Dragon 2

17 'Dragon 2' stories December 2020 - November 2023

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Table of contents

History
Upgrades compared to Dragon 1
List of flights
- Crew Dragon
- Cargo Dragon

History

Dragon 2 is the successor to SpaceX‘s first Dragon spacecraft, which was developed with funding by NASA‘s Commercial Operations Transportation Services (COTS) program. The second version was developed for both NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services-2 contract and Commercial Crew Program.

Dragon 2 encompasses both a crewed version, which is usually referred to as Crew Dragon, and then the cargo version, called Cargo Dragon.

spacex crew dragon inspiration4 — A Cargo Dragon on top of its Falcon 9 rocket with LC-39A’s Crew Access Arm extended. Image: Derek Wise / Space Explored

Upgrades compared to Dragon 1

The biggest upgrades to Dragon 2 over the original Dragon are the addition of international docking adaptors on the top for automatic docking rather than berthing to the station as well as improved recovering and refurbishment capabilities.

Crew Dragon obviously also has all the needed equipment to support crew like seats, flight controls, life support, a toilet, and a launch abort system.

List of flights

Crew Dragon flew for the first time to the ISS on a Falcon 9 rocket on March 8, 2019 for the Demo-1 mission. Cargo Dragon flew to the ISS for the first time on December 6, 2020.

Crew Dragon

List of all SpaceX crewed flights to space

Cargo Dragon

Date	Mission	Destination	Dragon
December 6, 2020 – January 14, 2021	CRS-21	ISS	C208.1
June 3 – July 10, 2021	CRS-22	ISS	C209.1
August 29 – October 1, 2021	CRS-23	ISS	C208.2
December 21, 2021 – January 24, 2022	CRS-24	ISS	C209.2
July 15 – August 20, 2022	CRS-25	ISS	C208.3
November 26, 2022 – January 11, 2023	CRS-26	ISS	C211.1
March 14 – April 15, 2023	CRS-27	ISS	C209.3
June 5 – June 30, 2023	CRS-28	ISS	C208.4
November 10, 2023 – In Space	CRS-29	ISS	C211.2

SpaceX acquires its parachute vender out of bankruptcy for $2.2 million

Seth Kurkowski Nov 29 2023 - 12:41 pm PT

In a rare move, SpaceX has acquired one of its vendors for $2.2 million after the parachute manufacturer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month. Named Pioneer Aerospace, the company built and sold parachute systems to both SpaceX, NASA, and the Department of Defense.

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SpaceX adds new crew arm to launch tower at SLC-40

Seth Kurkowski Nov 8 2023 - 10:10 am PT

This week SpaceX hoisted up and attached a new crew access arm at the company’s SLC-40 pad. The addition of a second crew tower gives SpaceX the flexibility to launching at either of their East Coast launch sites.

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This Week In Launches: Packed week of SpaceX flights

Seth Kurkowski Nov 6 2023 - 8:59 am PT

This week we have four launches from SpaceX and from both coats. Not just that, but two of the launches this week will feature RTLS landings. That means only one thing, non-Starlink launches!

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SpaceX’s 28th resupply mission arrives at the International Space Station

Seth Kurkowski Jun 7 2023 - 6:13 am PT

Early Tuesday morning, SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft arrived and docked with the International Space Station. On board were 7,000 pounds of supplies for the Expedition 69 crew, including new experiments, CubeSats to deploy, and even fresh fruit for the crew to enjoy.

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Launch Spotlight: CRS-25 – SpaceX set to launch the 25th space station resupply mission

Jared Locke Jul 11 2022 - 4:55 pm PT

SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 14, 2022, at 8:44 p.m. EDT. This launch will carry a Cargo Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station carrying food, science, and other supplies for the Commercial Resupply Services 25 (CRS-25) mission.

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SpaceX ends 2021 with launch record and 100 successful booster landings

Seth Kurkowski Dec 21 2021 - 9:20 am PT

SpaceX has launched 31 Falcon 9s this year, beating 2020 by five launches. Post-launch, the company stated it is now done for 2021, making its CRS-24 mission for NASA its final launch until January.

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Roscosmos and NASA in talks about adding commercial docking capability to Prichal

Seth Kurkowski Nov 29 2021 - 8:36 am PT

Roscosmos and NASA are in talks about the new Prichal docking module and allowing commercial spacecraft to dock to it, possibly relieving scheduling conflicts.

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Starlink connectivity coming to SpaceX’s Dragon Capsule, Starlink exiting beta, & more Elon tweets

Derek Wise Sep 19 2021 - 2:01 pm PT

SpaceX Dragon Capsule getting Starlink connectivity.

Beyond sharing a photo of his new dog Floki, talking about UFOs, and stressing the importance of reusable rockets on Twitter this week, Elon has also shared new features, including Starlink, that will be coming to the Crew Dragon capsule.

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[Update: Dragon spacecraft deployed] SpaceX to launch 23rd resupply mission to the International Space Station

Seth Kurkowski Aug 29 2021 - 12:03 am PT

spacex crs-23 falcon 9 before launch

After weather scrubbed SpaceX’s first attempt to launch CRS-23, they will be trying again tonight. This mission will feature a Falcon 9 rocket launching the company’s Dragon 2 cargo vehicle to the International Space Station. This will be SpaceX’s 23rd mission for NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services program and 3rd for the CRS-2 contract.

Date: Sunday, August 29th at 3:14 a.m. EDT

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[UPDATE: Dragon splashdown] SpaceX Crago Dragon set to return from the International Space Station

Jared Locke Jul 11 2021 - 2:13 pm PT

The Dragon that flew the CRS-22 mission to the International Space Station is set to return to earth over the next few days. However, Tropical Storm Elsa has proven problematic. Undocking is currently scheduled for July 7th.

Update: SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico just before midnight (11:32 p.m.EDT) on Friday.

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Interview with Dr. Ed Kelly on the Kidney Cells-02 Experiment launched on CRS-22 [Video]

Derek Wise Jun 5 2021 - 9:38 am PT

On Thursday, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9, carrying a Dragon 2 capsule to the International Space Station for CRS-22.

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SpaceX CRS-21 Dragon 2 capsule set to depart International Space Station next week

Seth Kurkowski Jan 4 2021 - 11:32 am PT

After launching to the International Space Station in early December, SpaceX’s new Dragon 2 vehicle successfully docked and supplied the ISS with food, experiments, and a new airlock. NASA announced today that the Dragon 2 capsule currently on the station will depart on January 11.

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Video: SpaceX shares time-lapse of CRS-21 Dragon 2 docking to ISS

Seth Kurkowski Dec 8 2020 - 1:05 pm PT

Yesterday SpaceX and NASA successfully docked the Dragon 2 capsule for CRS-21 to the International Space Station in part of the phase 2 Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA.

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Two SpaceX spacecrafts docked to International Space Station as Dragon 2 joins Crew Dragon

Seth Kurkowski Dec 7 2020 - 7:58 pm PT

After launching from LC-39A on top a Falcon 9 yesterday, SpaceX and NASA successfully guided the Dragon 2 to docking on the International Space Station.

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CRS-21: SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon 2 lift off on a mission of firsts

Daryl Sausse Dec 6 2020 - 1:35 pm PT

After a weather delay on Saturday, SpaceX launched the CRS-21 mission to the International Space Station.

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CRS-21: SpaceX Dragon 2 embarking on first flight, here’s how it compares to the original cargo vessel

Daryl Sausse Dec 4 2020 - 7:44 pm PT

SpaceX will soon conduct its 21st mission for NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services program. While it’s hardly SpaceX’s first cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station, CRS-21 is notable for being the first flight of SpaceX’s redesigned Dragon 2 spacecraft.

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