This article is about the 2010 test flight of the Dragon capsule. For the 2019 test flight of the Dragon 2 capsule called "Demo-1", see Crew Dragon Demo-1.
SpaceX Demo Flight 1
Dragon capsule after recovery from ocean landing
Mission type
Test flight
Operator
SpaceX
COSPAR ID
2010-066A
SATCAT no.
37244
Mission duration
3 hours, 19 minutes
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft
Dragon C101
Spacecraft type
Dragon CRS[broken anchor]
Manufacturer
SpaceX
Launch mass
Falcon 9: 333,400 kg (735,000 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date
8 December 2010, 15:43 (2010-12-08UTC15:43) UTC[2]
Rocket
Falcon 9 v1.0
Launch site
Cape Canaveral SLC-40
Contractor
SpaceX
End of mission
Landing date
8 December 2010, 19:02 (2010-12-08UTC19:03) UTC[2]
Landing site
Pacific Ocean, approx. 800 km (500 mi) west of Baja, Mexico
Orbital parameters
Reference system
Geocentric
Regime
Low Earth
Perigee altitude
288 km (179 mi)
Apogee altitude
301 km (187 mi)
Inclination
34.53°
Epoch
8 December 2010[3]
Commercial Resupply Services
Dragon C2+ →
Cargo Dragon[broken anchor]
← Dragon Boilerplate Flight
Dragon C2+ →
SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1 was the first orbital spaceflight of the Dragon cargo spacecraft, and the second overall flight of the Falcon 9 rocket manufactured by SpaceX. It was also the first demonstration flight for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.[4] The primary mission objectives were to test the orbital maneuvering and reentry of the Dragon capsule. The mission also aimed to test fixes to the Falcon 9 rocket, particularly the unplanned roll of the first stage that occurred during flight 1. Liftoff occurred on 8 December 2010 at 15:43 UTC.[1]
The success of the mission allowed SpaceX to advance its vehicle testing plan. With two back-to-back "near-perfect" Falcon 9 launches and satisfactory tests of the first Dragon capsule, SpaceX "asked NASA to combine objectives laid out for the remaining two COTS missions... and permit a berthing at the ISS during its next flight".[5] This combined test mission was completed in May 2012, and achieved its objectives, opening the path to regular cargo deliveries by Dragon to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. Commercial flights started in October 2012 with CRS-1.
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