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SpaceX CRS-18

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SpaceX CRS-18
Dragon C108.3 approaching the ISS
Mission typeISS resupply
OperatorSpaceX
COSPAR ID2019-044A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.44446Edit this on Wikidata
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftDragon C108.3
Spacecraft typeDragon CRS
ManufacturerSpaceX
Dry mass4,200 kg (9,300 lb)
DimensionsHeight: 6.1 m (20 ft)
Diameter: 3.7 m (12 ft)
Start of mission
Launch dateJuly 25, 2019,[1]
22:01 UTC[2]
RocketFalcon 9
Launch siteCape Canaveral SLC-40
ContractorSpaceX
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date27 August 2019, 20:20 (2019-08-27UTC20:21) UTC[3]
Landing sitePacific Ocean,
off Baja California
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Inclination51.6°
Berthing at ISS
Berthing portHarmony nadir or Unity nadir
RMS captureJuly 27, 2019,
13:11 UTC[4]
Berthing dateJuly 27, 2019,
16:01 UTC[5]
Unberthing dateAugust 27, 2019,
12:25 UTC[6]
RMS releaseAugust 27, 2019,
14:59 UTC[6]
Time berthed30d 20h 24m
NASA SpX-18 mission patch
NASA SpX-18 mission patch  

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]

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

CRS-18 launch

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 heat shield tiles, meant to flight-test a critical component of the SpaceX Starship spacecraft.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ @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.
  2. ^ New docking port, spacesuit and supplies en route to space station
  3. ^ Bergin, Chris (August 27, 2019). "CRS-18 Dragon completes mission with Pacific Ocean Splashdown". NASA SpaceflightNow. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  4. ^ Dragon Captured With New Science Experiments
  5. ^ Dragon Installed to Station’s Harmony Module for Cargo Operations
  6. ^ a b Live coverage: Dragon supply ship heading back to Earth today
  7. ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. July 19, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  8. ^ SpaceX (July 25, 2019), CRS-18 Mission, retrieved July 25, 2019
  9. ^ @SpaceX (July 19, 2019). "The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously visited the @space_station in April 2015 and December 2017" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Pietrobon, Steven (August 20, 2018). "United States Commercial ELV Launch Manifest". Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  12. ^ "spaceflightnow.com/2019/07/25/new-docking-port-spacesuit-and-supplies-en-route-to-space-station". July 25, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  13. ^ "SpaceX's Cargo Dragon to Deliver New Space Station Docking Adapter for Commercial Crew Spacecraft". NASA. July 12, 2019.
  14. ^ Ralph, Eric. "SpaceX testing ceramic Starship heat shield tiles on flight-proven CRS-18 Cargo Dragon". Teslarati. Retrieved July 24, 2019.