SpaceX CRS-18

SpaceX CRS-18, also known as SpX-18, was SpaceX's 18th flight to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services program for NASA. It was launched on 25 July 2019 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.[6][7]

SpaceX CRS-18
Dragon C108.3 approaching the ISS
Mission typeISS resupply
OperatorSpaceX
COSPAR ID2019-044A
SATCAT no.44446Edit this on Wikidata
Mission duration32 days, 22 hours, 19 minutes
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftDragon C108.3
Spacecraft typeDragon CRS
ManufacturerSpaceX
Dry mass4,200 kg (9,300 lb)
DimensionsHeight: 6.1 m (20 ft)
Diameter: 3.7 m (12 ft)
Start of mission
Launch date25 July 2019 22:01 UTC[1]
RocketFalcon 9
Launch siteCape Canaveral SLC-40
ContractorSpaceX
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date27 August 2019 20:20 (2019-08-27UTC20:21) UTC[2]
Landing sitePacific Ocean,
off Baja California
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Inclination51.6°
Berthing at ISS
Berthing portHarmony nadir
RMS capture27 July 13:11 UTC[3]
Berthing date27 July 2019 16:01 UTC[4]
Unberthing date27 August 2019 12:25 UTC[5]
RMS release27 August 2019 14:59 UTC[5]
Time berthed30 days, 20 hours, 24 minutes
NASA SpX-18 mission patch
NASA SpX-18 mission patch
 

The same Dragon capsule has previously flown to the ISS in April 2015 and December 2017.[8] This was the first time a capsule was used for a third flight.

Primary payload
CRS-18 launch

In February 2016, it was announced that NASA had awarded a contract extension to SpaceX for five CRS additional missions (CRS-16 to CRS-20).[9]

NASA has contracted for the CRS-18 mission from SpaceX and therefore determines the primary payload, date/time of launch, and orbital parameters for the Dragon space capsule. It carried the third International Docking Adapter (IDA-3).[10]

The following is a breakdown of cargo bound for the ISS:[11]

  • Science investigations: 1,192 kg (2,628 lb)
  • Crew supplies: 233 kg (514 lb)
  • Vehicle hardware: 157 kg (346 lb)
  • Spacewalk equipment: 157 kg (346 lb)
  • Computer resources: 17 kg (37 lb)
  • External payloads: IDA-3 534 kg (1,177 lb)[12]

The Dragon spacecraft also featured a handful of ceramic heat shield tiles, meant to flight-test a critical component of the SpaceX Starship spacecraft.[13]

SpaceX CRS-18
  • Launch of CRS-18
    Launch of CRS-18
  • Falcon 9 landing at LZ-1
    Falcon 9 landing at LZ-1
  • Dragon approaching the ISS
    Dragon approaching the ISS
  • Dragon decals indicating two prior flights
    Dragon decals indicating two prior flights

See also

References
  1. Clark, Stephen (July 25, 2019). "New docking port, spacesuit and supplies en route to space station". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  2. Bergin, Chris (August 27, 2019). "CRS-18 Dragon completes mission with Pacific Ocean Splashdown". NASA SpaceflightNow. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  3. Dragon Captured With New Science Experiments
  4. Dragon Installed to Station’s Harmony Module for Cargo Operations
  5. Live coverage: Dragon supply ship heading back to Earth today
  6. "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. July 19, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  7. SpaceX (July 25, 2019), CRS-18 Mission, retrieved July 25, 2019
  8. @SpaceX (July 19, 2019). "The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously visited the @space_station in April 2015 and December 2017" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. de Selding, Peter B. (February 24, 2016). "SpaceX wins 5 new space station cargo missions in NASA contract estimated at $700 million". Space News. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  10. Pietrobon, Steven (August 20, 2018). "United States Commercial ELV Launch Manifest". Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  11. "spaceflightnow.com/2019/07/25/new-docking-port-spacesuit-and-supplies-en-route-to-space-station". July 25, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  12. "SpaceX's Cargo Dragon to Deliver New Space Station Docking Adapter for Commercial Crew Spacecraft". NASA. July 12, 2019.
  13. Ralph, Eric (July 24, 2019). "SpaceX testing ceramic Starship heat shield tiles on flight-proven CRS-18 Cargo Dragon". Teslarati. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
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