View source for Engineering:SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1

{{short description|First spaceflight of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = SpaceX Demo Flight 1
| image                 = COTS-1 Dragon After Return from Orbit (crop).jpg
| image_caption         = Dragon capsule after recovery from ocean landing
| image_size            = 300px
| insignia              = SpaceX Dragon COTS Demo 1 logo.png

| mission_type          = Test flight
| operator              = [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]]
| COSPAR_ID             = 2010-066A
| SATCAT                = 37244
| mission_duration      = {{time interval|8 December 2010 15:43|8 December 2010 19:02|show=hm|sep=,}}

| spacecraft            = Dragon C101
| spacecraft_type       = [[Engineering:SpaceX Dragon#Dragon CRS|Dragon CRS]]
| manufacturer          = SpaceX
| dry_mass              = 
| launch_mass           = Falcon 9: {{convert|333400|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name="presskit" />

| launch_date           = {{start-date|8 December 2010, 15:43}}&nbsp;UTC<ref name="sfnow20101209"/>
| launch_rocket         = [[Engineering:Falcon 9 v1.0|Falcon 9 v1.0]]
| launch_site           = Cape Canaveral SLC-40
| launch_contractor     = SpaceX
| landing_date          = {{end-date|8 December 2010, 19:02}}&nbsp;UTC<ref name="sfnow20101209" />
| landing_site          = Pacific Ocean, approx. {{convert|500|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} west of Baja, Mexico

| orbit_epoch           = 8 December 2010<ref name="SFN Status" />
| orbit_reference       = [[Astronomy:Geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime          = [[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]]
| orbit_periapsis       = {{convert|288|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| orbit_apoapsis        = {{convert|301|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| orbit_inclination     = 34.53°
| orbit_period          = 
| apsis                 = gee

| programme             = [[Astronomy:Commercial Resupply Services|Commercial Resupply Services]]
| previous_mission      =
| next_mission          = [[Engineering:Dragon C2+|Dragon C2+]]

| programme2            = [[Engineering:SpaceX Dragon#List of missions|Cargo Dragon]]
| previous_mission2     = [[Engineering:Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit|Dragon Boilerplate Flight]]
| next_mission2         = [[Engineering:Dragon C2+|Dragon C2+]]
}}

'''SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1''' was the first [[Engineering:Orbital spaceflight|orbital spaceflight]] of the [[Engineering:SpaceX Dragon|Dragon]] [[Engineering:Cargo spacecraft|cargo spacecraft]], and the second overall flight of the [[Engineering:Falcon 9|Falcon 9]] rocket manufactured by [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]]. It was also the first demonstration flight for [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]'s [[Astronomy:Commercial Orbital Transportation Services|Commercial Orbital Transportation Services]] (COTS) program.<ref name="COTS"/> The primary mission objectives were to test the orbital maneuvering and reentry of the Dragon capsule. The mission also aimed to test fixes to the Falcon 9 rocket, particularly the unplanned roll of the first stage that occurred during flight 1. Liftoff occurred on 8 December 2010 at 15:43&nbsp;[[UTC]].<ref name="presskit"/>

The success of the mission allowed SpaceX to advance its vehicle testing plan. With two back-to-back "near-perfect" Falcon 9 launches and satisfactory tests of the first Dragon capsule, SpaceX "asked NASA to combine objectives laid out for the remaining two COTS missions... and permit a berthing at the ISS during its [[Engineering:Dragon C2+|next flight]]".<ref name="aw20101213"/> This combined test mission was completed in May 2012, and achieved its objectives, opening the path to regular cargo deliveries by Dragon to the [[Astronomy:International Space Station|International Space Station]] (ISS) under the [[Astronomy:Commercial Resupply Services|Commercial Resupply Services]] (CRS) contract. Commercial flights started in October 2012 with [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-1|CRS-1]].

== COTS contract ==
On 18 August 2006, NASA announced that SpaceX had won a [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] [[Astronomy:Commercial Orbital Transportation Services|Commercial Orbital Transportation Services]] (COTS) contract to demonstrate cargo delivery to the [[Astronomy:International Space Station|International Space Station]] with a possible option for crew transport.<ref name="SpaceX August 18, 2006" /> This contract, designed by NASA to provide "seed money" for development of new boosters, paid SpaceX $278 million to develop the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, with incentive payments paid at milestones culminating in three demonstration launches.<ref name="Lindenmoyer remarks" /> COTS Demo Flight 1 was the first of the launches under this contract. The original agreement with NASA called for the COTS Demo Flight 1 to occur in the second quarter of 2008; this flight was delayed several times, actually occurring in December 2010.<ref name="COTS" />

Separately from the NASA COTS contract, SpaceX was also awarded a NASA contract for commercial resupply services (CRS) to the ISS. The firm contracted value is $1.6 billion, and NASA could elect to order additional missions for a total contract value of up to $3.1 billion.<ref name="SpaceX December 23, 2008" />

== Preparations ==
[[File:SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket & Dragon Spacecraft Lift Off (crop).jpg|thumb|left|Launch of Falcon 9]]
[[File:SpaceX Falcon 9 launch with COTS Demo Flight 1 (high quality).ogv|thumb|left|Video of launch]]

The two stages and Dragon capsule for the second Falcon 9 were built at SpaceX's manufacturing facility at Hawthorne, California, and were delivered to SpaceX's facilities at Cape Canaveral in July and August 2010.<ref name="Spaceflight Now"/>

The target launch date was rescheduled from its original 2008 date to the end of 2010, with COTS Demo 2 and 3 being rescheduled to 2011.<ref name="Spaceflight Now" />

A full wet dress rehearsal was conducted on 15 September 2010, and the launch was targeted for no earlier than 7 December 2010.<ref name="Space Flight Now" />

On 22 November 2010, SpaceX announced that it had received a license for spacecraft re-entry from the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation for the flight. It is the first such license issued to a private enterprise.<ref name="FAA blessing"/>

A successful static test fire was performed by SpaceX on 4 December 2010. This was the third attempt to do so, as the first two attempts were automatically aborted. The first attempt was on 3 December 2010, but the test was automatically aborted one second before ignition due to a high-pressure reading.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}

The flight was to proceed on 7 December 2010. However, several cracks were noted on the outer portions of the [[Chemistry:Niobium|niobium]] extension of the second stage Merlin vacuum nozzle. The decision was made to trim the un-needed six inches off the nozzle, since the resulting performance loss was not critical.<ref name="SpaceX cheese"/> <ref name="arstech20200603"/>

== Launch events ==
The launch was ultimately scheduled for 8 December 2010, with launch windows available from 14:00 to 14:06, 15:38 to 15:43, and 17:16 to 17:24&nbsp;UTC based on the availability of the NASA [[Engineering:Tracking and data relay satellite|tracking and data relay satellite]] (TDRS) network used to track and communicate with the spacecraft. The first attempt was originally scheduled for the middle of the first launch window, at 14:03&nbsp;UTC, but was moved to the end of the window at 14:06&nbsp;UTC. This attempt was aborted at T-02:48 on the countdown clock because of false telemetry data.

The launch was re-targeted for 15:43&nbsp;UTC, and was successful.<ref name="CNN 2010-12-08/" /> First stage engines cut off at T+02:56, nose cone separated at T+03:47, second stage engines cut off at T+08:56, all as planned. The Dragon vehicle separated at T+09:30 and achieved a near circular orbit, with a perigee of {{convert|288|km|mi|abbr=on}}, an apogee of {{convert|301|km|mi|abbr=on}} and an inclination of 34.53°.<ref name="SFN Status"/> These were close to targeted marks of a {{convert|300|km|mi|-1|abbr=on}} circular orbit at an inclination of 34.5°.

{{LaunchAttempt
| date1 = 2010-12-08 09:06:00 AM
| result1 = Aborted
| reason1 = Automated abort on fault detected in ordnance interrupter{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}
| decision_date1 = 2010-12-08 09:03:10 AM
| decision_clock1 = –2:48<ref name="SFN Status"/>
| weathergo1 = 80 %<ref name="weatherday1"/>
| notes1 = 
| date2 = 2010-12-08 10:43:00 AM
| result2 = Successful
| reason2 = 
| decision_date2 = 
| decision_clock2= 
| weathergo2 = 80 %<ref name="weatherday1"/>
| notes2 =
}}

== Additional payloads ==
The Falcon 9 carried a small number of nanosatellites to orbit as well. Included were a total of eight cubesats<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krebs |first=Gunter D. |title=Dragon C1 |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/dragon-c1.htm |access-date=2022-08-07 |publisher=Gunter's Space Page}}</ref> including the first U.S. Army nanosatellite, Space and Missile Defense Command&nbsp;— Operational Nanosatellite Effect, or SMDC-ONE, for a 30-day mission,<ref name="sd20101210" /><ref name="cosmiclog20101208" /><ref name="cubesatkit"/> and two 3U buses, the [[Engineering:CubeSat|CubeSat]] Experiment (QbX), provided by the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, also expected to remain in orbit for only 30 days.<ref name="phys20101217"/>

One of the weight ballasts inside the Dragon spacecraft was a metal barrel containing a wheel of French Le Brouère cheese. This cheese is produced in Bulgnéville, Vosges. It was packed as a joke, and references the Cheese Shop sketch from ''[[Philosophy:Monty Python's Flying Circus|Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''. The barrel's lid was pasted with an image from the poster for the 1984 spoof film ''Top Secret!''.<ref name="yahoo 2010-11-02"/> SpaceX's CEO did not reveal the identity of the cargo during the post-splashdown news conference, for fear of the joke overshadowing the company's accomplishments.<ref name="latimesblogs 2010-12-09"/>

== Orbit and landing ==

=== Dragon ===
[[File:COTS 1 Dragon recovery.jpg|thumb|right|Dragon capsule after re-entry]]
While in orbit, a battery of automated tests were performed including thermal control and attitude control to maintain uninterrupted TDRS data links. At 16:15&nbsp;UTC, SpaceX announced that it had achieved contact with the Dragon module through the TDRS system. After the two planned orbits, the spacecraft was manually commanded to begin a deorbit burn, resulting in it [[Engineering:Splashdown|splashing down]] in the Pacific Ocean at 19:02&nbsp;UTC approximately {{convert|500|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} west of Baja California after all three parachutes successfully deployed.<ref name="SFN Status" /> SpaceX reported that all test objectives were completed, and the recovery craft arrived to retrieve the spacecraft within 20 minutes of splashdown. The craft landed within {{convert|800|m|ft|abbr=on}} of the targeted location, well within the {{convert|60|by|20|km|adj=on|sp=us}} recovery zone.<ref name="SFN Status" /><ref name="unitoday20101208"/> From launch to splashdown, the demonstration flight lasted for 3 hours, 19 minutes, 52 seconds.<ref name="unitoday20101208" />

=== Second stage ===
The second stage engine was reignited in orbit after separation from the Dragon capsule. This allowed SpaceX to work on a secondary mission objective of expanding the launch capability envelope by testing in-space engine reignition and ability of the vehicle to achieve a [[Astronomy:Medium Earth orbit|beyond-LEO]] (Low Earth Orbit). Even though the nozzle of the Merlin Vacuum second-stage engine had been substantially trimmed—due to two cracks discovered only a few days before the scheduled launch—the second stage reached an altitude of {{convert|11000|km|sp=us}}.<ref name="aw20101213" />

== See also ==
* List of Falcon 9 launches
* [[Engineering:Dragon C2+|SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 2]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name="presskit">{{cite web |url=http://www.spacex.com/files/downloads/cots1-20101206.pdf |title=COTS Demo Flight 1 Press Kit |publisher=SpaceX |date=6 December 2010}}</ref>

<ref name="sfnow20101209">{{cite news |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/101209reaction/ |title=Musk 'optimistic' next Dragon flight will visit space station |work=Spaceflight Now |first=Stephen |last=Clark |date=9 December 2010 |access-date=1 July 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="SFN Status">{{cite web |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/status.html |title=COTS Demo Flight 1 status |publisher=Spaceflight Now}}</ref>

<ref name="COTS">{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/189228main_setc_nnj06ta26a.pdf |title=Space Act Agreement Between National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. for Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Demonstration (COTS) |publisher=[[Organization:NASA|NASA]] |date=30 May 2006}}</ref>

<ref name="aw20101213">{{cite news |url=http://aviationweek.com/awin/spacex-looks-station-docking-2011 |title=SpaceX Looks To Station Docking In 2011 |work=Aviation Week |first=Irene |last=Klotz |date=13 December 2010 |access-date=8 February 2011 |quote=The second stage went up to 11,000 km.—and that's with the shortie skirt}}</ref>

<ref name="SpaceX August 18, 2006">{{cite press release |url=http://www.spacex.com/press/2012/12/19/spacex-wins-nasa-cots-contract-demonstrate-cargo-delivery-space-station |title=SpaceX Wins NASA COTS Contract to Demonstrate Cargo Delivery to Space Station |publisher=SpaceX |first=Mary Beth |last=Brown |date=18 August 2006}}</ref>

<ref name="Lindenmoyer remarks">{{cite conference |url=https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/453605main_Commercial_Space_Minutes_4_26_2010.pdf |title=Commercial Space Committee of the NASA Advisory Council. 26 April 2010. Houston, Texas. |first=David J. |last=Frankel |pages=6–7 |date=2010}}</ref>

<ref name="SpaceX December 23, 2008">{{cite press release |url=http://www.spacex.com/press/2012/12/19/nasa-selects-spacexs-falcon-9-booster-and-dragon-spacecraft-cargo-resupply |title=NASA Selects SpaceX's Falcon 9 Booster and Dragon Spacecraft for Cargo Resupply |publisher=SpaceX |first=Emily |last=Shanklin |date=23 December 2008}}</ref>

<ref name="Spaceflight Now">{{cite web |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/100820update/ |title=SpaceX: Dragon testing will determine launch schedule |work=Spaceflight Now |first=Stephen |last=Clark |access-date=20 August 2010}}</ref>

<ref name="Space Flight Now">{{cite web |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html |title=World Wide Launch Schedule |work=Spaceflight Now |access-date=14 November 2010}}</ref>

<ref name="FAA blessing">{{cite press release |url=http://www.spacex.com/press/2012/12/19/faa-awards-spacex-first-ever-commercial-license-re-enter-spacecraft-orbit |title=FAA Awards SpaceX First Ever Commercial License to Re-Enter Spacecraft from Orbit |publisher=SpaceX |first=Kirstin |last=Brost |date=22 November 2010}}</ref>

<ref name="SpaceX cheese">{{cite news |url=http://technews.tmcnet.com/satellite/topics/satellite/articles/125461-cheese-space-other-tasty-tales-the-spacex-dragon.htm |title=Cheese in Space, and Other Tasty Tales of the SpaceX Dragon Launch |website=TMCnet.com |first=Doug |last=Mohney |date=10 December 2010}}</ref>

<ref name="CNN 2010-12-08/">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/12/08/space.flight/index.html |title=A space-age first: A commercial craft returns from low-Earth orbit |publisher=CNN |date=8 December 2010}}</ref>

<ref name="weatherday1">{{cite web |url=http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf |title=Launch Operations Forecast&nbsp;— Falcon 9 Dragon COTS Demo 1 |publisher={{wipe|United States Air Force}}}}</ref>

<ref name="sd20101210">{{cite news |url=https://www.army.mil/article/49115/army-nanosatellite-on-firstflight |title=Army nanosatellite on first flight |publisher=United States Army |first=John |last=Cummings |date=8 December 2010}}</ref>

<ref name="cosmiclog20101208">{{cite news |url=http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/12/08/5614525-dragon-could-visit-space-station-next |title=Dragon could visit space station next |publisher=NBC News |series=Cosmic Log |first=Alan |last=Boyle |date=8 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501194507/http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/12/08/5614525-dragon-could-visit-space-station-next |archive-date=1 May 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="cubesatkit">{{cite web |url=http://www.cubesatkit.com/content/space.html |title=In Space |publisher=CubeSat Kit |access-date=25 May 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="phys20101217">{{cite press release |url=https://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/2010/nrl-launches-nanosatellite-experimental-platforms |title=NRL Launches Nano-Satellite Experimental Platforms |publisher=U.S. Naval Research Laboratory |first=Daniel |last=Parry |date=17 December 2010 |access-date=2 July 2017 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043417/https://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/2010/nrl-launches-nanosatellite-experimental-platforms |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="yahoo 2010-11-02">{{cite news |url=https://www.space.com/10459-wheel-cheese-launched-space-private-spacecraft.html |title=Wheel of Cheese Launched Into Space On Private Spacecraft |work=Space.com |first=Tariq |last=Malik |date=9 December 2010}}</ref>

<ref name="latimesblogs 2010-12-09">{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/12/spacexs-secret-payload.html |title=SpaceX's 'secret' payload? A wheel of cheese |work={{wipe|Los Angeles Times}} |first=W. J. |last=Hennigan |date=9 December 2010 |access-date=12 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110142347/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/12/spacexs-secret-payload.html |archive-date=10 January 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="unitoday20101208">{{cite news |url=https://www.universetoday.com/81559/the-future-is-now-spacex-100-successful/ |title=The Future is Now: SpaceX Flight 100% Successful |work=Universe Today |first=Nancy |last=Atkinson |date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215010738/http://www.universetoday.com/81559/the-future-is-now-spacex-100-successful/ |archive-date=15 December 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="arstech20200603">{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/06/forget-dragon-the-falcon-9-rocket-is-the-secret-sauce-of-spacexs-success |title=Forget Dragon, the Falcon 9 rocket is the secret sauce of SpaceX's success |publisher=ArsTechnica |date=3 June 2020 |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref>
}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=37244 DRAGON C1&nbsp;– Orbit (Pre-Decay)]
* [http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=37253 Falcon 9 Rocket Body (Second Stage)&nbsp;– Orbit]

{{Dragon spaceflights}}
{{Falcon rocket launches}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:COTS Demo Flight 1}}
[[Category:SpaceX payloads contracted by NASA]]
[[Category:Test spaceflights]]

{{Sourceattribution|SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1}}