NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

COTS-2+

Launch Time
Tue May 22, 2012 07:44 UTC

The launch of the first commercial spacecraft to visit the International Space Station.

Rocket

Falcon 9 Block 1 (v1.0)
Image Credit: SpaceX
SpaceX
Status: Retired
Price: $59.5 million
Liftoff Thrust: 4,940 kN
Payload to LEO: 10,450 kg
Payload to GTO: 4,540 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 54.9 m
Fairing Diameter: 5.2 m
Fairing Height: 13.0 m

Vehicles

American Champion

C102

Flight #1

Mission Details

Dragon C2+

Dragon C2+, also known as SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 2 (COTS 2), was the second test-flight for SpaceX's uncrewed Dragon cargo spacecraft, launched on the third flight of the company's two-stage Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The flight was performed under a funded agreement from NASA as the second Dragon demonstration mission in the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. The purpose of the COTS program is to develop and demonstrate commercial sources for cargo re-supply of the International Space Station (ISS). The Dragon C2+ spacecraft was the first American vehicle to visit the ISS since the end of the Space Shuttle program. It was also the first commercial spacecraft to rendezvous and berth with another spacecraft.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 6,650.0 kg
Low Earth Orbit

Location

SLC-40, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Stats

2012

28th orbital launch attempt

SpaceX

8th mission
1st mission of 2012
5th successful mission
5th consecutive successful mission

Falcon 9

3rd mission
1st mission of 2012
3rd successful mission