Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license.
Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat.
We can research this topic together.
<ref name=nsf-20150303nasacrs1addlaward>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/03/nasa-crs-missions-dragon-cygnus/|title=NASA lines up four additional CRS missions for Dragon and Cygnus|last1=Bergin|first1=Chris|publisher=NASA SpaceFlight|date=3 March 2015|access-date=24 February 2016|archive-date=30 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130164344/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/03/nasa-crs-missions-dragon-cygnus/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name=sn-20160224spxwinsaddlcrs1>{{cite web|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-5-new-space-station-cargo-missions-in-nasa-contract-estimated-at-700-million/|title=SpaceX wins 5 new space station cargo missions in NASA contract estimated at US$700 million|last1=de Selding|first1=Peter B.|publisher=Space News|date=24 February 2016|access-date=24 February 2016|archive-date=24 February 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160224170629/http://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-5-new-space-station-cargo-missions-in-nasa-contract-estimated-at-700-million/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
== External links ==
== External links ==
Revision as of 09:50, 28 October 2022
A family of SpaceX spacecraft
American private space transportation company SpaceX has developed and produced several spacecraft named Dragon. The first family member, now referred to as Dragon 1, flew 23 cargo missions to the ISS between 2010 and 2022) before being retired.
SpaceX developed SpaceX Dragon 2 starting in 2014, with a cargo version and a crewed version. It entered service in 2020.
SpaceX also investigated a version named "Red Dragon" for Mars exploration, but the project did not go forward. A version named "Dragon XL" Is proposed to serve the Lunar gateway.
Red Dragon was a cancelled version of the Dragon spacecraft that had been previously proposed to fly farther than Earth orbit and transit to Mars via interplanetary space. In addition to SpaceX's own privately funded plans for an eventual Mars mission, NASAAmes Research Center had developed a concept called Red Dragon: a low-cost Mars mission that would use Falcon Heavy as the launch vehicle and trans-Martian injection vehicle, and the SpaceX Dragon 2-based capsule to enter the atmosphere of Mars. The concept was originally envisioned for launch in 2018 as a NASA Discovery mission, then alternatively for 2022, but was never formally submitted for funding within NASA. The mission would have been designed to return samples from Mars to Earth at a fraction of the cost of NASA's own sample-return mission, which was projected in 2015 to cost US$6 billion.
On 27 April 2016, SpaceX announced its plan to go ahead and launch a modified Dragon lander to Mars in 2018. However, Musk canceled the Red Dragon program in July 2017 to focus on developing the Starship system instead. The modified Red Dragon capsule would have performed all entry, descent and landing (EDL) functions needed to deliver payloads of 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb) or more to the Martian surface without using a parachute. Preliminary analysis showed that the capsule's atmospheric drag would slow it enough for the final stage of its descent to be within the abilities of its SuperDraco retro-propulsion thrusters.
Dragon XL
SpaceX Dragon XL
On 27 March 2020, SpaceX revealed the Dragon XL resupply spacecraft to carry pressurized and unpressurized cargo, experiments and other supplies to NASA's planned Lunar Gateway under a Gateway Logistics Services (GLS) contract. The equipment delivered by Dragon XL missions could include sample collection materials, spacesuits and other items astronauts may need on the Gateway and on the surface of the Moon, according to NASA. It will launch on SpaceX Falcon Heavy rockets from LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Dragon XL will stay at the Gateway for 6 to 12 months at a time, when research payloads inside and outside the cargo vessel could be operated remotely, even when crews are not present. Its payload capacity is expected to be more than 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb) to lunar orbit. There is no requirement for a return to Earth. At the end of the mission the Dragon XL must be able to undock and dispose of the same mass it can bring to the Gateway, by moving the spacecraft to a heliocentric orbit.
Newmann, Dava. "Exploring Together". blogs.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Index of articles associated with the same name
This set index article includes a list of related items that share the same name (or similar names). If an internal link incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.
Categories:
.jpg)
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Index of articles associated with the same name
This set index article includes a list of related items that share the same name (or similar names).