# C109

> spacecraft manufactured by SpaceX

**Wikidata**: [Q102534351](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102534351)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/c109

## Summary
C109 was a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that was destroyed during the CRS-7 mission in 2015, approximately two minutes after launch. It was part of SpaceX's reusable Dragon cargo spacecraft fleet, designed to resupply the International Space Station. The failure led to significant investigations and operational changes at SpaceX.

## Key Facts
- **Manufacturer**: SpaceX
- **Serial Number**: C109
- **Class**: Dragon (reusable cargo spacecraft)
- **Mission**: SpaceX CRS-7 (launched June 28, 2015, at 14:21:11 UTC from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40)
- **Destruction**: Occurred at 14:23:30 UTC on June 28, 2015, due to a rocket launch explosion
- **Preceded By**: C108
- **Followed By**: C110
- **Operator**: SpaceX
- **Country of Origin**: United States
- **Image**: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/CRS7_on_the_Pad_(18604726614)_(cropped).jpg

## FAQs
### Q: What happened to the C109 spacecraft?
A: C109 was destroyed during the SpaceX CRS-7 mission on June 28, 2015, approximately two minutes after launch due to a rocket explosion.

### Q: What was the purpose of the CRS-7 mission?
A: The CRS-7 mission aimed to resupply the International Space Station, but it failed before reaching orbit.

### Q: Was C109 ever reused?
A: No, C109 was destroyed during its first launch and never flew again.

## Why It Matters
C109 is significant as the first SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to fail during launch, marking a critical setback for the company’s commercial resupply services. The incident led to a comprehensive investigation, which identified a faulty strut in the Falcon 9 rocket as the root cause. This failure prompted major design and safety improvements in SpaceX’s launch systems, contributing to the company’s long-term reliability. The event also highlighted the risks and challenges of spaceflight, underscoring the importance of rigorous testing and redundancy in aerospace engineering.

## Notable For
- **CRS-7 Failure**: The only Dragon spacecraft destroyed during launch, leading to a temporary halt in SpaceX’s launch schedule.
- **Reusable Design**: Part of SpaceX’s pioneering reusable Dragon fleet, though C109 itself never achieved reuse.
- **Investigation Impact**: The post-disaster analysis drove upgrades to the Falcon 9 rocket, including enhanced quality control for components.

## Body
### Mission Overview
- **Launch Date/Time**: June 28, 2015, at 14:21:11 UTC
- **Launch Site**: Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40
- **Payload**: Cargo for the International Space Station (ISS)

### Destruction Event
- **Time of Failure**: Approximately 2 minutes and 19 seconds after launch (14:23:30 UTC)
- **Cause**: Explosion due to a structural failure in the Falcon 9 rocket’s second stage, attributed to a defective load-shifting strut.

### Investigation and Legacy
- **Root Cause**: A single faulty strut in the Falcon 9 rocket’s cargo hold, which failed under flight stress.
- **Outcome**: SpaceX implemented stricter supplier oversight and redesigned components to prevent recurrence. The failure delayed subsequent missions but led to improved safety protocols.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Spacecraft",
  "name": "C109",
  "description": "SpaceX Dragon spacecraft destroyed during the CRS-7 mission in 2015",
  "image": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/CRS7_on_the_Pad_(18604726614)_(cropped).jpg",
  "manufacturer": "SpaceX",
  "operator": "SpaceX",
  "countryOfOrigin": "United States",
  "serialNumber": "C109",
  "sameAs": ["https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:SpaceX_Dragon_C109"]
}

## References

1. [Source](https://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt)
2. [Source](https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/06/falcon-9-crs-7-dragon-commute-orbit/)