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 July 25, 2019 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.[7][8]
![]() Dragon C108.3 approaching the 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 | July 25, 2019,[1] 22:01 UTC[2] |
Rocket | Falcon 9 |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 |
Contractor | SpaceX |
End of mission | |
Disposal | Recovered |
Landing date | 27 August 2019, 20:20[3] | UTC
Landing site | Pacific Ocean, off Baja California |
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[4] |
Berthing date | July 27, 2019, 16:01 UTC[5] |
Unberthing date | August 27, 2019, 12:25 UTC[6] |
RMS release | August 27, 2019, 14:59 UTC[6] |
Time berthed | 30d 20h 24m |
![]() NASA SpX-18 mission patch |
The same Dragon capsule has previously flown to the ISS in April 2015 and December 2017.[9] 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).[10]
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).[11]
The following is a breakdown of cargo bound for the ISS:[12]
- 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)[13]
The Dragon spacecraft also featured a handful of ceramic Starship heat shield tiles, meant to flight-test a critical component of the SpaceX Starship spacecraft.[14]
See also
References
- ^ @SpaceX (July 24, 2019). "Standing down today due to weather; backup launch opportunity is tomorrow at 6:01 pm. EDT, 22:01 UTC" (Tweet). Retrieved July 24, 2019 – via Twitter.
- ^ New docking port, spacesuit and supplies en route to space station
- ^ Bergin, Chris (August 27, 2019). "CRS-18 Dragon completes mission with Pacific Ocean Splashdown". NASA SpaceflightNow. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
- ^ Dragon Captured With New Science Experiments
- ^ Dragon Installed to Station’s Harmony Module for Cargo Operations
- ^ a b Live coverage: Dragon supply ship heading back to Earth today
- ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. July 19, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ SpaceX (July 25, 2019), CRS-18 Mission, retrieved July 25, 2019
- ^ @SpaceX (July 19, 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. (February 24, 2016). "SpaceX wins 5 new space station cargo missions in NASA contract estimated at $700 million". Space News. Retrieved February 24, 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. July 12, 2019.
- ^ Ralph, Eric. "SpaceX testing ceramic Starship heat shield tiles on flight-proven CRS-18 Cargo Dragon". Teslarati. Retrieved July 24, 2019.