Crew Dragon Demo-1
{{short description|Demonstration flight of the SpaceX Dragon 2}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Crew Dragon Demo-1
| image = NASA Johnson 3.3-445A2747.jpg
| image_caption = Dragon C204 silhouetted against Earth's horizon, during its approach to the ISS
| names_list = {{Unbulleted list|Crew Demo-1|SpaceX Demo-1|Demonstration Mission-1}}
| mission_type = Flight test
| operator = SpaceX
| mission_duration = {{time interval|2 March 2019 07:49:03|8 March 2019 13:45:08|show=dhm|sep=,}}
| orbits_completed = 62
| spacecraft = {{ComV|SpaceX Crew Dragon|C204|full=nolink}}
| spacecraft_type = {{ComV|SpaceX Crew Dragon}}
| manufacturer = SpaceX
| launch_mass = {{cvt|12055|kg}}
| dry_mass = {{cvt|6350|kg}}
| launch_date = {{Start date text|2 March 2019, 07:49:03|timezone=yes}}{{nbsp}}UTC (2:49:03{{nbsp}}am{{nbsp}}EST)
| launch_rocket = Falcon 9 Block 5 (B1051-1)
| launch_site = Kennedy, LC{{nbhyph}}39A
| recovery_by = {{MV|GO Searcher}}
| landing_date = {{End date text|8 March 2019, 13:45:08|timezone=yes}}{{nbsp}}UTC{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/commercialcrew_press_kit.pdf|title=Commercial Crew Program American Rockets American Spacecraft American Soil|website=nasa.gov|publisher=NASA|access-date=February 28, 2019|archive-date=18 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218153814/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/commercialcrew_press_kit.pdf|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}}
| landing_site = Atlantic Ocean
| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit
| orbit_regime = Low Earth orbit
| orbit_inclination = 51.66°
| apsis = gee
| docking = {{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
| docking_target = ISS
| docking_type = dock
| docking_port = Harmony forward {{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|website=nasa.gov|date=2 March 2019 |publisher=NASA|access-date=March 2, 2019}} {{PD-notice}}
| docking_date = 3 March 2019, 10:51{{nbsp}}UTC
| undocking_date = 8 March 2019, 07:32{{nbsp}}UTC
| time_docked = {{time interval|3 March 2019 10:51|8 March 2019 7:32|show=dhm|sep=,}}
}}
| insignia = Crew Dragon Demo-1.png
| insignia_caption = Mission patch
| programme = Commercial Crew Development
| previous_mission = Crew Dragon Pad Abort Test
| next_mission = Boeing Pad Abort Test
| programme2 = Crew Dragon flights
| previous_mission2 = Pad Abort Test
| next_mission2 = In-Flight Abort Test
}}
Crew Dragon Demo-1 (officially Crew Demo-1, SpaceX Demo-1, or Demonstration Mission-1){{Efn|This mission has multiple official names. Mission operator SpaceX refers to the mission as "Crew Demo-1", while customer NASA refers to the mission as "SpaceX Demo-1". Unless otherwise noted, this article uses "Demo-1" to refer to this mission.}} was the first orbital test of the Dragon 2 spacecraft. The mission launched on 2 March 2019 {{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|publisher=FCC|access-date=February 5, 2019}} {{PD-notice}}{{cite web |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2019/02/06/|title=February 6, 2019 – Commercial Crew Program|date=6 February 2019 |publisher=NASA|access-date=February 6, 2019}} {{PD-notice}} at 07:49:03 UTC, and arrived at the International Space Station on 3 March 2019, a little over 24 hours after the launch. The mission ended with a splashdown on 8 March 2019 at 13:45:08{{nbsp}}UTC.{{cite AV media|title=SpaceX #CrewDragon Demonstration Flight Return to Earth|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aAe0GWIWGI|access-date=May 6, 2020}}
During a separate test, on 20 April 2019, the capsule used on Crew Demo-1 was unexpectedly destroyed 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|first=Eric |last=Berger|publisher=Ars Technica|date=April 22, 2019|access-date=April 22, 2019}}
Mission
The spacecraft tested the approach and automated docking procedures with the International Space Station (ISS), consequent undocking from the ISS, full re-entry, splashdown and recovery steps to provide data requisite to subsequently qualify for flights transporting humans to the ISS. Life support systems were monitored throughout the test flight.{{cite news|last=Foust|first=Jeff|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-seeks-to-accelerate-falcon-9-production-and-launch-rates-this-year/|title=SpaceX seeks to accelerate Falcon 9 production and launch rates this year|publisher=SpaceNews|date=February 4, 2016|access-date=March 21, 2016|quote=Shotwell said the company is planning an in-flight abort test of the Crew Dragon spacecraft before the end of this year, where the vehicle uses its thrusters to separate from a Falcon 9 launch vehicle during ascent. That will be followed in 2017 by two demonstration flights to the International Space Station, the first without a crew and the second with astronauts on board, and then the first operational mission.}} The capsule was to be re-used in an in-flight abort test, but it was destroyed in an accident during a static fire test of its SuperDraco thrusters.
The mission was launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 launch vehicle contracted by NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Initial plans had hoped to see CCDev2 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|publisher=SpaceFlight Insider|date=January 5, 2019|access-date=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 |publisher=SpaceNews|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|publisher=SpaceNews|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|publisher=SpaceNews|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 |access-date=March 3, 2019}} {{PD-notice}} but this was delayed until 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|publisher=NASA|date=January 10, 2019|access-date=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|last=Clark|first=Stephen|publisher=Spaceflight Now|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.
Demo-1 passed its Flight Readiness Review (FRR) and Launch Readiness Review (LRR) on 22 February 2019 and 27 February 2019 respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-crew-dragon-falcon-9-rollout/|title=SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 head to Pad 39A for historic launch debut|last=Ralph|first=Eric|publisher=Teslarati|date=February 28, 2019|access-date=February 28, 2019}}
The Falcon 9 with Demo-1 rolled out to the LC-39A on 28 February 2019 at around 15:00{{nbsp}}UTC and went vertical a few hours later.{{cite web |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/02/28/spacexs-crew-dragon-rolls-out-for-test-flight/|title=SpaceX's Crew Dragon rolls out for test flight|last=Clark|first=Stephen|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=February 28, 2019}} The spacecraft was launched on 2 March 2019 at 07:49:03{{nbsp}}UTC and docked with the ISS on 3 March 2019 at 10:51{{nbsp}}UTC.{{cite web |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/03/crew-dragon-first-docking-iss-dm1/|title=Crew Dragon successfully conducts debut docking with the ISS|date=3 March 2019 |publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|access-date=March 3, 2019}}{{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|publisher=NASA|date=2 March 2019|access-date=March 2, 2019}} {{PD-notice}}
The Dragon 2 spacecraft undocked from the ISS on 8 March 2019 at 07:32{{nbsp}}UTC. The capsule separated from the trunk, performed its de-orbit burn, entered the Earth's atmosphere and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean about {{cvt|320|km}} off Florida's east coast later that day at 13:45:08{{nbsp}}UTC.{{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|date=8 March 2019 |publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|access-date=March 8, 2019}} The capsule was recovered using SpaceX's recovery ship GO Searcher and was returned to the mainland 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|date=8 March 2019 |publisher=NASA|access-date=April 12, 2019}} {{PD-notice}}
Payload
Instead of carrying astronauts to the ISS, this flight had an Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD) wearing SpaceX's custom flight suit. The ATD is named Ripley, as a homage to Sigourney Weaver's character in the Alien movies franchise. The capsule was weighted similarly to missions with astronauts onboard and carried about {{cvt|180|kg}} of supplies and equipment including a "super high tech zero-g indicator" (a plush toy).{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/22/18236771/nasa-spacex-dragon-commercial-crew-dm-1-test-flight|title=NASA gives SpaceX the okay to launch new passenger spacecraft on uncrewed test flight|last=Grush|first=Loren|date=February 22, 2019|publisher=The Verge|access-date=February 23, 2019}}{{cite web|last1=Boyle|first1=Alan|title=NASA, SpaceX and a test dummy are ready for Dragon 2's first trip to space station|date=23 February 2019 |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2019/nasa-spacex-test-dummy-set-dragon-2s-first-trip-space-station/|publisher=GeekWire|access-date=February 28, 2019}}{{cite web|last1=Bartels|first1=Meghan|title=Meet Ripley, SpaceX's Dummy Astronaut Riding on Crew Dragon Test Flight|date=March 2019 |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-crew-dragon-dummy-called-ripley.html|publisher=Space.com|access-date=March 1, 2019}} The "zero-g indicator" was left on board the ISS after undocking, while Ripley returned safely to Earth on 8 March 2019.
Gallery
File:NASA Crew Demo-1 (31433487787).jpg|The Dragon 2 at SpaceX's LC-39A Horizontal Integration Facility
Crew Demo-1 Mission (46535572784).jpg|C204 launches from Kennedy LC-39A.
File:SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-1 Successfully Docks to Station.jpg|alt=DM1 docked|Dragon 2 docked to the International Space Station
File:SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-1 Hatch Open.jpg|alt=Entering Crew Dragon|Expedition 58 crew members enter the Dragon 2 for the first time. They are wearing protective gear to avoid breathing particulate matter that may have shaken loose during launch.
See also
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|SpaceX Demo-1}}
- [https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/crew_demo-1_press_kit.pdf Crew Demo-1 Mission] press kit (Archived [https://web.archive.org/web/20190302235308/https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/crew_demo-1_press_kit.pdf 2 March 2019])
- [https://www.spacex.com/dragon Dragon] at SpaceX (Archived [https://web.archive.org/web/20190302235320/https://www.spacex.com/dragon 2 March 2019])
{{Dragon spaceflights}}
{{Falcon rocket launches}}
{{Uncrewed ISS flights}}
{{Orbital launches in 2019}}
Category:SpaceX payloads contracted by NASA
Category:Supply vehicles for the International Space Station
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2019