Dragon C108 Explained
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] [10] |
|
Notes and References
- Web site: Dragon C2, CRS-1,... CRS-20 (SpX 1,... 20). space.skyrocket.de. 2019-12-15.
- Web site: Test-firing at repaired launch pad clears way for SpaceX cargo flight next week – Spaceflight Now. Clark. Stephen. en-US. 2019-12-15.
- Web site: Commercial cargo craft splashes down in Pacific Ocean after station resupply run – Spaceflight Now. Clark. Stephen. en-US. 2019-12-15.
- Web site: CRS-18 Dragon completes mission with Pacific Ocean Splashdown. 2019-08-27. NASASpaceFlight.com. en-US. 2019-12-15.
- Web site: SpaceX CRS-6. 2020-06-12. www.issnationallab.org. en-US.
- Web site: Bergin. Chris. 2015-05-21. SpaceX Dragon completes CRS-6 mission with splashdown. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150524014027/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com:80/2015/05/crs-6-dragon-departs-iss-homecoming/ . 2015-05-24 . 2020-06-12. NASASpaceFlight.com. en-US.
- Web site: Clark. Stephen. SpaceX's 50th Falcon rocket launch kicks off station resupply mission. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171217050242/https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/15/spacexs-50th-falcon-rocket-launch-kicks-off-station-resupply-mission/ . 2017-12-17 . 2020-06-12. Spaceflight Now. en-US.
- Web site: Clark. Stephen. Commercial cargo craft splashes down in Pacific Ocean after station resupply run. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180114050122/https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/13/commercial-cargo-craft-splashes-down-in-pacific-ocean-after-station-resupply-run/ . 2018-01-14 . 2020-06-12. Spaceflight Now. en-US.
- Web site: Clark. Stephen. New docking port, spacesuit and supplies en route to space station. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190726030623/https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/07/25/new-docking-port-spacesuit-and-supplies-en-route-to-space-station/ . 2019-07-26 . 2020-06-12. Spaceflight Now. en-US.
- Web site: Bergin. Chris. 2019-08-27. CRS-18 Dragon completes mission with Pacific Ocean Splashdown. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190827174331/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/08/crs-18-iss-pacific-ocean-splashdown/ . 2019-08-27 . 2020-06-12. NASASpaceFlight.com. en-US.
