SpaceX CRS-18, also known as SpX-18, is SpaceX's 18th flight to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services program for NASA. Launch was on 25 July 2019 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.[4][5]
![]() Artist rendering of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft being berthed to ISS | |
Mission type | ISS resupply |
---|---|
Operator | SpaceX |
COSPAR ID | 2019-044A |
SATCAT no. | 44446![]() |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Dragon C108.3 |
Spacecraft type | Dragon CRS |
Manufacturer | SpaceX |
Dry mass | 4,200 kg (9,300 lb) |
Dimensions | Height: 6.1 m (20 ft) Diameter: 3.7 m (12 ft) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 25 July 2019, 22:01:56 UTC [1] |
Rocket | Falcon 9 |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 |
Contractor | SpaceX |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Inclination | 51.6° |
Berthing at ISS | |
Berthing port | Harmony nadir or Unity nadir |
RMS capture | July 27, 2019, 13:11 UTC [2] |
Berthing date | July 27, 2019, 16:01 UTC [3] |
Time berthed | 1864d 9h 51m (in progress) |
![]() NASA SpX-18 mission patch |
The same Dragon capsule has previously flown to the ISS in April 2015 and December 2017.[6] This is the first time a capsule is used for a third flight.
Launch schedule history
In February 2016, it was announced that NASA had awarded a contract extension to SpaceX for five CRS additional missions (CRS-16 to CRS-20).[7]
Primary payload
NASA has contracted for the CRS-18 mission from SpaceX and therefore determines the primary payload, date/time of launch, and orbital parameters for the Dragon space capsule. It carried the third International Docking Adapter (IDA-3).[8]
The following is a breakdown of cargo bound for the ISS:[9]
- Science investigations: 1,192 kg (2,628 lb)
- Crew supplies: 233 kg (514 lb)
- Vehicle hardware: 157 kg (346 lb)
- Spacewalk equipment: 157 kg (346 lb)
- Computer resources: 17 kg (37 lb)
- External payloads: IDA-3 534 kg (1,177 lb)[10]
See also
References
- ^ @SpaceX (24 July 2019). "Standing down today due to weather; backup launch opportunity is tomorrow at 6:01 p.m. EDT, 22:01 UTC" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 July 2019 – via Twitter.
- ^ Dragon Captured With New Science Experiments
- ^ Dragon Installed to Station’s Harmony Module for Cargo Operations
- ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- ^ SpaceX (2019-07-25), CRS-18 Mission, retrieved 2019-07-25
- ^ @SpaceX (19 July 2019). "The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously visited the @space_station in April 2015 and December 2017" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ de Selding, Peter B. (24 February 2016). "SpaceX wins 5 new space station cargo missions in NASA contract estimated at $700 million". Space News. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- ^ Pietrobon, Steven (August 20, 2018). "United States Commercial ELV Launch Manifest". Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- ^ "spaceflightnow.com/2019/07/25/new-docking-port-spacesuit-and-supplies-en-route-to-space-station". July 25, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ "SpaceX's Cargo Dragon to Deliver New Space Station Docking Adapter for Commercial Crew Spacecraft". NASA. 2019-07-12.