Crew Dragon C204
{{Short description|SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox individual space vehicle
| name = Crew Dragon C204
| image = Crew Dragon at the ISS for Demo Mission 1 (cropped).jpg
| image_alt =
| caption = C204 approaching the ISS
| 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
| first_flight_date = 2–8 March 2019
| first_flight = SpaceX Demo-1
| flights = 1
| time = {{Time interval|2019-03-03 10:51|2019-03-08 07:32|show=h}}
| travelled =
| orbits =
| fate = Destroyed during testing
| previous = DragonFly
| next = C205
}}
Crew Dragon C204 was part of Crew Dragon flight vehicle SN 2-1 (sometimes incorrectly called C201) manufactured and operated by SpaceX and used by NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Used in the uncrewed Demo-1 mission, it was launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket on 2 March 2019, arriving at the International Space Station on 3 March 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2019/02/06/|title=February 6, 2019 – Commercial Crew Program |website=blogs.nasa.gov|date=6 February 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=February 6, 2019}} {{PD-notice}} It was the first orbital test flight of the Dragon 2 spacecraft. The spacecraft was unexpectedly destroyed on 20 April 2019 during a separate test when firing the SuperDraco engines at Landing Zone 1.{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/04/heres-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-about-the-crew-dragon-accident/|title=Here's what we know, and what we don't, about the Crew Dragon accident|work=Ars Technica|first=Eric|last=Berger|date=April 22, 2019|access-date=April 22, 2019}}
History
SpaceX was contracted by NASA to fly Demo-1 mission as part of the Commercial Crew Program. Initial plans had hoped to see flights as early as 2015.{{cite web|last=Richardson |first=Derek|url=https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/falcon-9-with-crew-dragon-vertical-at-launch-complex-39a/|title=Falcon 9 with Crew Dragon vertical at Launch Complex 39A|work=SpaceFlight Insider|date=January 5, 2019|accessdate=March 3, 2019}} Demo-1 was eventually slated for no earlier than December 2016, and then delayed several times throughout 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/first-spacex-commercial-crew-flight-test-could-slip-to-2019/|title=First SpaceX commercial crew test flight could slip to 2019|date=October 3, 2018|website=SpaceNews.com |language=en-US|access-date=December 8, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-delays-commercial-crew-test-flights-to-latter-half-of-2018/|title=SpaceX delays commercial crew test flights to latter half of 2018|date=January 11, 2018|website=SpaceNews.com|language=en-US|access-date=December 8, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/report-warns-of-additional-commercial-crew-delays/ |title=Report warns of additional commercial crew delays|date=September 6, 2016|website=SpaceNews.com|language=en-US|access-date=December 8, 2018}} The first exact date was published by NASA in November 2018 to be 17 January 2019,{{cite press release|url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-invites-media-to-spacex-demo-1-launch|title=NASA Invites Media to SpaceX Demo-1 Launch|publisher=NASA |date=November 21, 2018|accessdate=March 3, 2019}} {{PD-notice}} but this got pushed into February 2019.{{cite web|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2019/01/10/spacex-demo-1-launch-update/|title=SpaceX Demo-1 Launch Update|work=NASA Commercial Crew Program Blog|date=January 10, 2019|accessdate=January 11, 2019}} {{PD-notice}} The static fire took place on 24 January 2019 and the launch date was set to 23 February 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/01/25/falcon-9-rocket-fires-engines-in-key-test-ahead-of-crew-dragon-demo-flight/|title=Falcon 9 rocket fires engines in key test ahead of Crew Dragon demo flight – Spaceflight Now|last=Clark|first=Stephen|language=en-US|access-date=January 25, 2019}} By the end of January 2019, the launch was delayed to no earlier than 2 March 2019 according to a FCC filing by SpaceX for Dragon 2 capsule telemetry, tracking, and command.{{Cite web|url=https://fcc.report/ELS/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Corp/0068-EX-ST-2019|title=Space Exploration Technologies Corp. WF9XGI 0068-EX-ST-2019 FCC Experimental License|website=fcc.report|access-date=February 5, 2019}} {{PD-notice}}
File:SpaceX DM1 – Anne McClain – Litte Earth.jpg crew member Anne McClain poses with "Little Earth" inside C204; the capsule was docked to the ISS for five days.]]
Crew Dragon C204 was successfully launched uncrewed on top of a Falcon 9 rocket on 2 March 2019 from the historic LC 39A from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The flight was intended to certify the Crew Dragon to carry humans, demonstrating on-orbit operation of avionics, communications, telemetry, life support, electrical, and propulsion systems, as well as the guidance, navigation, control (GNC) systems. It docked to the International Space Station the next day on 3 March 2019.{{Cite web|last=Burghardt|first=Thomas|date=March 3, 2019|title=Crew Dragon successfully conducts debut docking with the ISS – NASASpaceFlight.com|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/03/crew-dragon-first-docking-iss-dm1/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303114600/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/03/crew-dragon-first-docking-iss-dm1/ |archive-date=3 March 2019 |access-date=March 3, 2019|website=NASASpaceflight.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2019/03/02/demo-1-underway-crew-dragon-launches-on-debut-flight/|title=Demo-1 Underway: Crew Dragon Launches on Debut Flight – Commercial Crew Program|website=blogs.nasa.gov|date=2 March 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=March 2, 2019}} {{PD-notice}} It spent a total of five days docked to the ISS before it undocked from the ISS on 8 March 2019. The spacecraft performed entry into the Earth's atmosphere and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean about {{convert|200|mile|km}} off Florida's east coast.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/03/eom-spacex-crew-dragons-inaugural-station//|title=Crew Dragon's inaugural flight to Station concludes with splashdown – NASASpaceFlight.com|date=8 March 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=March 8, 2019}} The capsule was recovered using SpaceX's recovery ship, GO Searcher, and was returned to shore, where it was examined and the data collected by the on board sensors was analyzed.[https://english.tachyonbeam.com/2019/03/03/mission-spx-dm1-the-spacex-crew-dragon-spacecraft-has-reached-the-international-space-station/ Mission SpX-DM1 accomplished: the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft has come back to Earth]. Massimo Luciani, Tachyon Beam. March 8, 2019.{{Cite web |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2019/03/08/crew-dragon-lifted-onto-recovery-ship/|title=Crew Dragon Lifted Onto Recovery Ship – Commercial Crew Program|website=blogs.nasa.gov|date=8 March 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=April 12, 2019}} {{PD-notice}} Instead of carrying astronauts to the ISS, the spacecraft carried "Ripley," a mannequin wearing SpaceX's custom flight suit. Ripley is a named after Sigourney Weaver's character in the Alien movies franchise. The capsule was weighted similarly to missions with astronauts onboard and carried approximately {{cvt|400|lb|kg}} of supplies and equipment, including "Little Earth," a plush toy serving as zero-g indicator.{{Cite web|last=Grush|first=Loren|date=February 22, 2019|title=NASA gives SpaceX the okay to launch new passenger spacecraft on uncrewed test flight|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/22/18236771/nasa-spacex-dragon-commercial-crew-dm-1-test-flight|access-date=February 23, 2019|website=The Verge}}{{cite web|last1=Boyle|first1=Alan|title=NASA, SpaceX and a test dummy are ready for Dragon 2's first trip to space station|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2019/nasa-spacex-test-dummy-set-dragon-2s-first-trip-space-station/|accessdate=February 28, 2019|website=GeekWire|publisher=GeekWire, LLC}}{{cite web|last1=Bartels|first1=Meghan|title=Meet Ripley, SpaceX's Dummy Astronaut Riding on Crew Dragon Test Flight|url=https://www.space.com/spacex-crew-dragon-dummy-called-ripley.html|accessdate=March 1, 2019|website=Space.com|date=March 2019 }}{{cite web|title=NASA, SpaceX Launch First Flight Test of Space System Designed for Crew|url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-spacex-launch-first-flight-test-of-space-system-designed-for-crew|accessdate=March 2, 2019|website=Nasa.gov|publisher=NASA}} {{PD-notice}}
On 20 April 2019, Crew Dragon C204 was destroyed in an explosion during static fire testing at the Landing Zone 1 facility.{{cite web |last1=Bridenstine |first1=Jim |title=NASA has been notified about the results of the @SpaceX Static Fire Test and the anomaly that occurred during the final test. We will work closely to ensure we safely move forward with our Commercial Crew Program.|url=https://twitter.com/JimBridenstine/status/1119754804258062337 |accessdate=21 April 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-crew-dragon-spaceship-test-explosion-2019-5|title=SpaceX confirmed that its Crew Dragon spaceship for NASA was 'destroyed' by a recent test. Here's what we learned about the explosive failure. |last=Mosher |first=Dave |website=Business Insider |agency=Business Insider |accessdate=6 May 2019}} On the day of the explosion, the initial testing of the Crew Dragon's Draco thrusters was successful, with the accident occurring during the test of the SuperDraco abort system.{{Cite web |url=https://www.spacex.com/news/2019/07/15/update-flight-abort-static-fire-anomaly-investigation |title=UPDATE: IN-FLIGHT ABORT STATIC FIRE TEST ANOMALY INVESTIGATION |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718220856/https://www.spacex.com/news/2019/07/15/update-flight-abort-static-fire-anomaly-investigation |archive-date=18 July 2019 |last=Shanklin |first=Emily |date=15 July 2019 |website=SpaceX |language=en |accessdate=18 July 2019 |url-status=dead }} Telemetry, high-speed camera footage, and analysis of recovered debris indicate the problem occurred when a small amount of dinitrogen tetroxide leaked into a helium line used to pressurize the propellant tanks. The leakage apparently occurred during pre-test processing. As a result, the pressurization of the system 100 ms before firing damaged a check valve and resulted in the explosion.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-explosion-destroyed-crew-dragon-spacecraft-blamed-on-leaking-valve/ |title=Explosion that destroyed SpaceX Crew Dragon is blamed on leaking valve |website=www.cbsnews.com |date=15 July 2019 |language=en-US |accessdate=16 July 2019}} Since the destroyed capsule had been slated for use in the upcoming in-flight abort test, the explosion and investigation delayed that test and the subsequent crewed orbital test.{{cite web |url=https://www.journalpioneer.com/news/world/nasa-boss-says-no-doubt-spacex-explosion-delays-flight-program-323465/|title=NASA boss says no doubt SpaceX explosion delays flight program|date=18 June 2019 |access-date=18 June 2019}}
Flights
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| Mission
! Patch ! Launch date (UTC) ! Crew ! Duration ! Remarks ! Outcome |
|---|
| SpX-DM1
| | 2 March 2019, 07:49:03 | {{n/a}} | {{time interval|2019-03-03 10:51|2019-03-08 07:32|show=dhm|abbr=on}} |style="text-align:left"| First uncrewed flight test of Dragon 2 capsule: spent five days docked to ISS before undocking and landing on 8 March 2019. | {{success}} |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category inline|Crew Dragon C204}}
{{Dragon spaceflights}}
{{SpaceX}}