View source for Software:SpaceX Dragon

{{short description|Partially reusable cargo space capsule}}
{{Infobox spacecraft class
| name                 = Dragon
| image                = SpX-3 Dragon approaches ISS.jpg
| image_caption        = Dragon approaching the [[Astronomy:International Space Station|International Space Station]] during the [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-3|CRS-3]] mission

| manufacturer         = [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]]
| designer             = 
| country              = {{wipe|United States}}
| operator             = SpaceX

| applications         = [[Astronomy:International Space Station|ISS]] [[Engineering:Space logistics|logistics]]
| dry_mass             = {{convert|4201|kg}}<ref name="SpXBroc"/>
| payload_capacity     = to ISS {{convert|3310|kg}},<ref>"Audit Of Commercial Resupply Services to The International Space Station", Office of Inspector General, page 9, https://oig.nasa.gov/docs/IG-18-016.pdf</ref> which can be all pressurized, all unpressurized or anywhere between. It can return to Earth {{convert|3500|kg}}, which can be all unpressurized disposal mass or up to {{convert|3000|kg}} of return pressurized cargo<ref name=Dragon>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/dragon|title=SpaceX Dragon specs|access-date=15 May 2007|archive-date=12 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412113142/http://www.spacex.com/dragon|url-status=dead}}</ref>

| crew_capacity        = 0
| volume               = {{convert|10|m3}} pressurized<ref name="sx20090918"/><br/><!-- -->{{convert|14|m3}} unpressurized<ref name="sx20090918"/><br/><!-- -->{{convert|34|m3}} unpressurized with extended trunk<ref name="sx20090918"/>
| length               = {{convert|6.1|m}}<ref name="SpXBroc">{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/SpaceX_Brochure_V7_All.pdf|title=SpaceX Brochure – 2008|access-date=9 December 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320032815/http://www.spacex.com/SpaceX_Brochure_V7_All.pdf|archive-date=20 March 2012}}</ref>
| diameter             = {{convert|3.7|m}}<ref name="SpXBroc"/>

| status               = Retired
| built                = 14
| launched             = 23
| lost                 = 1
| first                = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2010|12|08}}<br/>(first orbital flight)<br/>{{Start date and age|df=yes|2012|05|22}}<br/>(first cargo delivery to ISS)<ref name=LaunchAtLast/>
| last                 = 7 March 2020

| stagedata = 
{{Infobox rocket/stage
| name                 = Dragon RCS
| fuel                 = [[Chemistry:Dinitrogen tetroxide|NTO]] / [[Chemistry:Monomethylhydrazine|MMH]]<ref name=FAA2012/>
}}
| derivatives          = {{Unbulleted list
  | DragonLab
  | [[Engineering:SpaceX Dragon 2|Dragon 2]]
  | Dragon XL
  | [[Astronomy:SpaceX Red Dragon|Red Dragon]]
}}
| next                 = [[Engineering:SpaceX Dragon 2|SpaceX Dragon 2]]
|image_size=300px}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Dragon Flight Software
| author = [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]]
| developer = 
| programming language = [[C++]]<ref name="tarazevits">{{cite web|last=Tarajevits|first=Thomas|title=Revisions to What computer and software is used by the Falcon 9?|url=https://space.stackexchange.com/posts/9446/revisions|publisher=Space Exploration Stack Exchange|access-date=31 May 2020|archive-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628224647/https://space.stackexchange.com/posts/9446/revisions|url-status=live}} Tarazevits says in [https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/9243/what-computer-and-software-is-used-by-the-falcon-9/9446#comment25749_9446 his comment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601002101/https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/9243/what-computer-and-software-is-used-by-the-falcon-9/9446#comment25749_9446 |date=1 June 2020 }} that he learned those information at "Engineer the Future" session with Jinnah Hussein.</ref><ref name="spacexdevtty">{{cite web|title=We are SpaceX Software Engineers - We Launch|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1853ap/we_are_spacex_software_engineers_we_launch/c8bodrj|website=reddit.com|access-date=31 May 2020|archive-date=7 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607173833/http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1853ap/we_are_spacex_software_engineers_we_launch/c8bodrj|url-status=live}}</ref>
| operating system = [[Software:Linux|Linux]]
| platform = [[X86|x86]] (judge)<br/>[[PowerPC]] (actor)
| included with = Dragon spacecraft
| size = Around 100K source lines
| language = [[Social:English language|English]]
| language count = <!-- Number only -->
| language footnote = 
| genre = Application-specific system software
| license = Closed source, internal use
| website = 
}}
{{Private spaceflight}}

'''Dragon''', also known as '''Dragon 1''' or '''Cargo Dragon''', was a class of partially reusable [[Engineering:Cargo spacecraft|cargo spacecraft]] developed by [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]], an American private space transportation company. Dragon was launched into orbit by the company's [[Engineering:Falcon 9|Falcon 9]] [[Engineering:Launch vehicle|launch vehicle]] to resupply the [[Astronomy:International Space Station|International Space Station]] (ISS).

During its maiden flight in December 2010, Dragon became the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to be recovered successfully from orbit. On 25 May 2012, a cargo variant of Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to successfully [[Astronomy:Space rendezvous|rendezvous]] with and attach to the ISS.<ref name=FirstDock/><ref name="NYT-20120525">{{cite web|last=Chang|first=Kenneth|title=Space X Capsule Docks at Space Station|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/26/science/space/space-x-capsule-docks-at-space-station.html|date=25 May 2012|work={{wipe|New York Times}}|access-date=25 May 2012|archive-date=3 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603203029/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/26/science/space/space-x-capsule-docks-at-space-station.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=SpaceX's Dragon Docks With Space Station—A First|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/05/120525-spacex-dragon-robot-arm-international-space-station-nation/|publisher=National Geographic|date=25 May 2012|access-date=28 May 2012|archive-date=9 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909213434/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/05/120525-spacex-dragon-robot-arm-international-space-station-nation/|url-status=live}}</ref> SpaceX is contracted to deliver cargo to the ISS under [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]'s [[Astronomy:Commercial Resupply Services|Commercial Resupply Services]] program, and Dragon began regular cargo flights in October 2012.<ref name="InOrbitOctober2012">{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/17943-spacex-dragon-capsule-space-cargo-launch.html|title=Liftoff! SpaceX Dragon Launches 1st Private Space Station Cargo Mission|publisher=Space.com|date=8 October 2012|access-date=8 October 2012|archive-date=30 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930064954/http://www.space.com/17943-spacex-dragon-capsule-space-cargo-launch.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=oct8Launch/><ref name=sepLaunch/><ref name="augLaunch">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16rfcTbU_D4&t=7m35s|title=Press Briefed on the Next Mission to the International Space Station|date=20 March 2012|publisher=NASA|access-date=11 April 2012|archive-date=5 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405145242/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16rfcTbU_D4&t=7m35s|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> With the Dragon spacecraft and the [[Company:Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems|Orbital ATK]] [[Engineering:Cygnus (spacecraft)|Cygnus]], NASA seeks to increase its partnerships with domestic commercial aviation and aeronautics industry.<ref name="space-081223">{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/news/081223-nasa-spacestation-cargo-contract.html|title=NASA Taps SpaceX, Orbital Sciences to Haul Cargo to Space Station|publisher=Space.com|date=23 December 2008|access-date=1 March 2011|archive-date=5 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805164451/http://www.space.com/news/081223-nasa-spacestation-cargo-contract.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 3 June 2017, the [[Engineering:Dragon C106|C106]] capsule, largely assembled from previously flown components from the [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-4|CRS-4]] mission in September 2014, was launched again for the first time on [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-11|CRS-11]], with the hull, structural elements, thrusters, harnesses, propellant tanks, plumbing and many of the avionics reused, while the heat shield, batteries and components exposed to sea water upon [[Engineering:Splashdown|splashdown]] for recovery were replaced.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://aviationweek.com/space/spacex-advances-space-hardware-reuse-latestflight|title=SpaceX Advances Space Hardware Reuse With Latest Flight|date=3 June 2017|author=Mark Carreau|publisher=Aviation Week Network}}{{Dead link|date=October 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

SpaceX developed a second version called [[Engineering:SpaceX Dragon 2|Dragon 2]], which is capable of transporting humans. Flight testing was completed in 2019, after a delay caused by a test pad anomaly in April 2019, which resulted in the loss of a Dragon 2 capsule.<ref name="nasa-20190206">{{cite web|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2019/02/06/|title=NASA, Partners Update Commercial Crew Launch Dates|publisher=NASA Commercial Crew Program Blog|date=6 February 2019|access-date=6 February 2019|archive-date=2 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302204511/https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2019/02/06/|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The first flight of astronauts on Dragon 2 occurred on the [[Engineering:Crew Dragon Demo-2|Crew Dragon Demo-2]] mission in May 2020.

The last flight of the first version of the Dragon spacecraft (Dragon 1) launched 7 March 2020 (UTC); it was a cargo resupply mission ([[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-20|CRS-20]]) to [[Astronomy:International Space Station|International Space Station]] (ISS). This mission was the last mission of SpaceX of the first [[Astronomy:Commercial Resupply Services|Commercial Resupply Services]] (CRS-1) program, and marked the retirement of the Dragon 1 fleet. Further SpaceX commercial resupply flights to ISS under the second Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-2) program use the cargo-carrying variant of the [[Engineering:SpaceX Dragon 2|SpaceX Dragon 2]] spacecraft.<ref name="spacenews.com">{{cite web|title=Falcon 9 launches final first-generation Dragon|url=https://spacenews.com/falcon-9-launches-final-first-generation-dragon/|website=spacenews.com|date=7 March 2020|access-date=10 March 2020|archive-date=10 March 2020|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20200310095940/https://spacenews.com/falcon%2D9%2Dlaunches%2Dfinal%2Dfirst%2Dgeneration%2Ddragon/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Name ==
SpaceX's CEO, [[Biography:Elon Musk|Elon Musk]], named the spacecraft after the 1963 song "Puff, the Magic Dragon" by Peter, Paul and Mary, reportedly as a response to critics who considered his spaceflight projects impossible.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/15799-spacex-dragon-capsule-fun-facts.html|title=5 Fun Facts About Private Rocket Company SpaceX|publisher=Space.com|date=21 May 2012|access-date=26 May 2012|archive-date=23 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523084756/http://www.space.com/15799-spacex-dragon-capsule-fun-facts.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
SpaceX began [[Engineering:New product development|developing]] the Dragon [[Engineering:Space capsule|space capsule]] in late 2004, making a public announcement in 2006 with a plan of entering service in 2009.<ref name=Brian/> Also in 2006, SpaceX won a contract to use the Dragon [[Engineering:Space capsule|space capsule]] for commercial resupply services to the International Space Station for the American federal space agency, [[Organization:NASA|NASA]].<ref name=sfn20060818/>

=== NASA ISS resupply contract ===
==== Commercial Orbital Transportation Services ====
[[File:SpaceX factory Dragon capsule.jpg|thumb|left|upright|An early Dragon pressure vessel, photographed during factory tests in 2008.]]
[[File:DragonEye on STS-133.jpg|right|thumb|The DragonEye system on {{OV|103}} during STS-133]]

In 2005, NASA solicited proposals for a commercial ISS resupply cargo vehicle to replace the then-soon-to-be-retired [[Engineering:Space Shuttle retirement|Space Shuttle]], through its [[Astronomy:Commercial Orbital Transportation Services|Commercial Orbital Transportation Services]] (COTS) development program. The Dragon [[Engineering:Space capsule|space capsule]] was a part of SpaceX's proposal, submitted to NASA in March 2006. SpaceX's COTS proposal was issued as part of a team, which also included MD Robotics, the Canadian company that had built the ISS's [[Engineering:Mobile Servicing System|Canadarm2]].

On 18 August 2006, NASA announced that [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]] had been chosen, along with [[Company:Rocketplane Kistler|Kistler Aerospace]], to develop cargo launch services for the ISS.<ref name="sfn20060818">{{cite web
|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0608/18cots/|title=NASA selects crew, cargo launch partners|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=18 August 2006|archive-date=1 December 2011
|access-date=9 December 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> NASA later re-awarded Kistler's contract to [[Company:Orbital Sciences Corporation|Orbital Sciences Corporation]].<ref name="RpK Plug Pulled"/><ref name="NSF-COTS">{{cite news|last=Bergin|first=Chris|title=Orbital beat a dozen competitors to win NASA COTS contract|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/02/orbital-beat-a-dozen-competitors-to-win-nasa-cots-contract/|access-date=18 December 2011|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=19 February 2008|archive-date=5 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405145227/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/02/orbital-beat-a-dozen-competitors-to-win-nasa-cots-contract/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Commercial Resupply Services Phase 1 ====
On 23 December 2008, NASA awarded a US$1.6 billion [[Astronomy:Commercial Resupply Services|Commercial Resupply Services]] (CRS-1) contract to SpaceX, with contract options that could potentially increase the maximum contract value to US$3.1 billion.<ref name="SpaceX Cargo Contract 20081223">{{cite press release|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20081223|title=F9/Dragon Will Replace the Cargo Transport Function of the Space Shuttle after 2010 |publisher=SpaceX|date=23 December 2008|access-date=26 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721083827/http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20081223|archive-date=21 July 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> The contract called for 12 flights, with an overall minimum of {{convert|20000|kg}} of cargo to be carried to the ISS.<ref name="SpaceX Cargo Contract 20081223"/>

On 23 February 2009, SpaceX announced that its chosen [[Astronomy:Atmospheric entry|phenolic-impregnated carbon ablator]] heat shield material, PICA-X, had passed heat stress tests in preparation for Dragon's maiden launch.<ref>{{cite press release|title=SpaceX Manufactured Heat Shield Material Passes High Temperature Tests Simulating Reentry Heating Conditions of Dragon Spacecraft|date=23 February 2009|publisher=[[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]]|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090223|access-date=16 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103023806/https://spacex.com/press.php?page=20090223|archive-date=3 January 2010|url-status=dead}}(original link is dead; see version at [http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090223005140/en/SpaceX-Manufactured-Heat-Shield-Material-Passes-High businesswire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924023029/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090223005140/en/SpaceX-Manufactured-Heat-Shield-Material-Passes-High |date=24 September 2015 }} (accessed 1 September 2015)</ref><ref name="a&s201201">{{cite news|last=Chaikin|first=Andrew|title=1 visionary + 3 launchers + 1,500 employees = ? : Is SpaceX changing the rocket equation?|url=http://www.airspacemag.com/space-exploration/Visionary-Launchers-Employees.html?c=y&page=2|access-date=13 November 2011|newspaper=Air and Space Smithsonian|date=January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207232709/http://www.airspacemag.com/space-exploration/Visionary-Launchers-Employees.html?c=y&page=2|archive-date=7 December 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The primary proximity-operations sensor for the Dragon spacecraft, the DragonEye, was tested in early 2009 during the [[Engineering:STS-127|STS-127]] mission, when it was mounted near the docking port of the [[Engineering:Space Shuttle Endeavour|Space Shuttle ''Endeavour'']] and used while the Shuttle approached the [[Astronomy:International Space Station|International Space Station]]. The DragonEye's [[Engineering:Lidar|lidar]] and [[Physics:Thermography|thermography]] (thermal imaging) abilities were both tested successfully.<ref name="SpaceX Update 20090923">{{cite press release |title=UPDATE: Wednesday, 23 September 2009|url=http://www.spacex.com/updates_archive.php?page=2009_2|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=18 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419063103/http://www.spacex.com/updates_archive.php?page=2009_2|archive-date=19 April 2012|date=23 September 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://www.spacex.com/updates.php Update: 23 September 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727153858/http://www.spacex.com/updates.php |date=27 July 2013 }}. SpaceX.com. Retrieved 9 November 2012.</ref> The COTS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) and Crew Command Panel (CCP) were delivered to the ISS during the late 2009 [[Engineering:STS-129|STS-129]] mission.<ref name="CUCU">{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/03/spacex-activation-dragons-cucu-onboard-iss/|title=SpaceX announce successful activation of Dragon's CUCU onboard ISS|last=Bergin|first=Chris|date=28 March 2010|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|access-date=27 April 2012|archive-date=11 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911233729/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/03/spacex-activation-dragons-cucu-onboard-iss/|url-status=live}}</ref> The CUCU allows the ISS to communicate with Dragon and the CCP allows ISS crew members to issue basic commands to Dragon.<ref name=CUCU/> In summer 2009, SpaceX hired former [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] astronaut Ken Bowersox as vice president of their new Astronaut Safety and Mission Assurance Department, in preparation for crews using the spacecraft.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Former astronaut Bowersox Joins SpaceX as vice president of Astronaut Safety and Mission Assurance|date=18 June 2009|publisher=SpaceX|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090618 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118115539/http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090618|archive-date=18 January 2012|access-date=22 December 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As a condition of the NASA CRS contract, SpaceX analyzed the orbital [[Astronomy:Health threat from cosmic rays|radiation environment]] on all Dragon systems, and how the spacecraft would respond to spurious radiation events. That analysis and the Dragon design – which uses an overall [[Fault tolerance]] [[Triple modular redundancy|triple redundant]] [[Computer architecture|computer architecture]], rather than individual [[Engineering:Radiation hardening|radiation hardening]] of each computer processor – was reviewed by independent experts before being approved by [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] for the cargo flights.<ref name=aw20121118/>

During March 2015, it was announced that SpaceX had been awarded an additional three missions under Commercial Resupply Services Phase 1.<ref name="nsf-20150303nasacrs1addlaward"/> These additional missions are [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-13|SpaceX CRS-13]], [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-14|SpaceX CRS-14]] and [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-15|SpaceX CRS-15]] and would cover the cargo needs of 2017. On 24 February 2016, SpaceNews disclosed that SpaceX had been awarded a further five missions under Commercial Resupply Services Phase 1.<ref name="sn-20160224spxwinsaddlcrs1"/> This additional tranche of missions had [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-16|SpaceX CRS-16]] and [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-17|SpaceX CRS-17]] manifested for FY2017 while [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-18|SpaceX CRS-18]], [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-19|SpaceX CRS-19]] and [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-20|SpaceX CRS-20]] and were notionally manifested for FY2018.

==== Commercial Resupply Services Phase 2 ====
The ''Commercial Resupply Services-2'' (CRS-2) contract definition and solicitation period commenced in 2014. In January 2016, NASA awarded contracts to [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]], [[Company:Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems|Orbital ATK]], and Sierra Nevada Corporation for a minimum of six launches each, with missions planned until at least 2024. The maximum potential value of all the contracts was announced as US$14 billion, but the minimum requirements would be considerably less.<ref name="WashintonPostJan142016">{{cite news|title=Sierra Nevada Corp. joins SpaceX and Orbital ATK in winning NASA resupply contracts|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/01/14/nasa-expected-to-soon-announce-contracts-to-resupply-the-international-space-station/|newspaper={{wipe|The Washington Post}}|date=14 January 2016|access-date=2 August 2020|archive-date=8 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908122455/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/01/14/nasa-expected-to-soon-announce-contracts-to-resupply-the-international-space-station/|url-status=live}}</ref> No further financial information was disclosed.

CRS-2 launches began in late 2019.

==== Demonstration flights ====
[[File:COTS2 Dragon is berthed.jpg|left|thumb|The CRS Dragon being berthed to the ISS by the Canadarm2 manipulator during the COTS 2 mission.]]
[[File:Inside the Dragon (capsule).jpg|Interior of the COTS 2 Dragon capsule.|thumb|right]]
[[File:Space X water3.JPG|Recovery of the COTS 2 Dragon capsule on 31 May 2012.|thumb|right]]

{{multiple image
| align    = right
| image1   = SpX CRS-2 launch - cropped.jpg
| width1   = 173
| alt1     = 
| caption1 = The Dragon spacecraft being launched on a [[Engineering:Falcon 9 v1.0|Falcon 9 v1.0]] rocket.

| image2   = SpX-3 launch.1.jpg
| width2   = 134
| alt2     = 
| caption2 = The Dragon spacecraft being launched on a [[Engineering:Falcon 9 v1.1|Falcon 9 v1.1]] rocket.
| footer   = 
}}

The first flight of the Falcon 9, a [[Engineering:Private spaceflight|private]] flight, occurred in June 2010 and launched a [[Engineering:Boilerplate (spaceflight)|stripped-down]] version of the Dragon capsule. This [[Engineering:Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit|Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit]] had initially been used as a ground test bed to validate several of the capsule's systems. During the flight, the unit's primary mission was to relay aerodynamic data captured during the ascent.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/COTS09209.xml&channel=awst|title=SpaceX, Orbital Explore Using Their Launch Vehicles To Carry Humans|date=20 September 2009|author=Guy Norris|publisher=Aviation Week|access-date=26 October 2012}}{{dead link|date=November 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20100607|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 |date=7 June 2010|publisher=SpaceX|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> It was not designed to survive re-entry, and did not.

NASA contracted for three test flights from SpaceX, but later reduced that number to two. The first Dragon spacecraft launched on its first mission – contracted to NASA as [[Engineering:SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1|COTS Demo Flight 1]] – on 8 December 2010, and was successfully recovered following re-entry to [[Earth:Atmosphere of Earth|Earth's atmosphere]]. The mission also marked the second flight of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle.<ref name="BBCLaunchDec2010">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11948329|title=Private space capsule's maiden voyage ends with a splash|publisher=BBC News|date=8 December 2010|access-date=16 November 2011|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042147/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11948329|url-status=live}}</ref> The DragonEye sensor flew again on [[Engineering:STS-133|STS-133]] in February 2011 for further on-orbit testing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/07/sts-133-spacexs-dragoneye-late-installation-discovery/|title=STS-133: SpaceX's DragonEye set for late installation on Discovery|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=19 July 2010|access-date=24 April 2013|archive-date=20 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920052323/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/07/sts-133-spacexs-dragoneye-late-installation-discovery/|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a re-entry license for the Dragon capsule, the first such license ever awarded to a commercial vehicle.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/nov/10-298_NASA_Statements.html|date=22 November 2010|title=NASA Statements on FAA Granting Reentry License To SpaceX|access-date=24 April 2013|archive-date=6 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406213908/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/nov/10-298_NASA_Statements.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Engineering:SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 2|second Dragon flight]], also contracted to [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] as a demonstration mission, launched successfully on 22 May 2012, after NASA had approved SpaceX's proposal to combine the COTS 2 and 3 mission objectives into a single Falcon 9/Dragon flight, renamed COTS 2+.<ref name=LaunchAtLast/><ref name="Spaceflight Now 20111209">{{cite web|last=Ray|first=Justin|title=SpaceX demo flights merged as launch date targeted|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/003/111209dates/|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=9 December 2011|access-date=9 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103110134/http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/003/111209dates/|archive-date=3 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Dragon conducted orbital tests of its navigation systems and abort procedures, before being grappled by the ISS' [[Engineering:Mobile Servicing System|Canadarm2]] and successfully berthing with the station on 25 May 2012 to offload its cargo.<ref name="FirstDock">{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/05/spacexs-dragon-historic-attempt-berth-with-iss/|title=SpaceX's Dragon captured by ISS, preparing for historic berthing|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=25 May 2012|access-date=25 May 2012|archive-date=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910194855/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/05/spacexs-dragon-historic-attempt-berth-with-iss/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WiredBerth">[https://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/05/spacex-docking/ "ISS welcomes SpaceX Dragon"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228124911/http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/05/spacex-docking/ |date=28 February 2014 }} ''Wired'' 25 May 2012 Retrieved 13 September 2012</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/05/spacexs-dragon-achieving-milestones-falcon-9-ride/|title=SpaceX's Dragon already achieving key milestones following Falcon 9 ride|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=22 May 2012|access-date=23 May 2012|archive-date=25 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525070943/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/05/spacexs-dragon-achieving-milestones-falcon-9-ride|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=40906|title=NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 22 May 2012|publisher=NASA via SpaceRef.com|date=22 May 2012|access-date=23 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://frenchtribune.com/teneur/1211418-cargo-aboard-dragon-spacecraft-be-unloaded-may-28|title=Cargo Aboard Dragon Spacecraft to Be Unloaded On May 28|author=Pierrot Durand|publisher=French Tribune|date=28 May 2012|access-date=28 May 2012|archive-date=30 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430084041/http://frenchtribune.com/teneur/1211418-cargo-aboard-dragon-spacecraft-be-unloaded-may-28|url-status=live}}</ref> Dragon returned to [[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]] on 31 May 2012, landing as scheduled in the [[Earth:Pacific Ocean|Pacific Ocean]], and was again successfully recovered.<ref name="Accomplished">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18273811|title=Splashdown for SpaceX Dragon spacecraft|publisher=BBC|date=31 May 2012|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=1 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601040307/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18273811|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://businesstech.co.za/news/general/13755/spacex-dragon-capsule-opens-new-era/|title=SpaceX Dragon Capsule opens new era|publisher=Reuters via BusinessTech.co.za|date=28 May 2012|access-date=27 April 2013|archive-date=14 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714175720/http://businesstech.co.za/news/general/13755/spacex-dragon-capsule-opens-new-era/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 23 August 2012, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced that SpaceX had completed all required milestones under the COTS contract, and was cleared to begin [[Astronomy:Commercial Resupply Services|operational resupply missions to the ISS]].<ref>[http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/crew-cargo-milestones.html "NASA Administrator Announces New Commercial Crew And Cargo Milestones"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823214855/http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/crew-cargo-milestones.html |date=23 August 2012 }} NASA 23 August 2012 Retrieved 4 September 2012 {{PD-notice}}</ref>

==== Returning research materials from orbit ====
Dragon spacecraft can return {{convert|3500|kg}} of cargo to [[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]], which can be all unpressurized disposal mass, or up to {{convert|3000|kg}} of pressurized cargo, from the ISS,<ref name=Dragon/> and is the only current spacecraft capable of returning to Earth with a significant amount of cargo. Other than the Russian [[Engineering:Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz crew capsule]], Dragon is the only currently operating spacecraft designed to survive re-entry. Because Dragon allows for the return of critical materials to researchers in as little as 48 hours from [[Engineering:Splashdown|splashdown]], it opens the possibility of new experiments on ISS that can produce materials for later analysis on ground using more sophisticated instrumentation. For example, [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-12|CRS-12]] returned [[Biology:Mouse|mice]] that have spent time in orbit which will help give insight into how [[Physics:Micro-g environment|microgravity]] impacts blood vessels in both the brain and eyes, and in determining how arthritis develops.<ref name="spaceflightinsider">{{cite web|title=SpaceX CRS-12 mission comes to a close with Dragon's splashdown|url=https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/spacex-crs-12-mission-comes-close-dragon-splashdown/|publisher=SpaceFlight Insider|date=18 September 2017|access-date=6 June 2020|archive-date=11 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811181250/https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/spacex-crs-12-mission-comes-close-dragon-splashdown/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Operational flights ====

Dragon was launched on its [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-1|first operational CRS flight]] on 8 October 2012,<ref name=InOrbitOctober2012/> and completed the mission successfully on 28 October 2012.<ref name=bbc20121028/> [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] initially contracted [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]] for 12 operational missions, and later extended the CRS contract with 8 more flights, bringing the total to 20 launches until 2019. In 2016, a new batch of 6 missions under the [[Astronomy:Commercial Resupply Services|CRS-2 contract]] was assigned to SpaceX; those missions are scheduled to be launched between 2020 and 2024.

==== Reuse of previously-flown capsules ====
[[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-11|CRS-11]], SpaceX's eleventh CRS mission, was successfully launched on 3 June 2017 from Kennedy Space Center [[Astronomy:Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|LC-39A]], being the 100th mission to be launched from that pad. This mission was the first to re-fly a previously flown Dragon capsule. This mission delivered 2,708 kilograms<ref name="Dragon_reused">{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/06/03/cargo-manifest-for-spacexs-11th-resupply-mission-to-the-space-station/|title=Cargo manifest for SpaceX's 11th resupply mission to the space station|publisher=Spaceflight Now|last=Clark|first=Stephen|access-date=3 June 2017|archive-date=9 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809111921/https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/06/03/cargo-manifest-for-spacexs-11th-resupply-mission-to-the-space-station/|url-status=live}}</ref> of cargo to the [[Astronomy:International Space Station|International Space Station]], including [[Astronomy:Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer|Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer]] (NICER).<ref name="nasa-nicer-manifest">{{cite web|title=The Neutron star Interior Composition ExploreR Mission|url=https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/nicer/|publisher=NASA|access-date=26 February 2016|quote=Previously scheduled for a December 2016 launch on SpaceX-12, NICER will now fly to the International Space Station with two other payloads on SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)-11, in the Dragon vehicle's unpressurized Trunk.|archive-date=13 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513154225/https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/nicer/|url-status=live}}</ref> The first stage of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle landed successfully at Landing Zone 1. This mission launched for the first time a refurbished Dragon capsule,<ref name="dragon-reuse">{{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-to-reuse-dragon-capsules-on-cargo-missions/|title=SpaceX to reuse Dragon capsules on cargo missions|publisher=SpaceNews|first=Jeff|last=Foust|date=14 October 2016|access-date=11 November 2017|archive-date=18 August 2017|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170818133125/http://spacenews.com/spacex-to-reuse-dragon-capsules-on-cargo-missions/|url-status=live}}</ref> serial number [[Engineering:Dragon C106|C106]], which had flown in September 2014 on the [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-4|CRS-4]] mission,<ref name="nsf-20170528">{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/spacex-static-fire-crs-11-falcon-9/|title=SpaceX static fires CRS-11 Falcon 9 Sunday ahead of ISS mission|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|first=Chris|last=Gebhardt|date=28 May 2017|access-date=30 May 2017|archive-date=21 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221103147/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/spacex-static-fire-crs-11-falcon-9/|url-status=live}}</ref> and was the first time since 2011 a reused spacecraft arrived at the ISS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/06/spacexs-crs-11-dragon-station-arrival/|title=SpaceX's CRS-11 Dragon captured by Station for a second time|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|website=www.nasaspaceflight.com|date=5 June 2017 |access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=6 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806115924/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/06/spacexs-crs-11-dragon-station-arrival/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Engineering:Gemini SC-2|Gemini SC-2]] capsule is the only other reused capsule, but it was only reflown suborbitally in 1966.

[[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-12|CRS-12]], SpaceX's twelfth CRS mission, was successfully launched on the first "Block 4" version of the [[Engineering:Falcon 9|Falcon 9]] on 14 August 2017 from Kennedy Space Center [[Astronomy:Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|LC-39A]] at the first attempt. This mission delivered {{convert|2349|kg}} of pressurized mass and {{convert|961|kg}} unpressurized. The external payload manifested for this flight was the CREAM [[Astronomy:Cosmic ray|cosmic-ray detector]]. Last flight of a newly built Dragon capsule; further missions will use refurbished spacecraft.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/07/tdrs-priority-crs-12-dragon-launch-dates-realign/|title=TDRS-M given priority over CRS-12 Dragon as launch dates realign|publisher=NASASpaceFlight|first=Chris|last=Gebhardt|date=26 July 2017|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-date=18 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818032624/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/07/tdrs-priority-crs-12-dragon-launch-dates-realign/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-13|CRS-13]], SpaceX's thirteenth CRS mission, was the second use of a previously-flown Dragon capsule, but the first time in concordance with a reused first-stage booster. It was successfully launched on 15 December 2017 from {{wipe|Cape Canaveral Air Force Station}} Space Launch Complex 40 at the first attempt. This was the first launch from SLC-40 since the AMOS-6 pad anomaly. The booster was the previously-flown core from the [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-11|CRS-11]] mission. This mission delivered {{convert|1560|kg}} of pressurized mass and {{convert|645|kg}} unpressurized. It returned from orbit and [[Engineering:Splashdown|splashdown]] on 13 January 2018, making it the first [[Engineering:Space capsule|space capsule]] to be reflown to orbit more than once.<ref name="nsf20180113">{{cite news|last1=Bergin|first1=Chris|last2=Gebhardt|first2=Chris|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/01/spacexs-crs-13-dragon-home/|title=SpaceX's CRS-13 Dragon returns home|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|date=13 January 2018|access-date=14 January 2018|archive-date=14 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114021619/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/01/spacexs-crs-13-dragon-home/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-14|CRS-14]], SpaceX's fourteenth CRS mission, was the third reuse of a previously-flown Dragon capsule. It was successfully launched on 2 April 2018 from {{wipe|Cape Canaveral Air Force Station}} SLC-40. It was successfully berthed to the ISS on 4 April 2018 and remained berthed for a month before returning cargo and science experiments back to [[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]].

[[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-15|CRS-15]], [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-16|CRS-16]], [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-17|CRS-17]], [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-18|CRS-18]], [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-19|CRS-19]], and [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-20|CRS-20]] were all flown with previously flown capsules.

=== Crewed development program ===
[[File:SpaceX Dragon v2 Pad Abort Vehicle (16661791299).jpg|thumb|Exterior of the Dragon 2 used for the [[Engineering:Crew Dragon Pad Abort Test|Crew Dragon Pad Abort Test]]]]
[[File:Dragon V2 interior.2.jpg|right|thumb|Interior of the Dragon 2 capsule, showing the seat configuration]]

In 2006, Elon Musk stated that SpaceX had built "a prototype flight crew capsule, including a thoroughly tested 30-man-day life-support system".<ref name="Brian">{{cite web|last=Berger|first=Brian|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11699810|title=SpaceX building reusable crew capsule|publisher=NBC News|date=8 March 2006|access-date=9 December 2010|archive-date=5 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405145259/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11699810|url-status=live}}</ref> A video simulation of the launch escape system's operation was released in January 2011.<ref name="sxvid20110114">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ulp6g|title=SpaceX – Commercial Crew Development (CCDEV)|at=3:48|format=video|date=19 June 2015|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-date=27 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927065408/http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ulp6g|url-status=live}}</ref> Musk stated in 2010 that the developmental cost of a crewed Dragon and Falcon 9 would be between US$800 million and US$1 billion.<ref>[http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1010/11commercialcrew/ "NASA expects a gap in commercial crew funding"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715061837/http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1010/11commercialcrew/ |date=15 July 2015 }} Spaceflightnow.com 11 October 2010 Retrieved 28 February 2011</ref> In 2009 and 2010, Musk suggested on several occasions that plans for a crewed variant of the Dragon were proceeding and had a two-to-three-year timeline to completion.<ref name="This Week in Space">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifwFa5DtIps|title=This Week in Space interview with Elon Musk|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=24 January 2010|access-date=28 November 2016|archive-date=30 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330140148/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifwFa5DtIps|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Augustine">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O81Zq02eStg|title=Elon Musk's SpaceX presentation to the Augustine panel|publisher=YouTube|date=June 2009|access-date=27 April 2013|archive-date=30 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730114104/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O81Zq02eStg|url-status=live}}</ref> SpaceX submitted a bid for the third phase of CCDev, CCiCap.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-details-bid-to-win-nasa-shuttle-replacement-370213/|title=Boeing details bid to win NASA shuttle replacement|last=Rosenberg|first=Zach|date=30 March 2012|publisher=FlightGlobal|access-date=15 April 2012|archive-date=15 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715093036/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-details-bid-to-win-nasa-shuttle-replacement-370213/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=230715a3035c3af460f542da1ad80562&tab=core&_cview=0|title=Commercial Crew Integrated Capability|date=23 January 2012|publisher=NASA|access-date=25 January 2012|archive-date=15 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515181307/https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=230715a3035c3af460f542da1ad80562&tab=core&_cview=0|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

== Development funding ==
In 2014, SpaceX released the total combined development costs for both the [[Engineering:Falcon 9|Falcon 9]] launch vehicle and the Dragon capsule. [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] provided US$396 million while SpaceX provided over US$450 million to fund both development efforts.<ref name="AtlanticCouncil20140604">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYocHwhfFDc| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605154442/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYocHwhfFDc&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2014-06-05 | url-status=dead|title=Discussion with Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO, SpaceX |publisher=Atlantic Council|first=Gwynne|last=Shotwell|time=12:20–13:10|date=4 June 2014|access-date=8 June 2014|quote=''NASA ultimately gave us about $396 million; SpaceX put in over $450 million ... [for an] EELV-class launch vehicle ... as well as a capsule}}</ref>

== Production ==
[[File:Three_Dragons_on_Factory_Floor.jpg|thumb|SpaceX Dragon capsules being manufactured at SpaceX's factory]]
[[File:Dragon capsule being shipped out of SpaceX Hawthorne facility (16655995541).jpg|thumb|right|A Dragon capsule being shipped out of SpaceX HQ in Hawthorne, California, February 2015.]]

In December 2010, the SpaceX production line was reported to be manufacturing one new Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket every three months. Elon Musk stated in a 2010 interview that he planned to increase production turnover to one Dragon every six weeks by 2012.<ref name="Space Interview 20101209">{{cite news|url=http://www.space.com/10443-spacex-ceo-elon-musk-master-private-space-dragons.html|last=Chow |first=Denise|title=Q & A with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk: Master of Private Space Dragons|access-date=31 May 2012|newspaper=Space.com|date=8 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506045233/http://www.space.com/10443-spacex-ceo-elon-musk-master-private-space-dragons.html|archive-date=6 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Chemistry:Composite material|Composite material]]s are extensively used in the spacecraft's manufacture to reduce weight and improve structural strength.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reinforcedplastics.com/view/26038/fibersim-helps-spacex-manufacture-composite-parts-for-dragon-spacecraft/|title=Fibersim helps SpaceX manufacture composite parts for Dragon spacecraft|publisher=ReinforcedPlastics.com|date=15 June 2012|access-date=11 January 2013|archive-date=16 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916052304/http://www.reinforcedplastics.com/view/26038/fibersim-helps-spacex-manufacture-composite-parts-for-dragon-spacecraft/|url-status=live}}</ref>

By September 2013, SpaceX total manufacturing space had increased to nearly {{convert|1000000|ft2}} and the factory had six Dragons in various stages of production. SpaceX published a photograph showing the six, including the next four NASA [[Astronomy:Commercial Resupply Services|Commercial Resupply Services]] (CRS-1) mission Dragons ([[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-3|CRS-3]], [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-4|CRS-4]], [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-5|CRS-5]], [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-6|CRS-6]]) plus the drop-test Dragon, and the pad-abort Dragon weldment for [[Astronomy:Commercial Crew Program|commercial crew program]].<ref name="sxProd20130924">{{cite web|title=Production at SpaceX|url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/09/24/production-spacex|date=24 September 2013|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=29 September 2013|archive-date=3 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403055117/http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/09/24/production-spacex|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Design ==
[[File:Dragon spacecraft press and unpress sections.png|thumb|Drawing showing the pressurized (red) and unpressurized (orange) sections of Dragon.]]
[[File:Dragon CRS Isometric.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Isometric projection|Isometric view]] of Dragon]]

The Dragon spacecraft consists of a [[Engineering:Nose cone|nose-cone]] cap, a conventional blunt-cone [[Engineering:Space capsule|ballistic capsule]], and an unpressurized cargo-carrier trunk equipped with two [[Physics:Photovoltaic system|solar arrays]].<ref name="overview">{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/dragon.php|title=Dragon Overview|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=16 April 2012|archive-date=5 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405074247/https://spacex.com/dragon.php|url-status=live}}</ref> The capsule uses a PICA-X heat shield, based on a proprietary variant of NASA's [[Astronomy:Atmospheric entry#Phenolic-impregnated carbon ablator|Phenolic impregnated carbon ablator]] (PICA) material, designed to protect the capsule during [[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]] [[Astronomy:Atmospheric entry|atmospheric entry]], even at high return velocities from [[Astronomy:Commercial Lunar Mission Support Services|Lunar]] and [[Astronomy:List of missions to Mars|Martian]] missions.<ref name="2ndF9arrives"/><ref name=sx-update20071210/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/100716firststage/|title=Second Falcon 9 rocket begins arriving at the Cape|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=16 July 2010|access-date=4 February 2013|archive-date=24 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224202442/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/100716firststage/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Dragon capsule is re-usable, and can fly multiple missions.<ref name=overview/> The trunk is not recoverable; it separates from the capsule before re-entry and burns up in [[Earth:Atmosphere of Earth|Earth's atmosphere]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/005/returntimeline.html|title=SpaceX CRS-2 Dragon return timeline|date=26 March 2013|quote=The unpressurized trunk section of the Dragon spacecraft separates. The trunk is designed to burn up on re-entry, while the pressurized capsule returns to Earth intact.|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=13 April 2013|archive-date=17 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917051708/http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/005/returntimeline.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The trunk section, which carries the spacecraft's solar panels and allows the transport of unpressurized cargo to the ISS, was first used for cargo on the [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-2|SpaceX CRS-2]] mission.

The spacecraft is launched atop a [[Engineering:Falcon 9|Falcon 9]] booster.<ref name="popmech-dec06-31">{{cite journal|last=Jones|first=Thomas D.|title=Tech Watch — Resident Astronaut|journal=Popular Mechanics|volume=183|issue=12 |date=December 2006|issn=0032-4558|page=31}}</ref> The Dragon capsule is equipped with 16 Draco thrusters.<ref name="sx-update20071210">{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/updates_archive.php|title=SpaceX Updates|publisher=SpaceX|date=10 December 2007|access-date=11 December 2007|archive-date=8 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708022909/http://www.spacex.com/updates_archive.php|url-status=live}}</ref> During its initial cargo and crew flights, the Dragon capsule will land in the [[Earth:Pacific Ocean|Pacific Ocean]] and be returned to the shore by ship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/downloads/cots1-20101206.pdf|title=SpaceX • COTS Flight 1 Press Kit|date=6 December 2010 |publisher=SpaceX|access-date=29 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415002926/http://www.spacex.com/downloads/cots1-20101206.pdf|archive-date=15 April 2012}}</ref>

For the ISS Dragon cargo flights, the ISS's [[Engineering:Mobile Servicing System|Canadarm2]] grapples its Flight-Releasable Grapple Fixture and berths Dragon to the station's US Orbital Segment using a [[Engineering:Common Berthing Mechanism|Common Berthing Mechanism]] (CBM).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/04/iss-robotic-arm-preparation-greet-spacexs-dragon/|title=ISS translates robotic assets in preparation to greet SpaceX's Dragon|last=Bergin|first=Chris|date=12 April 2012|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|access-date=15 April 2012|archive-date=19 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919205725/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/04/iss-robotic-arm-preparation-greet-spacexs-dragon/|url-status=live}}</ref> The CRS Dragon does not have an independent means of maintaining a breathable atmosphere for astronauts and instead circulates in fresh air from the ISS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110014250_2011013540.pdf|title=SpaceX Dragon Air Circulation System|authors=Brenda J. Hernandez, Siarhei Piatrovich, Mauro Prina|year=2011|publisher=SpaceX / American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics|access-date=15 April 2012|archive-date=6 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206071423/http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110014250_2011013540.pdf|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> For typical missions, Dragon is planned to remain berthed to the ISS for about 30 days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/483771main_Space_Ops_Committee_Report_July_2010.pdf|title=NASA Advisory Council Space Operations Committee|date=July 2010|publisher=NASA|access-date=15 April 2012|archive-date=8 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308112952/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/483771main_Space_Ops_Committee_Report_July_2010.pdf|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

The Dragon capsule can transport {{convert|3310|kg}} of cargo, which can be all pressurized, all unpressurized, or a combination thereof. It can return to Earth {{convert|3310|kg}}, which can be all unpressurized disposal mass, or up to {{convert|3310|kg}} of return pressurized cargo, driven by parachute limitations. There is a volume constraint of {{convert|14|m3}} trunk unpressurized cargo and {{convert|11.2|m3}} of pressurized cargo (up or down).<ref name="ISS-1">[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/418857main_sec_nnj09ga04b.pdf "The ISS CRS contract (signed 23 December 2008)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222192926/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/418857main_sec_nnj09ga04b.pdf |date=22 February 2017 }} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The trunk was first used operationally on the Dragon's [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-2|CRS-2]] mission in March 2013.<ref name="nsf20121019">{{cite web|last=Bergin|first=Chris|title=Dragon enjoying ISS stay, despite minor issues – Falcon 9 investigation begins|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/10/dragon-iss-stay-minor-issues-falcon-9-investigation/|access-date=21 October 2012|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=19 October 2012|quote=''CRS-2 will debut the use of Dragon's trunk section, capable of delivering unpressurized cargo, prior to the payload being removed by the ISS' robotic assets after berthing.''|archive-date=14 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914080822/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/10/dragon-iss-stay-minor-issues-falcon-9-investigation/|url-status=live}}</ref> Its solar arrays produce a peak power of 4 [[Watt|kW]].<ref name=FAA2012>{{cite web|url=http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/The_Annual_Compendium_of_Commercial_Space_Transporation_2012.pdf|title=The Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2012|date=February 2012|publisher=Federal Aviation Administration|access-date=8 February 2013|archive-date=19 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619213345/http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/The_Annual_Compendium_of_Commercial_Space_Transporation_2012.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The design was modified beginning with the fifth Dragon flight on the [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-3|SpaceX CRS-3]] mission to the ISS in March 2014. While the outer mold line of the Dragon was unchanged, the avionics and cargo racks were redesigned to supply substantially more [[Physics:Solar panels on spacecraft|electrical power]] to powered cargo devices, including the GLACIER freezer module and MERLIN freezer module freezer modules for [[Engineering:Space transport|transporting]] critical science payloads.<ref name="tss20140321a">{{cite AV media|people=Gwynne Shotwell|date=21 March 2014|title=Broadcast 2212: Special Edition, interview with Gwynne Shotwell |medium=audio file|url=http://archived.thespaceshow.com/shows/2212-BWB-2014-03-21.mp3|access-date=22 March 2014|archive-url=http://www.thespaceshow.com/detail.asp?q=2212<!-- link to the description page on the TSS website with a link to listen to the episode -->|archive-date=22 March 2014|format=mp3|time=18:35–19:10|publisher=The Space Show|id=2212|quote=''looks the same on the outside... new avionics system, new software, and new cargo racking system''}}</ref>

== Variants and derivatives ==
=== DragonLab ===
SpaceX planned to fly the Dragon spacecraft in a free-flying configuration, known as '''DragonLab'''.<ref name=overview/> Its subsystems include propulsion, power, thermal and environmental control (ECLSS)<!-- ECLSS is needed even for the cargo version to support biological experiments in the pressurized section of the spacecraft -->, [[Engineering:Avionics|avionics]], communications, thermal protection, flight software, [[Guidance, navigation, and control|guidance and navigation systems]], and entry, descent, landing, and recovery gear.<ref name="sx20090918">{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/pdf/DragonLabFactSheet.pdf|title=DragonLab datasheet|date=8 September 2009|access-date=19 October 2010|publisher=SpaceX|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104010401/http://www.spacex.com/downloads/dragonlab-datasheet.pdf|archive-date=4 January 2011}}</ref> It has a total combined [[Engineering:Space logistics|upmass]] of {{convert|6000|kg}} upon launch, and a maximum [[Engineering:Space logistics|downmass]] of {{convert|3000|kg}} when returning to [[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]].<ref name="sx20090918"/> In November 2014, there were two DragonLab missions listed on the SpaceX launch manifest: one in 2016 and another in 2018.<ref name="sxManifest20141120">{{cite web|title=Launch Manifest |url=http://www.spacex.com/launch_manifest.php|year=2011|archive-date=20 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120220200/http://www.spacex.com/missions|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=11 December 2014}}</ref> However, these missions were removed from the manifest in early 2017, with no official SpaceX statement.<ref name="sxManifest20141211">{{cite web|title=Launch Manifest|url=http://www.spacex.com/launch_manifest.php|date=11 December 2014|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=11 December 2014|archive-date=4 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004103731/http://www.spacex.com/launch_manifest.php|url-status=live}}</ref> The American [[Engineering:Biosatellite program|Biosatellites]] once performed similar uncrewed payload-delivery functions, and the Russian [[Engineering:Bion (satellite)|Bion satellites]] still continue to do so.

=== Dragon 2: Crew and Cargo ===
{{main|Engineering:SpaceX Dragon 2}}

A successor of Dragon called ''[[Engineering:SpaceX Dragon 2|SpaceX Dragon 2]]'' has been developed by SpaceX, designed to carry passengers and crew. It has been designed to be able to carry up to seven astronauts, or some mix of crew and cargo, to and from [[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|low Earth orbit]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Space Exploration Technologies Corporation|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20111020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503032852/http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20111020|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-05-03|date=2012-05-03|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> The Dragon 2 [[Astronomy:Heat shield|heat shield]] is designed to withstand [[Astronomy:Atmospheric entry|Earth re-entry]] velocities from [[Astronomy:Moon|Lunar]] and [[Astronomy:Mars|Martian]] spaceflights.<ref name="2ndF9arrives">{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen|title=Second Falcon 9 rocket begins arriving at the Cape|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/100716firststage/|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=16 July 2010|access-date=16 July 2010|archive-date=30 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151130095951/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/100716firststage/|url-status=live}}</ref> SpaceX undertook several U.S. Government contracts to develop the Dragon 2 crewed variant, including a [[Astronomy:Development of the Commercial Crew Program|Commercial Crew Development 2]] (CCDev 2) - funded [[Astronomy:Space Act Agreement|Space Act Agreement]] in April 2011, and a [[Astronomy:Commercial Crew Program|Commercial Crew integrated Capability]] (CCiCap) - funded space act agreement in August 2014.<ref name=nsf-20140916nasacctcapaward/> The phase 2 of the CRS contract uses the '''Dragon 2 Cargo''' variant lacking cockpit controls, seats and life support systems.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen|date=2019-08-02|title=SpaceX to begin flights under new cargo resupply contract next year|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/08/02/spacex-to-begin-flights-under-new-cargo-resupply-contract-next-year/|access-date=2020-06-03|archive-date=3 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803000441/https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/08/02/spacex-to-begin-flights-under-new-cargo-resupply-contract-next-year/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''Red Dragon''===
{{main|Astronomy:SpaceX Red Dragon}}

''Red Dragon'' was a cancelled version of the Dragon spacecraft that had been previously proposed to fly farther than [[Astronomy:Geocentric orbit|Earth orbit]] and transit to [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]] via interplanetary space. In addition to SpaceX's own privately funded plans for an eventual [[Astronomy:Exploration of Mars|Mars mission]], [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] [[Organization:Ames Research Center|Ames Research Center]] had developed a concept called ''Red Dragon'': a low-cost Mars mission that would use [[Engineering:Falcon Heavy|Falcon Heavy]] as the launch vehicle and trans-Martian injection vehicle, and the [[Engineering:SpaceX Dragon 2|SpaceX Dragon 2]]-based capsule to enter the [[Astronomy:Atmosphere of Mars|atmosphere of Mars]]. The concept was originally envisioned for launch in 2018 as a [[Astronomy:Discovery Program|NASA Discovery mission]], then alternatively for 2022, but was never formally submitted for funding within NASA.<ref name="Wall2015">{{cite news|last=Wall|first=Mike|url=http://www.space.com/30504-spacex-red-dragon-mars-sample-return.html|title="Red Dragon" Mars Sample-Return Mission Could Launch by 2022|work=Space.com|date=10 September 2015|access-date=20 September 2015|archive-date=26 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126061843/http://www.space.com/30504-spacex-red-dragon-mars-sample-return.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Wall2015"/>

On 27 April 2016, SpaceX announced its plan to go ahead and launch a modified Dragon lander to Mars in 2018.<ref name="spacex-tweet-20160427">{{cite tweet|user=SpaceX|number=725351354537906176|title=Planning to send Dragon to Mars as soon as 2018. Red Dragons will inform overall Mars architecture, details to come|date=27 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="Newmann2016">{{cite web|last1=Newmann|first1=Dava|title=Exploring Together|url=http://blogs.nasa.gov/newman/2016/04/27/exploring-together/|website=blogs.nasa.gov|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=1 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501034413/http://blogs.nasa.gov/newman/2016/04/27/exploring-together/|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> However, Musk canceled the ''Red Dragon'' program in July 2017 to focus on developing the [[Engineering:SpaceX Starship|Starship]] system instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/07/spacex-appears-to-have-pulled-the-plug-on-its-red-dragon-plans/|title=SpaceX appears to have pulled the plug on its Red Dragon plans|last=Berger|first=Eric|website=arstechnica.com|date=19 July 2017|access-date=21 July 2017|archive-date=21 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721003827/https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/07/spacex-appears-to-have-pulled-the-plug-on-its-red-dragon-plans/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="theverge-20170719">{{cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/19/15999384/elon-musk-spacex-dragon-capsule-mars-mission|title=Elon Musk suggests SpaceX is scrapping its plans to land Dragon capsules on Mars|publisher=The Verge|first=Loren|last=Grush|date=19 July 2017|access-date=10 November 2019|archive-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731225406/https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/19/15999384/elon-musk-spacex-dragon-capsule-mars-mission|url-status=live}}</ref> The modified ''Red Dragon'' capsule would have performed all [[Astronomy:Atmospheric entry|entry, descent and landing]] (EDL) functions needed to deliver payloads of {{convert|1000|kg}} 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.<ref name="sdc20110731">{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/12489-nasa-mars-life-private-spaceship-red-dragon.html|title="Red Dragon" Mission Mulled as Cheap Search for Mars Life|last=Wall|first=Mike|publisher=Space.com|date=31 July 2011|access-date=1 May 2012|archive-date=1 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201051520/http://www.space.com/12489-nasa-mars-life-private-spaceship-red-dragon.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NAC 2011">{{cite web |url=https://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2012/01/23/NAC_Science_Meeting_ReportOctober_31-November_1_2011-finalTAGGED.pdf|title=NASA ADVISORY COUNCIL (NAC) – Science Committee Report|publisher=NASA Ames Research Center|date=1 November 2011|access-date=1 May 2012|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120203325/http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2012/01/23/NAC_Science_Meeting_ReportOctober_31-November_1_2011-finalTAGGED.pdf|archive-date=20 January 2013}}  {{PD-notice}}</ref>

=== Dragon XL ===
[[File:SpaceX Dragon XL logistics module (2).jpg|thumb|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 [[Astronomy:Lunar Gateway|Lunar Gateway]] under a [[Astronomy:Gateway Logistics Services|Gateway Logistics Services]] (GLS) contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-artemis-contract-for-gateway-logistics-services|title=NASA Awards Artemis Contract for Gateway Logistics Services|last=Potter|first=Sean|date=27 March 2020|website=NASA|access-date=28 March 2020|archive-date=27 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327195418/https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-artemis-contract-for-gateway-logistics-services|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref><ref name="spacenews-3">{{Cite web|last=Foust|first=Jeff|title=SpaceX wins NASA commercial cargo contract for lunar Gateway|url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-nasa-commercial-cargo-contract-for-lunar-gateway/|website=SpaceNews|access-date=8 October 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200329123606/https://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-nasa-commercial-cargo-contract-for-lunar-gateway/|archive-date=29 March 2020|date=27 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 [[Astronomy:Moon|Moon]], according to [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]. It will launch on SpaceX [[Engineering:Falcon Heavy|Falcon Heavy]] rockets from [[Astronomy:Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/03/27/nasa-picks-spacex-to-deliver-cargo-to-gateway-station-in-lunar-orbit/|title=NASA picks SpaceX to deliver cargo to Gateway station in lunar orbit|publisher=Spaceflight Now|first1=Stephen|last1=Clark|access-date=28 March 2020|archive-date=28 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328020010/https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/03/27/nasa-picks-spacex-to-deliver-cargo-to-gateway-station-in-lunar-orbit/|url-status=live}}</ref> Its payload capacity is expected to be more than {{convert|5000|kg}} to lunar orbit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/03/dragon-xl-nasa-spacex-lunar-gateway-supply-contract/|title=Dragon XL revealed as NASA ties SpaceX to Lunar Gateway supply contract|date=27 March 2020|access-date=28 March 2020|archive-date=28 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328020206/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/03/dragon-xl-nasa-spacex-lunar-gateway-supply-contract/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-delays-starting-contract-with-spacex-for-gateway-cargo-services/|title=NASA delays starting contract with SpaceX for Gateway cargo services|date=15 April 2021|access-date=21 January 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210417064753/https://spacenews.com/nasa-delays-starting-contract-with-spacex-for-gateway-cargo-services/|archive-date=17 April 2021}}</ref>

== List of vehicles ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:small"
|+ Dragon 1 vehicles
!  | Serial
!  | Name
! Type
! Status
! Flights
! Time in flight
! class="unsortable" | Notes
! class="unsortable" | <abbr title="Category">Cat.</abbr>
|-
| {{Visible anchor|C101}}
| {{Color|grey|N/A}}
| Prototype
| {{Draw|Retired}}
| 1
| data-sort-value="12" | {{time interval|8 December 2010 15:43|8 December 2010 19:02|abbr=on|show=dhm|sep=,}}
| On display at SpaceX's headquarters.
| 
|-
| {{Visible anchor|C102}}
| {{Color|grey|N/A}}
| Production
| {{Draw|Retired}}
| 1
| data-sort-value="11" | {{time interval|22 May 2012 07:44:38|31 May 2012 15:42|abbr=on|show=dhm|sep=,}}
| On display at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
| 
|-
| {{Visible anchor|C103}}
| {{Color|grey|N/A}}
| Production
| {{Draw|Retired}}
| 1
| data-sort-value="10" | {{time interval|8 October 2012 00:34:07|28 October 2012 19:22|abbr=on|show=dhm|sep=,}}
| .
| 
|-
| {{Visible anchor|C104}}
| {{Color|grey|N/A}}
| Production
| {{Draw|Retired}}
| 1
| data-sort-value="9" | {{time interval|1 March 2013 15:10|26 March 2013 16:34|abbr=on|show=dhm|sep=,}}
| .
| 
|-
| {{Visible anchor|C105}}
| {{Color|grey|N/A}}
| Production
| {{Draw|Retired}}
| 1
| data-sort-value="8" | {{time interval|18 April 2014 19:25:21|18 May 2014 19:04|abbr=on|show=dhm|sep=,}}
| .
| 
|-
| [[Engineering:Dragon C106|{{Visible anchor|C106}}]]
| {{Color|grey|N/A}}
| Production
| {{Draw|Retired}}
| 3
| data-sort-value="3" | 97d, 3h, 2m
| .
| 
|-
| {{Visible anchor|C107}}
| {{Color|grey|N/A}}
| Production
| {{Draw|Retired}}
| 1
| data-sort-value="7" | {{time interval|10 January 2015 09:47:10|11 February 2015 00:44|abbr=on|show=dhm|sep=,}}
| Used for CRS-5.
| 
|-
| [[Engineering:Dragon C108|{{Visible anchor|C108}}]]
| {{Color|grey|N/A}}
| Production
| {{Draw|Retired}}
| 3
| data-sort-value="2" | 98d, 18h, 50m
| .
| 
|-
| {{Visible anchor|C109}}
| {{Color|grey|N/A}}
| Production
| {{No|Destroyed}}
| 1
| data-sort-value="13" | {{time interval|28 June 2015 14:21:11|28 June 2015, 14:23:30|abbr=on|show=hms|sep=,}}
| Destroyed upon impact with the ocean after the in-flight explosion of the Falcon 9 first stage during CRS-7.
| 
|-
| {{Visible anchor|C110}}
| {{Color|grey|N/A}}
| Production
| {{Draw|Retired}}
| 2
| data-sort-value="5" | 65d, 20h, 20m
| .
| 
|-
| {{Visible anchor|C111}}
| {{Color|grey|N/A}}
| Production
| {{Draw|Retired}}
| 2
| data-sort-value="4" | 74d, 23h, 38m
| .
| 
|-
| {{Visible anchor|C112}}
| {{Color|grey|N/A}}
| Production
| {{Draw|Retired}}
| 3
| data-sort-value="1" | 99d, 1h
| .
| 
|-
| {{Visible anchor|C113}}
| {{Color|grey|N/A}}
| Production
| {{Draw|Retired}}
| 2
| data-sort-value="6" | 64d, 12h, 4m
| Final Dragon 1 capsule produced. Used twice for CRS-12 and [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-17|CRS-17]].
| 
|}

== List of missions ==
<!-- https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/wiki/capsules -->

''Launch dates are listed in [[Physics:Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]].''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Mission
! Patch
! Capsule No.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/dragon.htm|title=Dragon C2, CRS-1,... CRS-20 (SpX 1,... 20)|website=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=16 March 2021|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308050552/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/dragon.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
! {{nowrap|Launch date}} (UTC)
! Remarks
! {{nowrap|Time at ISS}}<br/>(dd:hh:mm)
! Outcome

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1|SpX-C1]]
| [[:File:SpaceX Dragon COTS Demo 1 logo.png|SpX-C1 Patch]]<!--Please do not convert to a visible image as the patch for this mission is not freely licensed-->
| C101<ref name="c101">{{Cite web|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/dragon-c1.htm|title=Dragon C1|website=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=16 March 2021|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126063330/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/dragon-c1.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 8 December 2010 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/offices/c3po/home/spacexfeature.html|title=SpaceX Launches Success with Falcon 9/Dragon Flight|date=9 December 2010|publisher=NASA|access-date=11 April 2012|archive-date=11 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611145553/http://www.nasa.gov/offices/c3po/home/spacexfeature.html|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
| First Dragon mission, second Falcon 9 launch. Mission tested the orbital maneuvering and reentry of the Dragon capsule. After recovery, the capsule was put on display at SpaceX's headquarters.<ref name=c101/>
| {{n/a}}
| {{Success}}

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 2|SpX-C2+]]
| [[:File:SpaceX COTS 2 emblem.png|SpX-C2+ Patch]]<!--Please do not convert to a visible image as the patch for this mission is not freely licensed-->
| C102
| 22 May 2012 <ref name="LaunchAtLast">{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/15805-spacex-private-capsule-launches-space-station.html|title=SpaceX Launches Private Capsule on Historic Trip to Space Station|publisher=Space.com|date=22 May 2012|access-date=22 May 2012|archive-date=15 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515101738/http://www.space.com/15805-spacex-private-capsule-launches-space-station.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{time interval|25 May 2012 16:02|31 May 2012 09:49|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}} <ref name=Accomplished/>

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-1|CRS-1]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-1 Patch.png|75px]]
| C103
| 8 October 2012 <ref name="oct8Launch">{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/004/120831wdr/|title=Falcon 9 undergoes pad rehearsal for October launch|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=31 August 2012|access-date=12 September 2012|archive-date=16 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716155620/http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/004/120831wdr/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| First [[Astronomy:Commercial Resupply Services|Commercial Resupply Services]] (CRS) mission for [[Organization:NASA|NASA]], first non-demo mission. Falcon 9 rocket suffered a partial engine failure during launch but was able to deliver Dragon into orbit.<ref name=InOrbitOctober2012/> However, a secondary payload did not reach its correct orbit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:04ce340e-4b63-4d23-9695-d49ab661f385&plckPostId=Blog%3A04ce340e-4b63-4d23-9695-d49ab661f385Post%3Afdf0d27c-fdf2-4efb-a71f-8272017dbfc3|title=Falcon 9 Drops Orbcomm Satellite in Wrong Orbit|publisher=Aviation Week|date=8 October 2012 |access-date=9 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006200230/http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:04ce340e-4b63-4d23-9695-d49ab661f385|archive-date=6 October 2012}}</ref><ref name="sepLaunch">{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/|title=Worldwide Launch Schedule|date=7 September 2012|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=12 September 2012|archive-date=30 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151130025356/http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="OctSeven">{{cite web|url=http://www.livescience.com/23444-spacex-dragon-space-station-cargo-mission.html|title=Private Spacecraft to Launch Space Station Cargo on 7 October 2012|publisher=LiveScience|date=25 September 2012|access-date=25 September 2012|archive-date=16 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716152525/http://www.livescience.com/23444-spacex-dragon-space-station-cargo-mission.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{time interval|10 October 2012 13:03|28 October 2012 11:19|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}}; launch anomaly <ref name="bbc20121028">{{cite news|publisher=BBC|date=28 October 2012|access-date=23 December 2012|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20118963|title=SpaceX capsule returns with safe landing in Pacific Ocean|archive-date=5 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205134246/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20118963|url-status=live}}</ref>

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-2|CRS-2]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-2 Patch.png|75px]]
| C104
| 1 March 2013 <ref name="Frightening2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/20035-spacex-dragon-glitch-elon-musk.html|title=Dragon Spacecraft Glitch Was "Frightening", SpaceX Chief Elon Musk Says|publisher=Space.com|date=1 March 2013|access-date=2 March 2013|archive-date=19 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019063926/http://www.space.com/20035-spacex-dragon-glitch-elon-musk.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Dragon Mission Report|publisher=Spaceflight Now|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/004/121114anomalies/|access-date=15 November 2012|archive-date=2 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502052116/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/004/121114anomalies/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| First launch of Dragon using trunk section to carry cargo.<ref name=nsf20121019/> Launch was successful, but anomalies occurred with the spacecraft's thrusters shortly after liftoff. Thruster function was later restored and orbit corrections were made,<ref name=Frightening2013/> but the spacecraft's rendezvous with the ISS was delayed from its planned date of 2 March until 3 March 2013, when it was successfully berthed with the ''Harmony'' module.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/3/2/4057394/nasa-clears-spacex-dragon-iss-dock|title=NASA says SpaceX Dragon is safe to dock with the International Space Station on Sunday|publisher=The Verge|date=2 March 2013|access-date=2 March 2013|archive-date=3 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303081251/http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/2/4057394/nasa-clears-spacex-dragon-iss-dock|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=SpaceX hits snag; Dragon capsule won't dock with space station on schedule|url=http://www.clickorlando.com/news/SpaceX-hits-snag-Dragon-capsule-won-t-dock-with-space-station-on-schedule/-/1637132/19119852/-/2mcd1p/-/index.html|publisher=WKMG TV|date=1 March 2013|access-date=1 March 2013|archive-date=4 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304014330/http://www.clickorlando.com/news/SpaceX-hits-snag-Dragon-capsule-won-t-dock-with-space-station-on-schedule/-/1637132/19119852/-/2mcd1p/-/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Dragon splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean on 26 March 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=SpaceX Dragon cargo ship splashes into Pacific|url=http://www.boston.com/news/science/2013/03/26/spacex-dragon-cargo-ship-splashes-into-pacific/tm355lhjaaPX6zknTiOSNN/story.html|publisher=Boston Globe|date=26 March 2013|access-date=28 March 2013|archive-date=20 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420235542/http://www.boston.com/news/science/2013/03/26/spacex-dragon-cargo-ship-splashes-into-pacific/tm355lhjaaPX6zknTiOSNN/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{time interval|3 March 2013 13:56|26 March 2013 08:10|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}}; spacecraft anomaly<ref name=Frightening2013/>

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-3|CRS-3]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-3 Patch.png|75px]]
| C105
| 18 April 2014 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/range-realigns-spacex-crs-3-april/|title=Range Realigns – SpaceX CRS-3 mission targets April 14|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=4 April 2014|access-date=4 April 2014|archive-date=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910130203/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/range-realigns-spacex-crs-3-april/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://new.livestream.com/spacex/events/2833937/statuses/48058415|title=CRS-3 Update|website=new.livestream.com|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426013514/http://new.livestream.com/spacex/events/2833937/statuses/48058415|archive-date=26 April 2014}}</ref>
| First launch of the redesigned Dragon: same outer mold line with the avionics and cargo racks redesigned to supply substantially more [[Physics:Solar panels on spacecraft|electric power]] to powered cargo devices, including additional cargo freezers (GLACIER freezer module (GLACIER), Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MERLIN)) for transporting critical science payloads.<ref name=tss20140321a/> Launch rescheduled for 18 April 2014 due to a helium leak.
| {{time interval|20 April 2014 14:06|18 May 2014 11:55|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}} <ref name="Launch">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65zDaDSvIww|title=[SpaceX] Launch of SpaceX's Dragon CRS-3 Spacecraft on Falcon 9v1.1 Rocket|publisher=SpaceVids.tv|date=18 April 2014|access-date=18 April 2014|archive-date=18 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418215613/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65zDaDSvIww|url-status=live}}</ref>

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-4|CRS-4]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-4 Patch.png|75px]]
| [[Engineering:Dragon C106|C106]]<ref name=c108/>
| 21 September 2014 <ref name="SpaceflightNowTrackingStation">{{cite web|title=Spaceflight Now Tracking Station|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html|publisher=spaceflightnow.com|access-date=8 August 2014|archive-date=30 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151130220037/http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| First launch of a Dragon with living payload, in the form of 20 [[Biology:Mouse|mice]] which are part of a NASA experiment to study the physiological effects of long-duration spaceflight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/27172-spacex-space-rats-nasa-science-infographic.html|title=SpaceX Dragon Flying Mice in Space and More for NASA|publisher=Space.com|date=18 September 2014|access-date=18 October 2014|archive-date=4 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004202346/http://www.space.com/27172-spacex-space-rats-nasa-science-infographic.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{time interval|23 September 2014 13:21|25 October 2014 12:02|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}} <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://globalaviationreport.com/2014/10/26/space-x-dragon-capsule-splashes-down-crs-4-mission-ends|title=Space X Dragon capsule returns to Earth – CRS-4 Mission ends with a splash!|access-date=2 November 2014|archive-date=17 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717124242/http://globalaviationreport.com/2014/10/26/space-x-dragon-capsule-splashes-down-crs-4-mission-ends/|url-status=live}}</ref>

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-5|CRS-5]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-5 Patch.png|75px]]
| C107
| 10 January 2015 <ref name="SpaceflightNowTrackingStation"/>
| Cargo manifest change due to [[Engineering:Cygnus CRS Orb-3|Cygnus CRS Orb-3]] launch failure.<ref>{{cite web|title=Launch of SpaceX's CRS-5 mission slips to 16 December 2014|date=22 November 2014 |publisher=Spaceflight Insider|url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/commercial/launch-spacexs-crs-5-mission-iss-slips-dec-16/|access-date=22 November 2014|archive-date=15 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515043309/http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/commercial/launch-spacexs-crs-5-mission-iss-slips-dec-16/|url-status=live}}</ref> Carried the Cloud Aerosol Transport System experiment.
| {{time interval|12 January 2015 13:54|10 February 2015 17:11|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}}

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-6|CRS-6]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-6 Patch.png|75px]]
| [[Engineering:Dragon C108|C108]]<ref name=c108/>
| 14 April 2015
| The robotic SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on 21 May 2015.
| {{time interval|17 April 2015 13:29|21 May 2015 09:29|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}}

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-7|CRS-7]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-7 Patch.png|75px]]
| C109
| 28 June 2015 <ref name="SpaceflightNowLaunchSchedule">{{cite web|title=Launch Schedule|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|website=spaceflightnow.com|access-date=5 February 2015|archive-date=24 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224185459/http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| This mission was supposed to deliver the first of two [[Engineering:International Docking Adapter|International Docking Adapter]]s (IDA) to modify Russian [[Astronomy:Androgynous Peripheral Attach System|APAS-95]] docking ports to the newer international standard. The payload was lost due to an in-flight explosion of the carrier rocket. The Dragon capsule survived the blast; it could have deployed its parachutes and performed a splashdown in the ocean, but its software did not take this situation into account.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/07/saving-spaceship-dragon-contingency-chute/|title=Saving Spaceship Dragon – Software to provide contingency chute deploy|work=NASASpaceFlight.com|first=Chris|last=Bergin|date=27 July 2015|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-date=17 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217094726/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/07/saving-spaceship-dragon-contingency-chute/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{n/a}}
| {{Failure}}

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-8|CRS-8]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-8 Patch.png|75px]]
| C110
| 8 April 2016 <ref name="LaunchPhotography060216">{{cite web|url=http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html|title=Launch Viewing Guide for Cape Canaveral|last1=Cooper|first1=Ben|access-date=6 February 2016|archive-date=9 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209063848/http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Delivered the [[Company:Bigelow Aerospace|Bigelow Aerospace]] Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) module in the unpressurized cargo trunk.<ref name="nsw20130117">{{cite news|url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/nasa-and-bigelow-release-details-of-expandable-module-for-iss.html|title=NASA and Bigelow release details of expandable module for ISS|publisher=NewSpace Watch|first=Clark|last=Lindsey|date=16 January 2013|access-date=24 January 2013|url-access=subscription|archive-date=16 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516095238/http://newspacewatch.com/articles/nasa-and-bigelow-release-details-of-expandable-module-for-iss.html|url-status=live}}</ref> First stage landed for the first time successfully on sea barge. A month later, the Dragon capsule was recovered, carrying a downmass containing astronaut's Scott Kelly biological samples from his year-long mission on board of [[Astronomy:International Space Station|ISS]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/05/11/cargo-carrying-dragon-spaceship-returns-to-earth/|title=Cargo-carrying Dragon spaceship returns to Earth – Spaceflight Now|first=Stephen|last=Clark|access-date=10 April 2018|archive-date=22 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222033129/https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/05/11/cargo-carrying-dragon-spaceship-returns-to-earth/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{time interval|10 April 2016 13:57|11 May 2016 11:00|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}} <ref name=CRS8-return>{{cite press release|url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2016/05/11/dragon-splashdown|title=Dragon Splashdown|publisher=SpaceX|date=11 May 2016|access-date=19 May 2016|archive-date=16 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516155634/http://www.spacex.com/news/2016/05/11/dragon-splashdown|url-status=live}}</ref>

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-9|CRS-9]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-9 Patch.png|75px]]
| C111
| 18 July 2016 <ref>{{cite web|title=Worldwide Launch Schedule|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|publisher=SpaceflightNow|access-date=20 June 2016|archive-date=24 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224185459/http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Delivered docking adapter [[Engineering:International Docking Adapter|International Docking Adapter]] (IDA-2) to modify the [[Astronomy:International Space Station|ISS]] docking port Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA-2) for Commercial Crew spacecraft.
Longest time a Dragon Capsule was in space.
| {{time interval|20 July 2016 14:03|25 August 2016 21:00|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}}

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-10|CRS-10]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-10 Patch.png|75px]]
| C112
| 19 February 2017 <ref>{{cite web|last1=Garcia|first1=Mark|title=Dragon Launches to Station, Arrives Wednesday|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/02/19/dragon-launches-to-station-arrives-wednesday/|access-date=19 March 2017|archive-date=20 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320143408/https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/02/19/dragon-launches-to-station-arrives-wednesday/|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
| First launch from Kennedy Space Center [[Astronomy:Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|LC-39A]] since [[Engineering:STS-135|STS-135]] in mid-2011. Berthing to the [[Astronomy:International Space Station|ISS]] was delayed by a day due to software incompatibilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/13ericralph31/status/989732014407368704 |title=Tweet |website=twitter.com |accessdate=2021-03-16 |archive-date=9 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109043324/https://twitter.com/13ericralph31/status/989732014407368704 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{time interval|23 February 2017 13:12|18 March 2017 21:20|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}} <ref>{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Stephen|title=SpaceX's Dragon supply carrier wraps up 10th mission to space station|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/03/19/spacexs-dragon-supply-carrier-wraps-up-10th-mission-to-space-station/|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=19 March 2017|archive-date=19 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319181835/https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/03/19/spacexs-dragon-supply-carrier-wraps-up-10th-mission-to-space-station/|url-status=live}}</ref>

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-11|CRS-11]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-11 Patch.png|75px]]
| [[Engineering:Dragon C106|C106.2]] {{Abbr|♺|Reused Dragon capsule}} <ref name="c108">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/01/spacexs-crs-13-dragon-home/|title=SpaceX's CRS-13 Dragon returns home|date=13 January 2018|access-date=14 January 2018|archive-date=14 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114021619/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/01/spacexs-crs-13-dragon-home/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 3 June 2017
| The first mission to re-fly a recovered Dragon capsule (previously flown on [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-4|SpaceX CRS-4]]). 
| {{time interval|5 June 2017 16:07|2 July 2017 18:00|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}} <ref>{{cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/03/spacexs-first-re-flown-dragon-capsule-successfully-returns-to-earth/|title=SpaceX's first re-flown Dragon capsule successfully returns to Earth|last1=Etherington|first1=Darrell|publisher=Tech Crunch|date=3 July 2017|access-date=3 July 2017|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920110852/https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/03/spacexs-first-re-flown-dragon-capsule-successfully-returns-to-earth/|url-status=live}}</ref>

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-12|CRS-12]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-12 Patch.png|75px]]
| C113
| 14 August 2017
| Last mission to use a new Dragon 1 spacecraft.
| {{time interval|16 August 2017 13:07|16 September 2017 20:00|show=dh|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}}

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-13|CRS-13]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-13 Patch.png|75px]]
| [[Engineering:SpaceX Dragon C108|C108.2]] ♺<ref name=c108/>
| 15 December 2017 <ref name=sfn_ls1/>
| Second reuse of Dragon capsule. First NASA mission to fly aboard reused Falcon 9.<ref name="sfn_ls1">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/12/flight-proven-falcon-9-launch-flown-dragon-iss/|title=Flight proven Falcon 9 launches previously flown Dragon to ISS|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|last=Graham|first=William|date=14 December 2017|access-date=15 January 2018|archive-date=8 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208224916/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/12/flight-proven-falcon-9-launch-flown-dragon-iss/|url-status=live}}</ref> First reuse of this specific Dragon spacecraft.
| {{time interval|17 December 2017 13:26|12 January 2018 10:47|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}}

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-14|CRS-14]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-14 Patch.png|75px]]
| C110.2 ♺
| 2 April 2018
| Third reuse of a Dragon capsule, only necessitated replacing its heatshield, trunk, and parachutes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-experimental-water-landing-falcon-9-test/|title=SpaceX continues water landing test in latest Space Station resupply mission|first=Eric|last=Ralph|date=2 April 2018|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-date=7 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407054010/https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-experimental-water-landing-falcon-9-test/|url-status=live}}</ref> Returned over 4000 pounds of cargo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2018/05/05/dragon-splashes-down-in-pacific-with-nasa-research-and-cargo/|title=Dragon Splashes Down in Pacific With NASA Research and Cargo – Space Station|website=blogs.nasa.gov|access-date=6 May 2018|archive-date=6 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506100433/https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2018/05/05/dragon-splashes-down-in-pacific-with-nasa-research-and-cargo/|url-status=live}}</ref> First reuse of this specific Dragon spacecraft.
| {{time interval|4 April 2018 13:00|5 May 2018 05:30|show=dh|abbr=on}}<!-- There is uncertainty to when vehicle was unberthed -->
| {{Success}}

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-15|CRS-15]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-15 Patch.png|75px]]
| C111.2 ♺<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1010644009964920832 |title=Tweet |website=twitter.com |accessdate=2021-03-16 |archive-date=25 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725173831/https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1010644009964920832 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| 29 June 2018 <ref name="cooper">{{cite web|url=http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html|title=Launch Viewing Guide for Cape Canaveral|website=Launchphotography.com|first=Ben|last=Cooper|date=2 April 2018|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=9 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209063848/http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Fourth reuse. First reuse of this specific Dragon spacecraft.
| {{time interval|2 July 2018 13:52|3 August 2018 14:37|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}} <ref name="landing">{{cite news|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/08/03/spacex-cargo-capsule-comes-back-to-earth-from-space-station/|title=SpaceX cargo capsule comes back to Earth from space station|publisher=Spaceflight Now|first=Stephen|last=Clark|date=3 August 2018|access-date=30 August 2018|archive-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805073236/https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/08/03/spacex-cargo-capsule-comes-back-to-earth-from-space-station/|url-status=live}}</ref>

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-16|CRS-16]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-16 Patch.png|75px]]
| C112.2 ♺<ref>{{cite web|title=SpaceX CRS-16 Dragon Resupply Mission|url=https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/crs16_press_kit_12_3.pdf|work=SpaceX|date=December 2018|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=5 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205003400/https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/crs16_press_kit_12_3.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 5 December 2018 <ref name="space-20181205">{{cite web|title=SpaceX Launches Dragon Cargo Ship to Space Station, But Misses Rocket Landing|url=https://www.space.com/42629-spacex-dragon-launch-missed-landing-crs16.html|publisher=Space.com|last=Lewin|first=Sarah|access-date=7 February 2019|date=5 December 2018|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108115856/https://www.space.com/42629-spacex-dragon-launch-missed-landing-crs16.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Fifth reuse. First reuse of this specific Dragon spacecraft. The first-stage booster landing failed due to a grid fin hydraulic pump stall on reentry.<ref name=space-20181205/>
| {{time interval|8 December 2018 15:36|13 January 2019 20:00|show=dh|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}} <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/01/crs-16-dragon-departs-iss-return-journey/|title=CRS-16 Dragon returns to Earth following ISS departure|first=Chris|last=Bergin|publisher=NASA SpaceflightNow|date=14 January 2019|access-date=7 February 2019|archive-date=3 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203062839/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/01/crs-16-dragon-departs-iss-return-journey/|url-status=live}}</ref>

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-17|CRS-17]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-17 Patch.png|75px]]
| C113.2 ♺<ref name="teslarati-20190504">{{cite web|url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-infrared-landing-cargo-dragon/|title=SpaceX gives infrared glimpse of Falcon 9 landing after successful Dragon launch|website=Teslarati.com|first=Eric|last=Ralph|date=4 May 2019|access-date=4 May 2019|archive-date=4 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504104320/https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-infrared-landing-cargo-dragon/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 4 May 2019 <ref name="teslarati-20190504"/>
| Sixth reuse. First reuse of this specific Dragon spacecraft.
| {{time interval|6 May 2019 13:33|3 June 2019 12:35|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}} <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/06/crs-17-dragon-eom-homecoming/|title=CRS-17 Dragon returns home from ISS mission|first=Chris|last=Bergin|publisher=NASA SpaceflightNow|date=3 June 2019|access-date=16 June 2019|archive-date=14 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614224146/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/06/crs-17-dragon-eom-homecoming/|url-status=live}}</ref>

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-18|CRS-18]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-18 Patch.png|75px]]
| [[Engineering:SpaceX Dragon C108|C108.3]] ♺<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1152361282982465536|user=SpaceX|title=The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously visited the @space_station in April 2015 and December 2017|date=19 July 2019}}</ref>
| 24 July 2019 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|title=Launch Schedule|work=Spaceflight Now|date=19 July 2019|access-date=19 July 2019|archive-date=24 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224185459/http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Seventh reuse. First capsule to make a third flight.
| {{time interval|27 July 2019 16:01|27 August 2019 12:25|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}}

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-19|CRS-19]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-19 Patch.png|75px]]
| [[Engineering:Dragon C106|C106.3]] ♺<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1199463905258590208|user=SpaceX|title=The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously flew in support of our fourth and eleventh commercial resupply missions|date=27 November 2019}}</ref>
| 5 December 2019 <ref name="pietrobon">{{cite web|title=Launch Schedule|work=Spaceflight Now|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|date=5 December 2019|access-date=5 December 2019|archive-date=24 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224185459/http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Eighth reuse. Second capsule to make a third flight.
| {{time interval|8 December 2019 12:47|7 January 2020 08:41|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}}

|-
| [[Engineering:SpaceX CRS-20|CRS-20]]
| [[File:SpaceX CRS-20 Patch.png|75px]]
| C112.3 ♺<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1234151642863243265|user=SpaceX|title=The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously flew in support of our tenth and sixteenth commercial resupply missions – this will be the third Dragon to fly on three missions|date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
| 7 March 2020 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|title=Launch Schedule|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-date=24 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224185459/http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Ninth reuse. Third capsule to make a third flight. <br>Final launch of this Dragon version (Dragon 1), with following launches using [[Engineering:SpaceX Dragon 2|SpaceX Dragon 2]].<ref name="spacenews.com"/>
| {{time interval|9 March 2020 12:18|7 April 2020 10:30|show=dhm|abbr=on}}
| {{Success}}
|}

== Specifications ==
[[File:Size comparison of Apollo, Orion and Dragon spacecraft.svg|right|thumb|Size comparison of the Apollo (left), Orion (center) and Dragon (right) capsules]]

=== DragonLab ===
The following specifications are published by SpaceX for the non-NASA, non-ISS commercial flights of the refurbished Dragon capsules, listed as "DragonLab" flights on the SpaceX manifest. The specifications for the NASA-contracted Dragon Cargo were not included in the 2009 DragonLab datasheet.<ref name="sx20090918"/>

==== Pressure vessel ====
* {{convert|10|m3}} interior pressurized, environmentally controlled, payload volume.<ref name="sx20090918"/>
* Onboard environment: {{convert|10|-|46|C}}; [[Physics:Relative humidity|relative humidity]] 25~75%; 13.9~14.9 [[Pounds per square inch#Psig v. Psia|psia]] air pressure (958.4~1027 [[Pascal (unit)|hPa]]).<ref name="sx20090918"/>

==== Unpressurized sensor bay (recoverable payload) ====
* {{convert|0.1|m3}} unpressurized payload volume.
* Sensor bay hatch opens after orbit insertion to allow full sensor access to the [[Astronomy:Outer space|outer space]] environment, and closes before [[Astronomy:Atmospheric entry|Earth atmosphere re-entry]].<ref name="sx20090918"/>

==== Unpressurized trunk (non-recoverable) ====
* {{convert|14|m3}} payload volume in the {{convert|2.3|m}} trunk, aft of the pressure vessel heat shield, with optional trunk extension to {{convert|4.3|m}} total length, payload volume increases to {{convert|34|m3}}.<ref name="sx20090918"/>
* Supports sensors and space apertures up to {{convert|3.5|m}} in diameter.<ref name="sx20090918"/>

==== Power, communication and command systems ====
* Power: twin [[Physics:Solar panel|solar panel]]s providing 1500 watts average, 4000 watts peak, at 28 and 120 [[Volt|V<sub>DC</sub>]].<ref name="sx20090918"/>
* [[Engineering:Spacecraft communication|Spacecraft communication]]: commercial standard [[RS-422]] and [[MIL-STD-1553|military standard 1553]] serial I/O, plus [[Ethernet]] communications for IP-addressable standard payload service.
* Command [[Astronomy:Uplink|uplink]]: 300&nbsp;kbit/s.<ref name="sx20090918"/>
* [[Telemetry]]/data [[Astronomy:Downlink|downlink]]: 300 Mbit/s standard, [[Fault tolerance|fault-tolerant]] [[Physics:S band|S-band]] telemetry and video transmitters.<ref name="sx20090918"/>

=== Radiation tolerance ===
Including the flight computers, Dragon employs 18 triply-redundant processing units, for a total of 54 processors.<ref name=aw20121118/>

== See also ==
* [[Engineering:Comparison of space station cargo vehicles|Comparison of space station cargo vehicles]]
* [[Astronomy:List of human spaceflight programs|List of human spaceflight programs]]
* [[Engineering:Space Shuttle retirement#Current and future Space Shuttle successors|Space Shuttle successors]]
*[[Engineering:SpaceX Dragon 2#Cargo Dragon|Cargo Dragon]] [[Engineering:Cargo Dragon C208|C208]] and [[Engineering:Cargo Dragon C209|C209]]

=== Comparable vehicles ===

==== Cargo ====
{{div col}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Automated Transfer Vehicle}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Cygnus (spacecraft)|Cygnus}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Dream Chaser}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:H-II Transfer Vehicle}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Progress (spacecraft)|Progress}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Soyuz GVK}}
* {{Annotated link|Argo (Russian spacecraft)}}

==== Crew ====
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Boeing Starliner}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Orel (spacecraft)|Orel}}
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=nsf-20140916nasacctcapaward>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/09/dream-chaser-misses-out-cctcap-dragon-cst-100-win/|title=Dream Chaser misses out on CCtCAP – Dragon and CST-100 win through|last=Bergin|first=Chris|publisher=NASA SpaceFlight|date=16 September 2014|access-date=15 January 2016|archive-date=20 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120203018/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/09/dream-chaser-misses-out-cctcap-dragon-cst-100-win/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<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 ==
* at SpaceX
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120612112809/http://procurement.ksc.nasa.gov/documents/NNK11MS04S_SAA-SpaceX.pdf SpaceX CCDev2 Agreement with NASA]
* [http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/document_library.html SpaceX CCDev2 bi-monthly progress reports]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwDCWTqNceQ Dragon cargo delivery to ISS (COTS 2 highlight reel)]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZJk4CrxctQ Dragon crew transport to ISS (CG rendering)]
* [http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/05/30/dragon_v2_the_spacex_next_generation_space_capsule.html "SpaceX Reveals Its New Dragon Space Capsule"]. ''Slate''. 30 May 2014.

{{Dragon spaceflights}}
{{Cargo spacecraft}}
{{Falcon rocket launches}}
{{ISS modules}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dragon (spacecraft)}}
[[Category:SpaceX spacecraft|Dragon]]
[[Category:Cargo spacecraft]]
[[Category:Supply vehicles for the International Space Station|Dragon]]
[[Category:Reusable spacecraft]]

{{Sourceattribution|SpaceX Dragon|1}}