Dragon C108
C108 in flight in July 2019, during CRS-18.
TypeCargo space capsule
ClassSpaceX Dragon
OwnerSpaceX
ManufacturerSpaceX
Specifications
Dimensions6.1 m × 3.7 m (20 ft × 12 ft)
Dry mass4,201 kilograms (9,262 lb)
PowerSolar arrays
RocketFalcon 9
History
First flight
Last flight
Flights3
FateRetired
SpaceX Dragons
← C107
C109 →

SpaceX Dragon C108 is a Cargo Dragon space capsule built by SpaceX. It is the first Dragon capsule to be flown three times, having its third launch in 2019. C108 was first used on CRS-6, and then used again for the CRS-13 and CRS-18 missions. It was the first capsule to be used a third flight, marking a milestone in SpaceX's drive to reduce space launch costs through reusing hardware.

History

C108 was built as the eighth production Dragon capsule.[1] This new Dragon was launched on the CRS-6 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). It splashed down on May 21, 2015 and was successfully retrieved. To prepare for its second flight, it had its heatshield replaced while the hull, avionics, and Draco thrusters were refurbished.[2] The refurbished Dragon was relaunched in December 15, 2017 for the CRS-13 mission. Following an almost month-long stay, C108 landed on January 13, 2018.[3] After undergoing another refurbishment, C108 was launched again in July 2019 for the CRS-18 mission. It landed for the final time on August 27, 2019 and was retired.[4]

Flights

C108 flights
Flight # Mission Launch date (UTC) Landing date (UTC) Liftoff Notes
1 NASA CRS-6 14 April 2015,

20:10:41

21 May 2015,

16:42

[5][6]
2 NASA CRS-13 15 December 2017, 15:36:09 13 January 2018, 15:37 [7][8]
3 NASA CRS-18 25 July 2019,

22:01

27 August 2019, 20:20
First third flight of a Dragon Capsule[9] [9][10]

References

  1. ^ "Dragon C2, CRS-1,... CRS-20 (SpX 1,... 20)". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  2. ^ Clark, Stephen. "Test-firing at repaired launch pad clears way for SpaceX cargo flight next week – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  3. ^ Clark, Stephen. "Commercial cargo craft splashes down in Pacific Ocean after station resupply run – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  4. ^ "CRS-18 Dragon completes mission with Pacific Ocean Splashdown". NASASpaceFlight.com. 2019-08-27. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  5. ^ "SpaceX CRS-6". www.issnationallab.org. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  6. ^ Bergin, Chris (2015-05-21). "SpaceX Dragon completes CRS-6 mission with splashdown". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-24. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  7. ^ Clark, Stephen. "SpaceX's 50th Falcon rocket launch kicks off station resupply mission". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 2017-12-17. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  8. ^ Clark, Stephen. "Commercial cargo craft splashes down in Pacific Ocean after station resupply run". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 2018-01-14. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  9. ^ a b Clark, Stephen. "New docking port, spacesuit and supplies en route to space station". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 2019-07-26. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  10. ^ Bergin, Chris (2019-08-27). "CRS-18 Dragon completes mission with Pacific Ocean Splashdown". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 2019-08-27. Retrieved 2020-06-12.

External links

SpaceX Dragon 1 and Dragon 2
SpaceX
Reusable launch systems and spacecraft
Categories