NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

SpaceX is developing a family of launch vehicles intended to reduce the cost and increase the reliability of access to space. The SpaceX design and manufacturing facilities are located in Southern California, near the Los Angeles airport, and the propulsion development and structural test facilities are located in Central Texas.

The Falcon 9 is a 2-stage launch vehicle powered by LOX/RP engines. The first stage generates 765,000 1bf of thrust (sea-level) using nine Merlin engines, and the second stage generates 96,000 1bf (vacuum) using a single Merlin engine. Both stages use gimbaled engines for guidance. Falcon 9 offers engine-out capability for the first stage.

The Dragon spacecraft has a flexible cargo and crew configuration and is recoverable. Pressurized cargo is transported inside the capsule while unpressurized cargo is located in the “trunk.” The crew configuration will be able to accommodate up to 7 crew members per flight.

Besides containing all the functions required to support crew or pressurized cargo, Dragon also contains much of which might be found in a typical "service module", including reaction control thrusters, GN&C, command & data handling, telemetry & communications, ISS proximity operations sensors, power & thermal control, entry, descent, landing, locator & emergency equipment, and environmental control and life support sub-systems. The Dragon spacecraft design is structurally identical for both the cargo and crew configurations, the chief differences being the thrusters, internal outfitting, and some other subsystems. For cargo launches, the inside of the capsule is outfitted with a modular cargo rack system designed to accommodate pressurized cargo in standard sizes. For crewed launches, the interior will be outfitted with crew couches, controls with manual override capability, and upgraded life support. Keeping the cargo and crewed versions of Dragon similar minimizes the design effort.

The SpaceX demo mission to the ISS launched into orbit on May 22, 2012. The Dragon cargo module delivered over 1,000 pounds of supplies to the space station crew. After several days attached to the ISS the Dragon capsule returned to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on May 31, 2012. Dragon returned over 1,300 pounds of hardware.

Falcon 9 Overview
Dragon Overview
DragonLab Datasheet Please click here to learn more about SpaceX.

SpaceX Demo Launch Media Resources

SpaceX Demo Mission Press Kit
NASA Cargo Manifest (PDF, 61 kb)
Mission Objectives (PDF 96 Kb)
Mission Overview (PDF 97 Kb)
Preflight Briefing Audio: 04.16.12
Preflight Briefing Graphics: 04.16.12
Photo Gallery
Launch Video



SAA Milestones

Milestone #	Description	Planned Date	Approved Date
1	Project Management Plan	Sep 06	Completed
2	Demo 1 System Requirements Review	Nov 06	Completed
3	Demo 1 Preliminary Design Review	Feb 07	Completed
4	Financing Round 1	Mar 07	Completed
5	Demo 2 System Requirements Review	Mar 07	Completed
6	Demo 1 System Critical Design Review	Aug 07	Completed
7	Demo 3 Systems Requirement Review	Oct 07	Completed
8	Demo 2 Preliminary Design Review	Dec 07	Completed
9	Draco Initial Hot Fire	Mar 08	Completed
10	Financing Round 2	Mar 08	Completed
11	Demo 3 Preliminary Design Review	Jun 08	Completed
12	Multi-engine Testing	Sep 08	Completed
13	Demo 2/3 CDR	Dec 08	Completed
14	Financing 3	Mar 09	Completed
15	Demo 1 Readiness Review	Mar 09	Completed
16	CUCU Flight Unite Design, Acceptance, and Delivery	May 09	Completed
17	Demo 1 Mission	Jun 09	Completed
18	Demo 2 Readiness Review	Sep 09	Completed
19	Demo 2 Mission	Nov 09	Completed
20	Cargo Integration Demonstration	Jan 10	Completed
21	Demo 3 Readiness Review	Jan 10	Completed
22	Demo 3 Mission	Mar 10	Completed
23	Modal Test Plan	Dec 10	Completed
24	Modal Test	Dec 10	Completed
25	6 DOF Testing-open	Dec 10	Completed
26	Thermal Vacuum Test	Dec 10	Completed
27	LIDAR Test Plan (closed loop)	Mar 11	Completed
28	Thermal Vacuum Test	Mar 11	Completed
29	Infrastructure Plan	Mar 11	Completed
30	Thermal Vacuum Test	Jul 11	Completed
31	Test site Infrastructure Implementation	Jun 11	Completed
32	Dragon Trunk Acoustic Test	Jun 11	Completed
33	LIDAR Test 6 DOF (closed loop)	Aug 11	Completed
34	Design Review Enhanced Powered Cargo Accommodation	Aug 11	Completed
35	Design Review Pressurized Cargo Volume Increase	Aug 11	Completed
36	Dragon EMI/EMC Test (HITL)	Jul 11	Completed
37	Dragon Cargo Racks & Hatch Simulator	Aug 11	Completed
38	Ground Demo Enhanced Powered Cargo	Sep 11	Completed
39	Launch site Infrastructure Implementation	Sep 11	Completed
40	Production Infrastructure Implementation	Sep 11	Completed