Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
07:44:38 AM
Tuesday May 22, 2012
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The launch of the first commercial spacecraft to visit the International Space Station.
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.
Low Earth Orbit
1 Payload
6,650 kilograms
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
3rd
Mission
1st
Mission of 2012
8th
Mission
1st
Mission of 2012
28th
Orbital launch attempt