Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
15:43:00
Wednesday December 8, 2010
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The Falcon 9 carried a small number of nanosatellites to orbit as well. Included were the first U.S. Army nanosatellite, Space and Missile Defense Command — Operational Nanosatellite Effect, or SMDC-ONE, for a 30-day mission, and two 3U buses, the CubeSat Experiment (QbX), provided by the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, also expected to remain in orbit for only 30 days.
Low Earth Orbit
8 Payloads
25 kilograms
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. 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.
Low Earth Orbit
1 Payload
Agency
SpaceXPrice
$59.50 million
Rocket
Diameter: 3.7m
Height: 54.9m
Payload to Orbit
LEO: 10,450 kg
GTO: 4,540 kg
Liftoff Thrust
4,940 Kilonewtons
Fairing
Diameter: 5.2m
Height: 13m
Stages
2
2nd
Mission
2nd
Mission of 2010
7th
Mission
2nd
Mission of 2010
69th
Orbital launch attempt