The SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft: A generic platform for in-space experimentation
- Paper number
IAC-08.B3.2.-D2.7.4
- Author
Mr. Max Vozoff, SpaceX, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
SpaceX’s reusable spacecraft, “Dragon”, is designed to deliver seven crew or over 2.5 metric tons of cargo to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) when launched on board SpaceX’s man-rated Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle. Since SpaceX’s selection in August 2006 to participate in NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, SpaceX and NASA have been working in close cooperation to develop and demonstrate commercial cargo (and eventually crew) transport capabilities to the International Space Station (ISS). The inaugural flight of Dragon is scheduled for June 2009 with all three COTS demonstration missions, including ISS berthing, to be completed in early 2010.
Though Dragon is initially being designed to address ISS cargo requirements, its generic architecture allows it to accommodate in-space technology demonstrations and scientific instrument testing. The Dragon spacecraft can effectively serve as a recoverable and reusable host spacecraft bus with its own propulsion, avionics, attitude determinationcontrol, communications, thermal control and power subsystems. Dragon’s pressurized section provides over 15m3 of “shirt sleeves” environment and substantial MMOD protection for hosted payloads, allowing them to bypass many difficult aspects of space qualification. Instruments and payloads can be provided with power (>650W total for non-ISS missions) and data services (>400 kbps). Apertures as large as 2 meters can be accommodated in the pressurized section with no primary structure modifications. The unpressurized “trunk” section, though not recoverable, can accommodate over 30m3 of unpressurized payload, up to 3.4 meters diameter, permitting large apertures, antennas or other equipment. In addition, given its capability to re-enter, the instruments located in the pressurized section can be brought back for repairs, upgrades and potentially, re-flights. There is also a limited amount of recoverable, unpressurized volume available for sensors requiring exposure to the space environment.
This very flexible Dragon platform will soon be available, enabling:
- Spacecraft instrument developers to raise their Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and gain realistic space-flight experience
- Microgravity research experiments (without NASA Shuttle/ISS Payload safety concerns)
- Shorter duration remote sensing missions (up to about 1 year) without spacecraft bus development
- Launch-on-demand applications, with last-hour payload selection and installation
Given the expected flight rate of the Falcon 9/Dragon system, and SpaceX’s willingness to multi-manifest Dragon flights, a continuous stream of available launch slots can be offered at extremely cost effective prices. This paper will provide status of Dragon development and outline spacecraft specifications.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.B3.2.-D2.7.4.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.