Cargo Dragon C208
{{Short description|Uncrewed cargo capsule built by SpaceX}}
{{Infobox individual space vehicle
| name = C208
| image = CRS-23 Cargo Dragon.jpg
| image_alt =
| caption = C208 at Kennedy in August 2021.
| type = Space capsule
| class = Dragon 2
| owner = SpaceX
| manufacturer = SpaceX
| dimensions = {{Convert|4.4|x|3.7|m|abbr=on}}
| dry_mass =
| communciation =
| power = Solar panel
| rocket = Falcon 9 Block 5
| location = Hawthorne, California
| first_flight_date = 6 December 2020 – 14 January 2021
| first_flight = SpaceX CRS-21
| last_flight_date = 5 November 2024 – 17 December 2024
| last_flight = SpaceX CRS-31
| flights = 5
| time = 175 days, 13 hours and 52 minutes
| travelled =
| orbits =
| previous = Resilience
| next = C209
}}
Dragon C208 is the first Cargo Dragon 2 spacecraft, and the first in a line of International Space Station resupply craft which replaced the Dragon capsule, manufactured by SpaceX. The mission is contracted by NASA under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program. It flew for the first time on the CRS-21 mission on 6 December 2020.{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|title=Launch Schedule|first=Stephen|last=Clark|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=23 October 2020|access-date=24 October 2020}} This was the first flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2 contract awarded in January 2016. This was also the first time a Cargo Dragon was docked at the same time as a Crew Dragon spacecraft (SpaceX Crew-1). This mission used Booster B1058.4.
Cargo Dragon
C208 is the first SpaceX Dragon 2 cargo variant. C208 and the other Cargo Dragons are different from the crewed variant by launching without seats, cockpit controls, astronaut life support systems, or SuperDraco abort engines. {{cite web|url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-no-crew-dragon-spaceship-reuse-nasa-astronaut-launches/cargo-dragon-2-required-modifications/|title=Dragon 2 modifications to Carry Cargo for CRS-2 missions|last=Ralph|first=Eric|publisher=SpaceX/Teslarati|access-date=29 September 2020}}{{cite report|url=https://oig.nasa.gov/docs/IG-18-016.pdf|title=Audit of Commercial Resupply Services to the International Space Center|author=NASA OIG staff|publisher=NASA|work=Office of Inspector General|volume=IG-18-016|pages=24, 28–30|date=26 April 2018|access-date=29 September 2020}} {{PD-notice}} The Cargo Dragon improves on many aspects of the original Dragon design, including the recovery and refurbishment process.{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/08/02/spacex-to-begin-flights-under-new-cargo-resupply-contract-next-year/|title=SpaceX to begin flights under new cargo resupply contract next year|last=Clark|first=Stephen|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=2 August 2019|access-date=29 September 2020}}
The new Cargo Dragon capsules splashes down under parachutes in the Atlantic Ocean east of Florida or in the Gulf of Mexico, rather than the previous recovery zone in the Pacific Ocean west of Baja California. This NASA preference was added to all CRS-2 awards to allow for cargo to be more quickly returned to the Kennedy Space Center after splashdown.[https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2021/01/13/coast-guard-establishing-safety-zone-around-spacex-splashdown-site-in-gulf/ SpaceX Dragon capsule splashes down off Florida’s west coast]
Flights
{{sticky header}}
| class="wikitable sticky-header" style="text-align:center;" |
| Mission
! Patch ! Launch date (UTC) ! Duration ! Landing date (UTC) ! Notes ! Outcome |
|---|
| CRS-21
| 75px | 6 December 2020, 16:17:08 | 38 days |style="text-align:left"| First time Dragon 2 was used for a CRS mission, first launch of phase 2 of CRS missions, first time a Cargo Dragon and Crew Dragon docked to the ISS at the same time. | {{Success}} |
| CRS-23
| 75px | 29 August 2021, 07:14:49 | 32 days | 1 October 2021 |style="text-align:left"| Third time Dragon 2 was used for a CRS mission, third launch of phase 2 of CRS missions | {{Success}} |
| CRS-25
| 75px | 15 July 2022, 00:44 UTC | 36 days | 20 August 2022 |style="text-align:left"| Fifth time Dragon 2 was used for a CRS mission, fifth launch of phase 2 of CRS missions | {{Success}} |
| CRS-28
| 75px | 5 June 2023, 15:47 UTC | 24 days | 30 June 2023 |style="text-align:left"| Eighth time Dragon 2 was used for a CRS mission, eighth launch of phase 2 of CRS missions | {{Success}} |
| CRS-31
| 75px | 5 November 2024, 02:29 UTC | 42 days | 17 December 2024 |style="text-align:left"| Eleventh time Dragon 2 was used for a CRS mission, eighth launch of phase 2 of CRS missions | {{Success}} |
See also
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}