View source for Engineering:Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit

{{Infobox spaceflight
| name               = Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit
| image              = Falcon 9 launch.jpg
| insignia           = Falcon 9 Flight 1 mission emblem.png
| image_caption      = The Dragon [[Engineering:Boilerplate (spaceflight)|boilerplate]] launches aboard Falcon 9 Flight 1, June 4, 2010
| mission_type       = Technology demonstration
| operator           = [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]]
| mission_duration   = {{time interval|4 June 2010 18:45|27 June 2010 00:50|show=dhm}}
| orbits_completed   = 359<ref name="heavens-above.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=36595|title=Dragon/Falcon 9 rocket - Orbit}}</ref>
| manufacturer       = [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]]
| launch_date        = {{start-date|4 June 2010, 18:45|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;[[UTC]]<ref name="register04-06-10" />
| launch_rocket      = [[Engineering:Falcon 9 v1.0|Falcon 9 v1.0]] ([[Engineering:List of Falcon 9 first-stage boosters#B0003|B0003]])
| launch_site        = Cape Canaveral, SLC{{nbhyph}}40
| decay_field        = Reentry
| decay_date         = {{end-date|27 June 2010, 00:50|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC
| orbit_epoch        = 26 June 2010, 22:58:50<ref name="heavens-above.com"/>
| orbit_reference    = [[Astronomy:Geocentric orbit|Geocentric orbit]]
| orbit_regime       = [[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|Low Earth orbit]]
| orbit_periapsis    = {{cvt|249.5|km}}<ref name="register04-06-10" />
| orbit_apoapsis     = {{cvt|252.5|km}}<ref name="register04-06-10" />
| orbit_inclination  = 34.5°
| apsis              = gee
| programme          = [[Astronomy:Commercial Orbital Transportation Services|Commercial Orbital Transportation Services]]
| next_mission       = [[Engineering:SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1|COTS-1]]
}}

The '''Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit''' was a [[Engineering:Boilerplate (spaceflight)|boilerplate]] version of the [[Software:SpaceX Dragon|Dragon]] spacecraft manufactured by [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]]. After using it for ground tests to rate Dragon's shape and mass in various tests, SpaceX launched it into [[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|low Earth orbit]] on the maiden flight of the [[Engineering:Falcon 9|Falcon 9]] rocket, on June 4, 2010. SpaceX used the launch to evaluate the aerodynamic conditions on the spacecraft and performance of the carrier rocket in a real-world launch scenario, ahead of Dragon flights for [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] under the [[Astronomy:Commercial Orbital Transportation Services|Commercial Orbital Transportation Services]] program. The spacecraft orbited the Earth over 300 times before decaying from orbit and reentering the atmosphere on 27 June.<ref name="space.com Fiery End" />

== Delays ==
In September 2009, the launch was slated to occur no earlier than November 29, 2009,<ref name="Block" /> however the launch was subsequently postponed ten more times, to launch dates in February, March, April, May, and June 2010,<ref name="spaceflightnow" /> for multiple reasons including finding an open launch date, approvals, and retesting. The launch date was eventually set for June 4, 2010.

== Processing ==
On October 16, 2009, nine Merlin 1C engines of the first stage of the Falcon&nbsp;9 rocket intended to launch the Dragon were test fired at SpaceX's [[Engineering:Rocket engine test facility|rocket engine test facility]] in McGregor, Texas. On January&nbsp;2, 2010, the second stage of the Falcon&nbsp;9 vehicle was test fired for the full duration required for orbital insertion, 345&nbsp;seconds. By late February, the launch vehicle had been assembled and raised to its vertical position on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40),<ref name="Atkinson" /> having been rolled out to the launch pad on February&nbsp;19.<ref name="SpaceX February 19, 2010" />

On March 13, 2010, the first stage engines successfully underwent a 3.5 second static test firing,<ref name="space.com March 15, 2010" /> having failed a previous attempt the day before.<ref name="Halvorson" />

== Launch ==
SpaceX announced in September 2009 that the Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit would be the payload for the first Falcon 9 launch.<ref name="Update-0909" /> At the time, launch was scheduled to occur no earlier than November 2009. The launch date had been delayed several times for various reasons, The spacecraft was launched and entered orbit on June 4, 2010.<ref name="SpaceX 7 June 2010" />

The first actual launch attempt targeted a four-hour launch window opening at 15:00 UTC (11 a.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]) on 4 June 2010,<ref name="foxnews launch" /> with the possibility of a launch attempt the following day in the event that launch did not occur inside the 4 June window. The first attempt to launch the rocket, at 17:30 UTC, was aborted seconds prior to liftoff due to a reported out of range engine parameter, which later turned out to be a sensor error. The launch was rescheduled, with a successful liftoff taking place an hour and fifteen minutes later at 18:45 UTC (2:45&nbsp;pm EDT).<ref name="BBC launch" /> The vehicle reached orbit successfully, entering into a {{cvt|250|km}} orbit.<ref name="CNN launch" />

[[File:SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 launch.ogv|thumb|thumbtime=0:18|'''Launch video''' (1 min 52 s)]]

SpaceX employee Ken Bowersox stated that the rocket experienced "a little bit of roll at liftoff". This roll had stopped prior to the craft reaching the top of the lightning towers.<ref name="Bowersox interview" /> A separate issue involved a moderate, uncorrected roll at the end of the second stage firing.<ref name="msnbc20100604" /> The first stage, that is designed to be reusable, disintegrated during reentry, before the parachutes could be deployed.<ref name="parachute">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/03/spacex-historic-falcon-9-re-flight-ses-10/|title=SpaceX conducts historic Falcon 9 re-flight with SES-10 - Lands booster again|last=Graham|first=William|date=March 30, 2017|website=NASASpaceFlight.com}}</ref>

== Orbit ==
Following the launch, SpaceX left the qualification unit in low Earth orbit, where its orbit was allowed to decay and it reentered the atmosphere around 00:50 GMT on June 27, 2010.<ref name="spaceflightnow.com" /> The qualification unit remained attached to the second stage of the launcher; production units separate for orbital maneuvering.<ref name="updates" />

SpaceX lost contact with the Dragon and the Falcon 9 second stage shortly after orbit was achieved, as the on-board batteries were only designed to last long enough to launch. They re-entered in the early morning hours (UTC) on June 27, 2010. Although exact location is uncertain, it is believed to have disintegrated over [[Place:Syria|Syria]] and Iraq.<ref name="spaceflightnow.com" />

== UFO sightings ==
{{Location map+
| Australia
| caption        = Places in Australia where the vehicle was seen
| places         =
{{Location map~
| Australia
| label      = Canberra
| lat_deg    = 35
| lat_min    = 17
| lat_sec    = 35
| lat_dir    = S
| lon_deg    = 149
| lon_min    = 07
| lon_sec    = 37
| lon_dir    = E
}}
{{Location map~
| Australia
| label      = Brisbane
| lat_deg    = 27
| lat_min    = 28
| lat_sec    = 04
| lat_dir    = S
| lon_deg    = 153
| lon_min    = 01
| lon_sec    = 41
| lon_dir    = E
}}
}}
At around 5:30&nbsp;am local time on June 5, 2010, sightings of a mysterious "lollipop-type swirl" light or cloud heading from west to east were reported in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland, as well as the Australian Capital Territory. The sightings were likened to the Russian RSM-56 Bulava rocket launch that prompted similar video and images from the Arctic known as the [[Unsolved:2009 Norwegian spiral anomaly|2009 Norwegian spiral anomaly]]; it was suggested that the visible object was the spent upper stage or the qualification unit launched aboard the Falcon 9 or both.<ref name="mates see UFO" />

== See also ==
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Cygnus (spacecraft)}}
* List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Ratsat}}

== References ==

{{reflist
| refs =

<ref name="register04-06-10">
{{cite web
 |title=Falxon 9 Launch report 
 |website=The Register 
 |url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/04/spacex_falcon_9_in_orbit/ 
 |access-date=2010-06-04 
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605082258/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/04/spacex_falcon_9_in_orbit/
 |archive-date=June 5, 2010
}}
</ref>

<ref name="space.com Fiery End">
{{cite web
| publisher = Space.com
| title = Private Falcon 9 Rocket Meets Fiery End After 3 Weeks in Space
| date = 29 June 2010
| url = http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-reenters-atmosphere-100629.html
| access-date = 2012-06-02
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Block">
{{cite news
 |last=Block 
 |first=Robert 
 |date=September 22, 2009 
 |title=Air Force: SpaceX's Falcon 9 first launch planned for Nov 29 
 |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel 
 |url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2009/09/air-force-spacexs-falcon-9-first-launch-planned-for-nov-29-.html 
 |access-date=January 11, 2010 
 |quote=Cape Canaveral&nbsp;– After being removed from the U.S. Air Force's 45th Space Wing's launch schedule for five months, SpaceX's Falcon&nbsp;9 rocket is back on the board. The most recent 90-day Eastern Range forecast released Tuesday has the new rocket's maiden launch planned for November 29 at 11&nbsp;am local time. 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100321164324/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2009/09/air-force-spacexs-falcon-9-first-launch-planned-for-nov-29-.html 
 |archive-date=March 21, 2010 
}}
</ref>

<ref name="spaceflightnow">
{{cite web
 |title=Falcon Launch Report&nbsp;– Mission Status Center 
 |work=Spaceflight Now 
 |date=June 2, 2010 
 |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/001/status.html 
 |access-date=June 4, 2010 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530232910/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
 |archive-date=May 30, 2010
 |url-status=dead
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Atkinson">
{{cite web
| last = Atkinson
| first = Nancy
| date = February 22, 2010
| title = Photo Gallery: Falcon 9 Now Vertical on the Launchpad
| publisher = Universe Today
| url = http://www.universetoday.com/2010/02/22/photo-gallery-falcon-9-now-vertical-on-the-launchpad/
| access-date = February 25, 2010
| quote = Over the weekend, SpaceX rolled their Falcon 9 launch vehicle out to the launchpad at Space Launch Complex&nbsp;40, Cape Canaveral.
}}
</ref>

<ref name="SpaceX February 19, 2010">
{{cite web
| publisher = [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]]
| date = February 19, 2010
| title = Falcon 9 Flight 1 rollout
| url = http://www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=45&cat=recent
| access-date = March 15, 2010
}}
</ref>

<ref name="space.com March 15, 2010">
{{cite web
| last = Malik
| first = Tariq
| date = March 15, 2010
| title = SpaceX Successfully Tests New Rocket's Engines at Launch Pad
| publisher = Space.com
| url = http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/spacex-new-rocket-engine-test-100315.html
| access-date = March 15, 2010
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Halvorson">{{cite news
| last = Halvorson
| first = Todd
| date = March 12, 2010
| title = For SpaceX, a 'lesson learned' from valve failure
| newspaper = Florida Today
| page = A.1
| url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/floridatoday/access/1982038491.html?FMT=ABS&date=Mar+12,+2010
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20120713223101/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/floridatoday/access/1982038491.html?FMT=ABS&date=Mar+12,+2010
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = July 13, 2012
| access-date = October 17, 2010
}}</ref>

<ref name="Update-0909">
{{cite web
| last = van Leeuwen
| first = Marcel
| date = 2009-09-24
| title = SpaceX DRAGON/FALCON 9 UPDATE
| publisher = AviationNews.eu
| url = http://www.aviationnews.eu/2009/09/24/spacex-dragonfalcon-9-update/
| access-date = 2010-01-12
}}
</ref>

<ref name="SpaceX 7 June 2010">{{cite web
| publisher = [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]]
| date = 7 June 2010
| title = SpaceX Achieves Orbital Bullseye With Inaugural Flight of Falcon 9 Rocket: A major win for NASA's plan to use commercial rockets for astronaut transport
| url = http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20100607
| access-date = 9 June 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110617022442/http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20100607
| archive-date = 17 June 2011
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

<ref name="foxnews launch">
{{cite web
| last = Kaplan
| first = Jeremy
| date = June 4, 2010
| title = SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launches, Despite Snags and Delays
| work = Fox News
| url = http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/06/04/spacex-falcon-rocket-launches-despite-snags-delays/?test=latestnews
| access-date = 2010-06-05
}}
</ref>

<ref name="BBC launch">
{{cite web
| last = Staff writer
| date = June 4, 2010
| title = SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket enjoys successful maiden flight
| work = BBC News
| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10209704
| access-date = 2010-06-05
}}
</ref>

<ref name="CNN launch">
{{cite web
| author = Staff writer
| title = SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches
| work = CNN
| date = June 4, 2010
| url = http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/04/spacex.rocket.test/index.html?hpt=T3
| access-date = 2010-06-05
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Bowersox interview">
{{cite web
| title = Interview with Ken Bowersox from SpaceX
| date = 26 June 2010
| publisher = Youtube.com
| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ou3nPc0U2E&playnext=1&videos=Ds3RIPy51aM#
| access-date = 2012-06-02
}}
</ref>

<!--  <ref name="NASAwatch">
{{cite web
| last = Cowing
| first = Keith
| title = Falcon 9 Nails Orbit&nbsp;– First Stage Slams Hard into Atlantic
| publisher = NASA Watch
| work = nasawatch.com
| url = http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/2010/06/falcon-9-nails.html
| access-date = 9 June 2010
}}
</ref>-->

<ref name="msnbc20100604">
{{cite web
| last = Boyle
| first = Alan
| date = June 4, 2010
| title = Shuttle successor succeeds in first test flight
| work = NBC News
| url = http://www.nbcnews.com/id/37509776
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191221015812/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/37509776
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = December 21, 2019
| access-date = 2010-06-05
}}
</ref>

<ref name="spaceflightnow.com">
{{cite web
| last = Clark
| first = Stephen
| title = Falcon rocket meets fiery end after three weeks in orbit
| url = http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/001/100628entry
}}
</ref>

<ref name="updates">{{cite web
| title = SpaceX&nbsp;– Updates
| publisher = SpaceX
| url = http://www.spacex.com/updates.php
| access-date = 2010-05-30
| archive-date = 2020-04-05
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200405145315/http://www.spacex.com/updates.php
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

<ref name="mates see UFO">
{{cite web
| title = UFO spotted over eastern Australia
| publisher = ABC Online
| date = June 5, 2010
| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/05/2919095.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100605084708/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/05/2919095.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = June 5, 2010
| access-date = June 5, 2010
}}
</ref>

}}

{{refbegin}}
* {{cite web
  | last = Klamper
  | first = Amy
  | date = 2009-09-24
  | title = SpaceX Says Dragon Prototype Will Fly on First Falcon 9
  | publisher = Space News
  | url = http://www.spacenews.com/launch/spacex-says-dragon-prototype-will-fly-first-falcon.html
  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130202233013/http://www.spacenews.com/launch/spacex-says-dragon-prototype-will-fly-first-falcon.html
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = February 2, 2013
  }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah2NPfGR4dA Video of Falcon 9 launch from the KSC VAB roof]&nbsp;– SpaceflightNews.net
* [http://www.spacex.com/updates.php Inaugural Falcon 9 / Dragon Flight Hardware Update] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405145315/http://www.spacex.com/updates.php |date=2020-04-05 }}&nbsp;– SpaceX.com
* [http://www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=43 Video of first stage test firing]&nbsp;– SpaceX.com
* [http://www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=44&cat=recent Video of second stage testing firing]&nbsp;– SpaceX.com
* [http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=36595 Dragon/Falcon 9 rocket&nbsp;– Orbit (Pre-Decay)]

{{Falcon rocket launches}}
{{Orbital launches in 2010}}

[[Category:Spacecraft launched by Falcon rockets]]
[[Category:Individual space vehicles]]
[[Category:Test spaceflights]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]

{{Sourceattribution|Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit}}