a 2010 interview that he planned to increase production turnover to one Dragon every six weeks by 2012.<ref name="Space Interview 20101209">{{cite news|url=http://www.space.com/10443-spacex-ceo-elon-musk-master-private-space-dragons.html|last=Chow |first=Denise|title=Q & A with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk: Master of Private Space Dragons|access-date=May 31, 2012|newspaper=Space.com|date=December 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506045233/http://www.space.com/10443-spacex-ceo-elon-musk-master-private-space-dragons.html|archive-date=May 6, 2012}}</ref> Composite materials are extensively used in the spacecraft's manufacture to reduce weight and improve structural strength.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reinforcedplastics.com/view/26038/fibersim-helps-spacex-manufacture-composite-parts-for-dragon-spacecraft/|title=Fibersim helps SpaceX manufacture composite parts for Dragon spacecraft|publisher=ReinforcedPlastics.com|date=June 15, 2012|access-date=January 11, 2013|archive-date=September 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916052304/http://www.reinforcedplastics.com/view/26038/fibersim-helps-spacex-manufacture-composite-parts-for-dragon-spacecraft/|url-status=live}}</ref>

By September 2013, SpaceX total manufacturing space had increased to nearly {{convert|1000000|ft2}} and the factory had six Dragons in various stages of production. SpaceX published a photograph showing the six, including the next four NASA Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) mission Dragons (CRS-3, CRS-4, CRS-5, CRS-6) plus the drop-test Dragon, and the pad-abort Dragon weldment for commercial crew program.<ref name="sxProd20130924">{{cite web|last1=Shanklin |first1=Emily |title=Production at SpaceX|work=SpaceX |url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/09/24/production-spacex|date=September 24, 2013|access-date=September 29, 2013|archive-date=April 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403055117/http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/09/24/production-spacex|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Design == thumb|Drawing showing the pressurized (red) and unpressurized (orange) sections of Dragon. [[File:Dragon CRS Isometric.jpg|alt=|thumb|Isometric view of Dragon]]

The Dragon spacecraft consists of a nose-cone cap, a conventional blunt-cone ballistic capsule, and an unpressurized cargo-carrier trunk equipped with two solar arrays.<ref name="overview">{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/dragon.php|title=Dragon Overview|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=April 16, 2012|archive-date=April 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405074247/https://spacex.com/dragon.php|url-status=live}}</ref> The capsule uses a PICA-X heat shield, based on a proprietary variant of NASA's Phenolic impregnated carbon ablator (PICA) material, designed to protect the capsule during Earth atmospheric entry, even at high return velocities from Lunar and Martian missions.<ref name="2ndF9arrives">{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen|title=Second Falcon 9 rocket begins arriving at the Cape|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/100716firststage/|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=July 16, 2010|access-date=July 16, 2010|archive-date=November 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151130095951/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/100716firststage/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=sx-update20071210/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/100716firststage/|title=Second Falcon 9 rocket begins arriving at the Cape|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=July 16, 2010|access-date=February 4, 2013|archive-date=December 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224202442/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/100716firststage/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Dragon capsule is re-usable, and can fly multiple missions.<ref name=overview/> The trunk is not recoverable; it separates from the capsule before re-entry and burns up in Earth's atmosphere.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/005/returntimeline.html|title=SpaceX CRS-2 Dragon return timeline|date=March 26, 2013|quote=The unpressurized trunk section of the Dragon spacecraft separates. The trunk is designed to burn up on re-entry, while the pressurized capsule returns to Earth intact.|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=April 13, 2013|archive-date=September 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917051708/http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/005/returntimeline.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The trunk section, which carries the spacecraft's solar panels and allows the transport of unpressurized cargo to the ISS, was first used for cargo on the SpaceX CRS-2 mission.

The spacecraft is launched atop a Falcon 9 booster.<ref name="popmech-dec06-31">{{cite journal|last=Jones|first=Thomas D.|title=Tech Watch — Resident Astronaut|journal=Popular Mechanics|volume=183|issue=12 |date=December 2006|issn=0032-4558|page=31}}</ref> The Dragon capsule is equipped with 18 Draco thrusters.<ref name="sx-update20071210">{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/updates_archive.php|title=SpaceX Updates|publisher=SpaceX|date=December 10, 2007|access-date=December 11, 2007|archive-date=July 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708022909/http://www.spacex.com/updates_archive.php|url-status=live}}</ref> During its initial cargo and crew flights, the Dragon capsule will land in the Pacific Ocean and be returned to the shore by ship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/downloads/cots1-20101206.pdf|title=SpaceX • COTS Flight 1 Press Kit|date=December 6, 2010 |publisher=SpaceX|access-date=April 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415002926/http://www.spacex.com/downloads/cots1-20101206.pdf|archive-date=April 15, 2012}}</ref>

For the ISS Dragon cargo flights, the ISS's Canadarm2 grapples its Flight-Releasable Grapple Fixture and berths Dragon to the station's US Orbital Segment using a Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/04/iss-robotic-arm-preparation-greet-spacexs-dragon/|title=ISS translates robotic assets in preparation to greet SpaceX's Dragon|last=Bergin|first=Chris|date=April 12, 2012|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|access-date=April 15, 2012|archive-date=September 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919205725/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/04/iss-robotic-arm-preparation-greet-spacexs-dragon/|url-status=live}}</ref> The CRS Dragon does not have an independent means of maintaining a breathable atmosphere for astronauts and instead circulates in fresh air from the ISS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110014250_2011013540.pdf|title=SpaceX Dragon Air Circulation System|author=Brenda J. Hernandez |author2=Siarhei Piatrovich |author3=Mauro Prina |year=2011|publisher=SpaceX / American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics|access-date=April 15, 2012|archive-date=December 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206071423/http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110014250_2011013540.pdf|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> For typical missions, Dragon is planned to remain berthed to the ISS for about 30 days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/483771main_Space_Ops_Committee_Report_July_2010.pdf|title=NASA Advisory Council Space Operations Committee|date=July 2010|publisher=NASA|access-date=April 15, 2012|archive-date=March 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308112952/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/483771main_Space_Ops_Committee_Report_July_2010.pdf|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

The Dragon capsule can transport {{convert|3310|kg}} of cargo, which can be all pressurized, all unpressurized, or a combination thereof. It can return to Earth {{convert|3310|kg}}, which can be all unpressurized disposal mass, or up to {{convert|3310|kg}} of return pressurized cargo, driven by parachute limitations. There is a volume constraint of {{convert|14|m3}} trunk unpressurized cargo and {{convert|11.2|m3}} of pressurized cargo (up or down).<ref name="ISS-1">[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/418857main_sec_nnj09ga04b.pdf "The ISS CRS contract (signed 23 December 2008)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222192926/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/418857main_sec_nnj09ga04b.pdf |date=February 22, 2017 }} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The trunk was first used operationally on the Dragon's CRS-2 mission in March 2013.<ref name="nsf20121019">{{cite web|last=Bergin|first=Chris|title=Dragon enjoying ISS stay, despite minor issues – Falcon 9 investigation begins|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/10/dragon-iss-stay-minor-issues-falcon-9-investigation/|access-date=October 21, 2012|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=October 19, 2012|quote=''CRS-2 will debut the use of Dragon's trunk section, capable of delivering unpressurized cargo, prior to the payload being removed by the ISS' robotic assets after berthing.''|archive-date=September 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914080822/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/10/dragon-iss-stay-minor-issues-falcon-9-investigation/|url-status=live}}</ref> Its solar arrays produce a peak power of 4 kW.<ref name=FAA2012>{{cite web|url=http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/The_Annual_Compendium_of_Commercial_Space_Transporation_2012.pdf|title=The Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2012|date=February 2012|publisher=Federal Aviation Administration|access-date=February 8, 2013|archive-date=June 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619213345/http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/The_Annual_Compendium_of_Commercial_Space_Transporation_2012.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The design was modified beginning with the fifth Dragon flight on the SpaceX CRS-3 mission to the ISS in March 2014. While the outer mold line of the Dragon was unchanged, the avionics and cargo racks were redesigned to supply substantially more electrical power to powered cargo devices, including the GLACIER freezer module and MERLIN freezer module freezer modules for transporting critical science payloads.<ref name="tss20140321a">{{cite AV media|people=Gwynne Shotwell|date=March 21, 2014|title=Broadcast 2212: Special Edition, interview with Gwynne Shotwell|medium=audio file|url=http://archived.thespaceshow.com/shows/2212-BWB-2014-03-21.mp3|access-date=March 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322013556/http://archived.thespaceshow.com/shows/2212-BWB-2014-03-21.mp3|archive-date=March 22, 2014|format=mp3|time=18:35–19:10|publisher=The Space Show|id=2212|quote=''looks the same on the outside... new avionics system, new software, and new cargo racking system''}}</ref>

== Variants and derivatives == === DragonLab === SpaceX planned to fly the Dragon spacecraft in a free-flying configuration, known as '''DragonLab'''.<ref name=overview/> Its subsystems include propulsion, power, thermal and environmental control (ECLSS)<!-- ECLSS is needed even for the cargo version to support biological experiments in the pressurized section of the spacecraft -->, avionics, communications, thermal protection, flight software, guidance and navigation systems, and entry, descent, landing, and recovery gear.<ref name="sx20090918">{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/pdf/DragonLabFactSheet.pdf|title=DragonLab datasheet|date=September 8, 2009|access-date=October 19, 2010|publisher=SpaceX|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104010401/http://www.spacex.com/downloads/dragonlab-datasheet.pdf|archive-date=January 4, 2011}}</ref> It has a total combined upmass of {{convert|6000|kg}} upon launch, and a maximum downmass of {{convert|3000|kg}} when returning to Earth.<ref name="sx20090918"/> In November 2014, there were two DragonLab missions listed on the SpaceX launch manifest: one in 2016 and another in 2018.<ref name="sxManifest20141120">{{cite web|title=Launch Manifest |url=http://www.spacex.com/launch_manifest.php|year=2011|archive-date=November 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120220200/http://www.spacex.com/missions|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=December 11, 2014}}</ref> However, these missions were removed from the manifest in early 2017, with no official SpaceX statement.<ref name="sxManifest20141211">{{cite web|title=Launch Manifest|url=http://www.spacex.com/launch_manifest.php|date=December 11, 2014|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=December 11, 2014|archive-date=October 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004103731/http://www.spacex.com/launch_manifest.php|url-status=live}}</ref> The American Biosatellites once performed similar uncrewed payload-delivery functions, and the Russian Bion satellites still continue to do so.

== List of vehicles == {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:small" |+ Dragon 1 vehicles |- ! | Serial ! Type ! Status ! Flights ! Time in flight ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | {{Visible anchor|C101}} | Prototype | {{Draw|Retired}} | 1 | data-sort-value="12" | {{time interval|8 December 2010 15:43|8 December 2010 19:02|abbr=on|show=dhm|sep=,}} | On display in Hawthorne, California at SpaceX's facility. |- | {{Visible anchor|C102}} | Production | {{Draw|Retired}} | 1 | data-sort-value="11" | {{time interval|22 May 2012 07:44:38|31 May 2012 15:42|abbr=on|show=dhm|sep=,}} | On display in Merritt Island, Florida at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. |- | {{Visible anchor|C103}} | Production | {{Draw|Retired}} | 1 | data-sort-value="10" | {{time interval|8 October 2012 00:34:07|28 October 2012 19:22|abbr=on|show=dhm|sep=,}} | |- | {{Visible anchor|C104}} | Production | {{Draw|Retired}} | 1 | data-sort-value="9" | {{time interval|1 March 2013 15:10|26 March 2013 16:34|abbr=on|show=dhm|sep=,}} | |- | {{Visible anchor|C105}} | Production | {{Draw|Retired}} | 1 | data-sort-value="8" | {{time interval|18 April 2014 19:25:21|18 May 2014 19:04|abbr=on|show=dhm|sep=,}} | |- | {{Visible anchor|C106}} | Production | {{Draw|Retired}} | 3 | data-sort-value="3" | 97d, 3h, 2m | |- | {{Visible anchor|C107}} | Production | {{Draw|Scrapped}} | 1 | data-sort-value="7" | {{time interval|10 January 2015 09:47:10|11 February 2015 00:44|abbr=on|show=dhm|sep=,}} | |- | {{Visible anchor|C108}} | Production | {{Draw|Retired}} | 3 | data-sort-value="2" | 98d, 18h, 50m | On display in Los Angeles, California at the California Science Center. |- | {{Visible anchor|C109}} | Production | {{No|Destroyed}} | 1 | data-sort-value="13" | {{time interval|28 June 2015 14:21:11|28 June 2015, 14:23:30|abbr=on|show=hms|sep=,}} | Destroyed upon impact with the ocean after the in-flight explosion of the Falcon 9 first stage during CRS-7. |- | {{Visible anchor|C110}} | Production | {{Draw|Retired}} | 2 | data-sort-value="5" | 65d, 20h, 20m | |- | {{Visible anchor|C111}} | Production | {{Draw|Retired}} | 2 | data-sort-value="4" | 74d, 23h, 38m | |- | {{Visible anchor|C112}} | Production | {{Draw|Retired}} | 3 | data-sort-value="1" | 99d, 1h | On display in Waco, Texas at the Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dragon Spacecraft |url=https://www.wacosteamcenter.org/About-Us/Dragon |website=Waco STEAM Center |access-date=27 January 2026}}</ref> |- | {{Visible anchor|C113}} | Production | {{Draw|Retired}} | 2 | data-sort-value="6" | 64d, 12h, 4m | On display in Chicago, Illinois at the Museum of Science and Industry. |}

== List of missions == {{sticky header}} {| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" ! Mission and Patch ! Capsule<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/dragon.htm|title=Dragon C2, CRS-1,... CRS-20 (SpX 1,... 20)|website=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=March 16, 2021|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308050552/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/dragon.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> ! Launch date (UTC) ! Remarks ! {{nowrap|Time at ISS}} ! Outcome |- | COTS-1 (patch)<!--Please do not convert to a visible image as the patch for this mission is not freely licensed--> | C101<ref name="c101">{{Cite web|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/dragon-c1.htm|title=Dragon C1|website=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=March 16, 2021|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126063330/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/dragon-c1.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> | December 8, 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/offices/c3po/home/spacexfeature.html|title=SpaceX Launches Success with Falcon 9/Dragon Flight|date=December 9, 2010|publisher=NASA|access-date=April 11, 2012|archive-date=June 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611145553/http://www.nasa.gov/offices/c3po/home/spacexfeature.html|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> | First Dragon mission, second Falcon 9 launch. Mission tested the orbital maneuvering and reentry of the Dragon capsule. After recovery, the capsule was put on display at SpaceX's headquarters.<ref name=c101/> | {{n/a}} | {{Success}} |- | COTS-2 (patch)<!--Please do not convert to a visible image as the patch for this mission is not freely licensed--> | C102 | May 22, 2012<ref name="LaunchAtLast">{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/15805-spacex-private-capsule-launches-space-station.html|title=SpaceX Launches Private Capsule on Historic Trip to Space Station|publisher=Space.com|date=May 22, 2012|access-date=May 22, 2012|archive-date=May 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515101738/http://www.space.com/15805-spacex-private-capsule-launches-space-station.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | First Dragon mission with complete spacecraft, first rendezvous mission, first berthing with ISS. After recovery, the capsule was put on display at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=ExploreSpaceKSC|author-link=Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex|number=809146750455910401|title=Same Dragon as displayed here in February 2015 from the C2+ or COTS Demo Flight 2 mission.|date=December 14, 2016|access-date=April 6, 2018}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> | {{time interval|25 May 2012 16:02|31 May 2012 09:49|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} <ref name=Accomplished/> |- | CRS-1 50px | C103 | October 8, 2012<ref name="oct8Launch">{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/004/120831wdr/|title=Falcon 9 undergoes pad rehearsal for October launch|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=August 31, 2012|access-date=September 12, 2012|archive-date=July 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716155620/http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/004/120831wdr/|url-status=live}}</ref> | First Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission for NASA, first non-demo mission. Falcon 9 rocket suffered a partial engine failure during launch but was able to deliver Dragon into orbit.<ref name=InOrbitOctober2012/> However, a secondary payload did not reach its correct orbit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:04ce340e-4b63-4d23-9695-d49ab661f385&plckPostId=Blog%3A04ce340e-4b63-4d23-9695-d49ab661f385Post%3Afdf0d27c-fdf2-4efb-a71f-8272017dbfc3|title=Falcon 9 Drops Orbcomm Satellite in Wrong Orbit|publisher=Aviation Week|date=October 8, 2012 |access-date=October 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006200230/http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:04ce340e-4b63-4d23-9695-d49ab661f385|archive-date=October 6, 2012}}</ref><ref name="sepLaunch">{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/|title=Worldwide Launch Schedule|date=September 7, 2012|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=September 12, 2012|archive-date=November 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151130025356/http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="OctSeven">{{cite web|url=http://www.livescience.com/23444-spacex-dragon-space-station-cargo-mission.html|title=Private Spacecraft to Launch Space Station Cargo on 7 October 2012|publisher=LiveScience|date=September 25, 2012|access-date=September 25, 2012|archive-date=July 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716152525/http://www.livescience.com/23444-spacex-dragon-space-station-cargo-mission.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | {{time interval|10 October 2012 13:03|28 October 2012 11:19|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}}; launch anomaly <ref name="bbc20121028">{{cite news|publisher=BBC|date=October 28, 2012|access-date=December 23, 2012|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20118963|title=SpaceX capsule returns with safe landing in Pacific Ocean|archive-date=December 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205134246/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20118963|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | CRS-2 50px | C104 | March 1, 2013<ref name="Frightening2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/20035-spacex-dragon-glitch-elon-musk.html|title=Dragon Spacecraft Glitch Was "Frightening", SpaceX Chief Elon Musk Says|publisher=Space.com|date=March 1, 2013|access-date=March 2, 2013|archive-date=October 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019063926/http://www.space.com/20035-spacex-dragon-glitch-elon-musk.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Dragon Mission Report|publisher=Spaceflight Now|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/004/121114anomalies/|access-date=November 15, 2012|archive-date=May 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502052116/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/004/121114anomalies/|url-status=live}}</ref> | First launch of Dragon using trunk section to carry cargo.<ref name=nsf20121019/> Launch was successful, but anomalies occurred with the spacecraft's thrusters shortly after liftoff. Thruster function was later restored and orbit corrections were made,<ref name=Frightening2013/> but the spacecraft's rendezvous with the ISS was delayed from its planned date of March 2 until March 3, 2013, when it was successfully berthed with the ''Harmony'' module.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/3/2/4057394/nasa-clears-spacex-dragon-iss-dock|title=NASA says SpaceX Dragon is safe to dock with the International Space Station on Sunday|publisher=The Verge|date=March 2, 2013|access-date=March 2, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303081251/http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/2/4057394/nasa-clears-spacex-dragon-iss-dock|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=SpaceX hits snag; Dragon capsule won't dock with space station on schedule|work=WKMG |url=http://www.clickorlando.com/news/SpaceX-hits-snag-Dragon-capsule-won-t-dock-with-space-station-on-schedule/-/1637132/19119852/-/2mcd1p/-/index.html|publisher=WKMG TV|date=March 1, 2013|access-date=March 1, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304014330/http://www.clickorlando.com/news/SpaceX-hits-snag-Dragon-capsule-won-t-dock-with-space-station-on-schedule/-/1637132/19119852/-/2mcd1p/-/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Dragon splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean on March 26, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=SpaceX Dragon cargo ship splashes into Pacific|url=http://www.boston.com/news/science/2013/03/26/spacex-dragon-cargo-ship-splashes-into-pacific/tm355lhjaaPX6zknTiOSNN/story.html|publisher=Boston Globe|date=March 26, 2013|access-date=March 28, 2013|archive-date=April 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420235542/http://www.boston.com/news/science/2013/03/26/spacex-dragon-cargo-ship-splashes-into-pacific/tm355lhjaaPX6zknTiOSNN/story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> | {{time interval|3 March 2013 13:56|26 March 2013 08:10|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}}; spacecraft anomaly<ref name=Frightening2013/> |- | CRS-3 50px | C105 | April 18, 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/range-realigns-spacex-crs-3-april/|title=Range Realigns – SpaceX CRS-3 mission targets April 14|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=April 4, 2014|access-date=April 4, 2014|archive-date=September 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910130203/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/range-realigns-spacex-crs-3-april/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://new.livestream.com/spacex/events/2833937/statuses/48058415|title=CRS-3 Update|website=new.livestream.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426013514/http://new.livestream.com/spacex/events/2833937/statuses/48058415|archive-date=April 26, 2014}}</ref> | First launch of the redesigned Dragon: same outer mold line with the avionics and cargo racks redesigned to supply substantially more electric power to powered cargo devices, including additional cargo freezers (GLACIER freezer module (GLACIER), Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MERLIN)) for transporting critical science payloads.<ref name=tss20140321a/> Launch rescheduled for April 18, 2014, due to a helium leak. | {{time interval|20 April 2014 14:06|18 May 2014 11:55|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} <ref name="Launch">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65zDaDSvIww|title=[SpaceX] Launch of SpaceX's Dragon CRS-3 Spacecraft on Falcon 9v1.1 Rocket|publisher=SpaceVids.tv|date=April 18, 2014|access-date=April 18, 2014|archive-date=April 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418215613/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65zDaDSvIww|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | CRS-4 50px | C106.1<ref name=c108/> | September 21, 2014<ref name="SpaceflightNowTrackingStation">{{cite web|title=Spaceflight Now Tracking Station|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html|publisher=spaceflightnow.com|access-date=August 8, 2014|archive-date=November 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151130220037/http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | First launch of a Dragon with living payload, in the form of 20 mice which are part of a NASA experiment to study the physiological effects of long-duration spaceflight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/27172-spacex-space-rats-nasa-science-infographic.html|title=SpaceX Dragon Flying Mice in Space and More for NASA|publisher=Space.com|date=September 18, 2014|access-date=October 18, 2014|archive-date=October 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004202346/http://www.space.com/27172-spacex-space-rats-nasa-science-infographic.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | {{time interval|23 September 2014 13:21|25 October 2014 12:02|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://globalaviationreport.com/2014/10/26/space-x-dragon-capsule-splashes-down-crs-4-mission-ends|title=Space X Dragon capsule returns to Earth – CRS-4 Mission ends with a splash!|access-date=November 2, 2014|archive-date=July 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717124242/http://globalaviationreport.com/2014/10/26/space-x-dragon-capsule-splashes-down-crs-4-mission-ends/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | CRS-5 50px | C107 | January 10, 2015<ref name="SpaceflightNowTrackingStation"/> | Cargo manifest change due to Cygnus CRS Orb-3 launch failure.<ref>{{cite web|title=Launch of SpaceX's CRS-5 mission slips to 16 December 2014|date=November 22, 2014 |publisher=Spaceflight Insider|url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/commercial/launch-spacexs-crs-5-mission-iss-slips-dec-16/|access-date=November 22, 2014|archive-date=May 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515043309/http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/commercial/launch-spacexs-crs-5-mission-iss-slips-dec-16/|url-status=live}}</ref> Carried the Cloud Aerosol Transport System experiment. | {{time interval|12 January 2015 13:54|10 February 2015 17:11|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} |- | CRS-6 50px | C108.1<ref name=c108/> | April 14, 2015 | The robotic SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on May 21, 2015. | {{time interval|17 April 2015 13:29|21 May 2015 09:29|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} |- | CRS-7 50px | C109 | June 28, 2015<ref name="SpaceflightNowLaunchSchedule">{{cite web|title=Launch Schedule|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|website=spaceflightnow.com|access-date=February 5, 2015|archive-date=December 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224185459/http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|url-status=live}}</ref> | This mission was supposed to deliver the first of two International Docking Adapters (IDA) to modify Russian APAS-95 docking ports to the newer international standard. The payload was lost due to an in-flight explosion of the carrier rocket. The Dragon capsule survived the blast; it could have deployed its parachutes and performed a splashdown in the ocean, but its software did not take this situation into account.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/07/saving-spaceship-dragon-contingency-chute/|title=Saving Spaceship Dragon – Software to provide contingency chute deploy|work=NASASpaceFlight.com|first=Chris|last=Bergin|date=July 27, 2015|access-date=April 6, 2018|archive-date=February 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217094726/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/07/saving-spaceship-dragon-contingency-chute/|url-status=live}}</ref> | {{n/a}} | {{Failure}} |- | CRS-8 50px | C110.1 | April 8, 2016<ref name="LaunchPhotography060216">{{cite web|url=http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html|title=Launch Viewing Guide for Cape Canaveral|last1=Cooper|first1=Ben|access-date=February 6, 2016|archive-date=February 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209063848/http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | Delivered the Bigelow Aerospace Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) module in the unpressurized cargo trunk.<ref name="nsw20130117">{{cite news|url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/nasa-and-bigelow-release-details-of-expandable-module-for-iss.html|title=NASA and Bigelow release details of expandable module for ISS|publisher=NewSpace Watch|first=Clark|last=Lindsey|date=January 16, 2013|access-date=January 24, 2013|url-access=subscription|archive-date=May 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516095238/http://newspacewatch.com/articles/nasa-and-bigelow-release-details-of-expandable-module-for-iss.html|url-status=live}}</ref> First stage landed for the first time successfully on sea barge. A month later, the Dragon capsule was recovered, carrying a downmass containing astronaut's Scott Kelly biological samples from his year-long mission on board of ISS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/05/11/cargo-carrying-dragon-spaceship-returns-to-earth/|title=Cargo-carrying Dragon spaceship returns to Earth – Spaceflight Now|first=Stephen|last=Clark|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=December 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222033129/https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/05/11/cargo-carrying-dragon-spaceship-returns-to-earth/|url-status=live}}</ref> | {{time interval|10 April 2016 13:57|11 May 2016 11:00|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} <ref name=CRS8-return>{{cite press release|url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2016/05/11/dragon-splashdown|title=Dragon Splashdown|publisher=SpaceX|date=May 11, 2016|access-date=May 19, 2016|archive-date=May 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516155634/http://www.spacex.com/news/2016/05/11/dragon-splashdown|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | CRS-9 50px | C111.1 | July 18, 2016<ref>{{cite web|title=Worldwide Launch Schedule|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|publisher=SpaceflightNow|access-date=June 20, 2016|archive-date=December 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224185459/http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|url-status=live}}</ref> | Delivered docking adapter International Docking Adapter (IDA-2) to modify the ISS docking port Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA-2) for Commercial Crew spacecraft. Longest time a Dragon Capsule was in space. | {{time interval|20 July 2016 14:03|25 August 2016 21:00|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} |- | CRS-10 50px | C112.1 | February 19, 2017<ref>{{cite web|last1=Garcia|first1=Mark|title=Dragon Launches to Station, Arrives Wednesday|date=February 19, 2017 |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/02/19/dragon-launches-to-station-arrives-wednesday/|access-date=March 19, 2017|archive-date=March 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320143408/https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/02/19/dragon-launches-to-station-arrives-wednesday/|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> | First launch from Kennedy Space Center LC-39A since STS-135 in mid-2011. Berthing to the ISS was delayed by a day due to software incompatibilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/13ericralph31/status/989732014407368704 |title=Tweet |website=twitter.com |access-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109043324/https://twitter.com/13ericralph31/status/989732014407368704 |url-status=live }}</ref> | {{time interval|23 February 2017 13:12|18 March 2017 21:20|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} <ref>{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Stephen|title=SpaceX's Dragon supply carrier wraps up 10th mission to space station|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/03/19/spacexs-dragon-supply-carrier-wraps-up-10th-mission-to-space-station/|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=March 19, 2017|archive-date=March 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319181835/https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/03/19/spacexs-dragon-supply-carrier-wraps-up-10th-mission-to-space-station/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | CRS-11 50px | C106.2<ref name="c108">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/01/spacexs-crs-13-dragon-home/|title=SpaceX's CRS-13 Dragon returns home|date=January 13, 2018|access-date=January 14, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114021619/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/01/spacexs-crs-13-dragon-home/|url-status=live}}</ref> | June 3, 2017 | The first mission to re-fly a recovered Dragon capsule (previously flown on SpaceX CRS-4). | {{time interval|5 June 2017 16:07|2 July 2017 18:00|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} <ref>{{cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/03/spacexs-first-re-flown-dragon-capsule-successfully-returns-to-earth/|title=SpaceX's first re-flown Dragon capsule successfully returns to Earth|last1=Etherington|first1=Darrell|publisher=Tech Crunch|date=July 3, 2017|access-date=July 3, 2017|archive-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920110852/https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/03/spacexs-first-re-flown-dragon-capsule-successfully-returns-to-earth/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | CRS-12 50px | C113.1 | August 14, 2017 | Last mission to use a new Dragon 1 spacecraft. | {{time interval|16 August 2017 13:07|16 September 2017 20:00|show=dh|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} |- | CRS-13 50px | C108.2<ref name=c108/> | December 15, 2017<ref name=sfn_ls1/> | Second reuse of Dragon capsule. First NASA mission to fly aboard reused Falcon 9.<ref name="sfn_ls1">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/12/flight-proven-falcon-9-launch-flown-dragon-iss/|title=Flight proven Falcon 9 launches previously flown Dragon to ISS|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|last=Graham|first=William|date=December 14, 2017|access-date=January 15, 2018|archive-date=February 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208224916/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/12/flight-proven-falcon-9-launch-flown-dragon-iss/|url-status=live}}</ref> First reuse of this specific Dragon spacecraft. | {{time interval|17 December 2017 13:26|12 January 2018 10:47|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} |- | CRS-14 50px | C110.2 | April 2, 2018 | Third reuse of a Dragon capsule, only necessitated replacing its heatshield, trunk, and parachutes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-experimental-water-landing-falcon-9-test/|title=SpaceX continues water landing test in latest Space Station resupply mission|first=Eric|last=Ralph|date=April 2, 2018|access-date=April 6, 2018|archive-date=April 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407054010/https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-experimental-water-landing-falcon-9-test/|url-status=live}}</ref> Returned over 4000 pounds of cargo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2018/05/05/dragon-splashes-down-in-pacific-with-nasa-research-and-cargo/|title=Dragon Splashes Down in Pacific With NASA Research and Cargo – Space Station|website=blogs.nasa.gov|date=May 5, 2018 |access-date=May 6, 2018|archive-date=May 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506100433/https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2018/05/05/dragon-splashes-down-in-pacific-with-nasa-research-and-cargo/|url-status=live}}</ref> First reuse of this specific Dragon spacecraft. | {{time interval|4 April 2018 13:00|5 May 2018 05:30|show=dh|abbr=on}}<!-- There is uncertainty to when vehicle was unberthed --> | {{Success}} |- | CRS-15 50px | C111.2<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1010644009964920832 |title=Tweet |website=twitter.com |access-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725173831/https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1010644009964920832 |url-status=live }}</ref> | June 29, 2018<ref name="cooper">{{cite web|url=http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html|title=Launch Viewing Guide for Cape Canaveral|website=Launchphotography.com|first=Ben|last=Cooper|date=April 2, 2018|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=February 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209063848/http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | Fourth reuse. First reuse of this specific Dragon spacecraft. | {{time interval|2 July 2018 13:52|3 August 2018 14:37|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} <ref name="landing">{{cite news|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/08/03/spacex-cargo-capsule-comes-back-to-earth-from-space-station/|title=SpaceX cargo capsule comes back to Earth from space station|publisher=Spaceflight Now|first=Stephen|last=Clark|date=August 3, 2018|access-date=August 30, 2018|archive-date=August 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805073236/https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/08/03/spacex-cargo-capsule-comes-back-to-earth-from-space-station/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | CRS-16 50px | C112.2<ref>{{cite web|title=SpaceX CRS-16 Dragon Resupply Mission|url=https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/crs16_press_kit_12_3.pdf|work=SpaceX|date=December 2018|access-date=January 14, 2019|archive-date=December 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205003400/https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/crs16_press_kit_12_3.pdf}}</ref> | December 5, 2018<ref name="space-20181205">{{cite web|title=SpaceX Launches Dragon Cargo Ship to Space Station, But Misses Rocket Landing|url=https://www.space.com/42629-spacex-dragon-launch-missed-landing-crs16.html|publisher=Space.com|last=Lewin|first=Sarah|access-date=February 7, 2019|date=December 5, 2018|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108115856/https://www.space.com/42629-spacex-dragon-launch-missed-landing-crs16.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | Fifth reuse. First reuse of this specific Dragon spacecraft. The first-stage booster landing failed due to a grid fin hydraulic pump stall on reentry.<ref name=space-20181205/> | {{time interval|8 December 2018 15:36|13 January 2019 20:00|show=dh|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/01/crs-16-dragon-departs-iss-return-journey/|title=CRS-16 Dragon returns to Earth following ISS departure|first=Chris|last=Bergin|publisher=NASA SpaceflightNow|date=January 14, 2019|access-date=February 7, 2019|archive-date=February 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203062839/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/01/crs-16-dragon-departs-iss-return-journey/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | CRS-17 50px | C113.2<ref name="teslarati-20190504">{{cite web|url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-infrared-landing-cargo-dragon/|title=SpaceX gives infrared glimpse of Falcon 9 landing after successful Dragon launch|website=Teslarati.com|first=Eric|last=Ralph|date=May 4, 2019|access-date=May 4, 2019|archive-date=May 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504104320/https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-infrared-landing-cargo-dragon/|url-status=live}}</ref> | May 4, 2019<ref name="teslarati-20190504"/> | Sixth reuse. First reuse of this specific Dragon spacecraft. | {{time interval|6 May 2019 13:33|3 June 2019 12:35|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/06/crs-17-dragon-eom-homecoming/|title=CRS-17 Dragon returns home from ISS mission|first=Chris|last=Bergin|publisher=NASA SpaceflightNow|date=June 3, 2019|access-date=June 16, 2019|archive-date=June 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614224146/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/06/crs-17-dragon-eom-homecoming/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | CRS-18 50px | C108.3<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1152361282982465536|user=SpaceX|title=The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously visited the @space_station in April 2015 and December 2017|date=July 19, 2019}}</ref> | July 24, 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|title=Launch Schedule|work=Spaceflight Now|date=July 19, 2019|access-date=July 19, 2019|archive-date=December 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224185459/http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|url-status=live}}</ref> | Seventh reuse. First capsule to make a third flight. After recovery, the capsule was put on display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.<ref>Press Release (June 26, 2024) [https://californiasciencecenter.org/press-room/pressrelease/2024-06-26/samuel-oschin-air-and-space-center-work-in-progress-gallery Dragon C108 Put On Display At California Science Center].[https://californiasciencecenter.org CaliforniaScienceCenter.org]</ref> | {{time interval|27 July 2019 16:01|27 August 2019 12:25|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} |- | CRS-19 50px | C106.3<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1199463905258590208|user=SpaceX|title=The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously flew in support of our fourth and eleventh commercial resupply missions|date=November 27, 2019}}</ref> | December 5, 2019<ref name="pietrobon">{{cite web|title=Launch Schedule|work=Spaceflight Now|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|date=December 5, 2019|access-date=December 5, 2019|archive-date=December 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224185459/http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|url-status=live}}</ref> | Eighth reuse. Second capsule to make a third flight. | {{time interval|8 December 2019 12:47|7 January 2020 08:41|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} |- | CRS-20 50px | C112.3<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1234151642863243265|user=SpaceX|title=The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously flew in support of our tenth and sixteenth commercial resupply missions – this will be the third Dragon to fly on three missions|date=March 1, 2020}}</ref> | March 7, 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|title=Launch Schedule|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=January 11, 2020|archive-date=December 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224185459/http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|url-status=live}}</ref> | Ninth reuse. Third capsule to make a third flight.<br />Final launch of this Dragon version (Dragon 1), with following launches using SpaceX Dragon 2.<ref name="spacenews.com"/> | {{time interval|9 March 2020 12:18|7 April 2020 10:30|show=dhm|abbr=on}} | {{Success}} |}

== Specifications == [[File:Size comparison of Apollo, Orion and Dragon spacecraft.svg|right|thumb|Size comparison of the Apollo (left), Orion (center) and Dragon (right) capsules]]

=== DragonLab === The following specifications are published by SpaceX for the non-NASA, non-ISS commercial flights of the refurbished Dragon capsules, listed as "DragonLab" flights on the SpaceX manifest. The specifications for the NASA-contracted Dragon Cargo were not included in the 2009 DragonLab datasheet.<ref name="sx20090918"/>

==== Pressure vessel ==== * {{convert|10|m3}} interior pressurized, environmentally controlled, payload volume.<ref name="sx20090918"/> * Onboard environment: {{convert|10|-|46|C}}; relative humidity 25~75%; 13.9~14.9 psia air pressure (958.4~1027 hPa).<ref name="sx20090918"/>

==== Unpressurized sensor bay (recoverable payload) ==== * {{convert|0.1|m3}} unpressurized payload volume. * Sensor bay hatch opens after orbit insertion to allow full sensor access to the outer space environment, and closes before Earth atmosphere re-entry.<ref name="sx20090918"/>

==== Unpressurized trunk (non-recoverable) ==== * {{convert|14|m3}} payload volume in the {{convert|2.3|m}} trunk, aft of the pressure vessel heat shield, with optional trunk extension to {{convert|4.3|m}} total length, payload volume increases to {{convert|34|m3}}.<ref name="sx20090918"/> * Supports sensors and space apertures up to {{convert|3.5|m}} in diameter.<ref name="sx20090918"/>

==== Power, communication and command systems ==== * Power: twin solar panels providing 1500 watts average, 4000 watts peak, at 28 and 120 V_DC.<ref name="sx20090918"/> * Spacecraft communication: commercial standard RS-422 and military standard 1553 serial I/O, plus Ethernet communications for IP-addressable standard payload service. * Command uplink: 300&nbsp;kbit/s.<ref name="sx20090918"/> * Telemetry/data downlink: 300&nbsp;Mbit/s standard, fault-tolerant S-band telemetry and video transmitters.<ref name="sx20090918"/>

=== Radiation tolerance === Dragon uses a "radiation-tolerant" design in the electronic hardware and software that make up its flight computers. The system uses three pairs of computers, each constantly checking on the others, to instantiate a fault-tolerant design. In the event of a radiation upset or soft error, one of the computer pairs will perform a soft reboot.<ref name="aw20121118">{{cite news|last=Svitak|first=Amy|title=Dragon's "Radiation-Tolerant" Design|url=https://aviationweek.com/dragons-radiation-tolerant-design|access-date=August 15, 2020|newspaper=Aviation Week|date=November 18, 2012|archive-date=February 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208083644/https://aviationweek.com/dragons-radiation-tolerant-design|url-status=live}}</ref> Including the flight computers, Dragon employs 18 triply redundant processing units, for a total of 54 processors.<ref name=aw20121118/>

== See also == {{Portal|Spaceflight}} {{Commons category|SpaceX Dragon}} * Comparison of space station cargo vehicles * List of human spaceflight programs * Space Shuttle successors *Cargo Dragon C208 and C209

=== Comparable vehicles ===

==== Cargo ==== {{div col}} * {{annotated link|Automated Transfer Vehicle}} * {{annotated link|Cygnus (spacecraft)|Cygnus}} * {{annotated link|Dream Chaser}} * {{annotated link|H-II Transfer Vehicle}} * {{annotated link|Progress (spacecraft)|Progress}} * {{annotated link|Soyuz GVK}} * {{Annotated link|Argo (Russian spacecraft)}}

==== Crew ==== * {{annotated link|Boeing Starliner}} * {{annotated link|Orel (spacecraft)|Orel}} * {{annotated link|Dragon Crew}} {{div col end}}

== References == {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=nsf-20150303nasacrs1addlaward>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/03/nasa-crs-missions-dragon-cygnus/|title=NASA lines up four additional CRS missions for Dragon and Cygnus|last1=Bergin|first1=Chris|publisher=NASA SpaceFlight|date=March 3, 2015|access-date=February 24, 2016|archive-date=January 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130164344/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/03/nasa-crs-missions-dragon-cygnus/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name=sn-20160224spxwinsaddlcrs1>{{cite web|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-5-new-space-station-cargo-missions-in-nasa-contract-estimated-at-700-million/|title=SpaceX wins 5 new space station cargo missions in NASA contract estimated at US$700 million|last1=de Selding|first1=Peter B.|publisher=Space News|date=February 24, 2016|access-date=February 24, 2016|archive-date=February 24, 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160224170629/http://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-5-new-space-station-cargo-missions-in-nasa-contract-estimated-at-700-million/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

== External links == * {{Official website|www.spacex.com/dragon}} at SpaceX * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120612112809/http://procurement.ksc.nasa.gov/documents/NNK11MS04S_SAA-SpaceX.pdf SpaceX CCDev2 Agreement with NASA] * [http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/document_library.html SpaceX CCDev2 bi-monthly progress reports] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwDCWTqNceQ Dragon cargo delivery to ISS (COTS 2 highlight reel)] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZJk4CrxctQ Dragon crew transport to ISS (CG rendering)] * [http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/05/30/dragon_v2_the_spacex_next_generation_space_capsule.html "SpaceX Reveals Its New Dragon Space Capsule"]. ''Slate''. May 30, 2014.

{{Dragon spaceflights}} {{SpaceX}} {{Cargo spacecraft}} {{Falcon rocket launches}} {{ISS modules}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dragon (spacecraft)}} * Dragon Category:Cargo spacecraft Dragon Category:Vehicles introduced in 2010 Category:Commercial spaceflight Category:Reusable spacecraft Category:SpaceX related lists Category:SpaceX Dragon 1