![]() ![]() Thermal vacuum testing conducted last year revealed less than nominal performance within the full thermal environment the Draco thrusters were expected to experience during the Demo-1 mission.Īs a result, NASA and SpaceX modified the mission design to constrain the thermal environment and ensure the thrusters would be ready for flight. No issues were suffered during the test objectives.Īlso of interest over the course of Dragon’s mission will be the performance of the Draco thrusters used to maneuver in orbit. While a scenario in which this issue would arise is unlikely, NASA and Roscosmos agreed to additional procedures to follow should Dragon encounter a problem during the rendezvous. SOFT CAPTURE CONFIRMED!!! WELCOME TO THE ISS!!! #CrewDragon #SpaceX /LkKG4KsKJ2Ī single action item concerning Dragon’s approach to the station was identified during the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) conducted before launch.Ī concern over Dragon’s docking abort procedures was raised by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, one of NASA’s international partners in the ISS program. After remaining in this position for approximately 10 minutes, Dragon was cleared to proceed to 20 meters for another brief hold, at Waypoint 2, followed by the historic docking to the ISS at 5:51 AM Eastern. Sending this command to the spacecraft moved Dragon back to 180 meters. With permission to enter the Keep Out Sphere (KOS), Dragon approached to within 150 meters of the docking port, where the station’s crew tested a retreat command at Waypoint 1. The IDA before it was launched on a Cargo Dragon – via NASAĭuring the rendezvous, Dragon went through numerous milestones, first coming into view at around 3,000 meters out, before approaching towards the Approach Elipsode and arrive at Waypoint 0. Crew currently aboard the ISS completed a checkout of the docking port in advance of Saturday’s launch, and verified the docking system was “go” for docking. The IDA was launched aboard Dragon 1 on the SpaceX CRS-9 mission. During a crewed mission, astronauts aboard the spacecraft will have the capability to intervene and fly the vehicle manually, if needed.Ĭrew Dragon docked to the forward port of the space station’s Harmony module, which has been fitted with an International Docking Adaptor (IDA). Dragon 1, which has been flying cargo resupply missions to the ISS since 2012, only maneuvered close enough to be grappled by the station’s robotic arm, which then moved the spacecraft into position to be berthed.ĭragon 2, on the other hand, will not utilize the robotic arm, but rather use the onboard Draco thrusters to dock with the station. Musk also confirmed that Dragon’s solar panels and electrical systems were operating nominally.ĭragon 2 was the first SpaceX vehicle to attempt an autonomous docking in orbit. The nosecone of Dragon opened to reveal the docking port and forward-facing Draco thrusters, and the first of a series of burns to gradually match the ISS’s orbit was completed. The first two post-launch milestones for Crew Dragon were successfully completed shortly separating from Falcon 9’s second stage, as confirmed by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk during a post-launch press conference Saturday morning. GNC system performance must be demonstrated during ascent, on-orbit operations, and reentry. This includes demonstrating the on-orbit operation of avionics, communications, telemetry, life support, electrical, and propulsion systems, as well as the guidance, navigation, control (GNC) systems aboard both Falcon 9 and Dragon. Following a successful pad abort test in 2015, the objective of Demo-1 is to demonstrate nominal end-to-end performance of Crew Dragon and its launcher, Falcon 9. In order to certify Crew Dragon to carry humans, NASA and SpaceX will complete a series of four test flights, of which Demo-1 is the second. Starliner and Dragon 2 – via Nathan Koga for NSF/L2
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