# Dragon

> reusable cargo spacecraft by SpaceX

**Wikidata**: [Q236448](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q236448)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Dragon)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dragon

## Summary

Dragon was established in 2004[1].

## Summary
Dragon is a reusable cargo spacecraft developed by SpaceX for resupplying the International Space Station. It was the first commercial spacecraft to successfully return from orbit and dock with the ISS. Dragon was retired in 2020 after completing its final mission, CRS-20.

## Key Facts
- Dragon was developed by SpaceX starting in 2004 and first flew on December 8, 2010
- The spacecraft has a dry mass of 4,200 kg and can carry up to 6,000 kg of payload to orbit
- Dragon measures 7.2 meters in height (including service module) and 3.66 meters in diameter
- It was launched using the Falcon 9 rocket and could return up to 3,000 kg of cargo to Earth
- Dragon was succeeded by Dragon 2, a newer version capable of carrying crew
- The spacecraft used 18 Draco thrusters for reaction control and had two solar arrays providing power
- Dragon was manufactured in multiple units (C101 through C110) for various missions
- The spacecraft was retired in 2020 after completing its final mission, CRS-20

## FAQs
### Q: What is Dragon used for?
A: Dragon is a reusable cargo spacecraft used to resupply the International Space Station with cargo and experiments. It can carry up to 6,000 kg of payload to orbit and return up to 3,000 kg of cargo back to Earth.

### Q: Who makes Dragon spacecraft?
A: Dragon spacecraft are manufactured by SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk. The spacecraft was developed starting in 2004 and first flew in 2010.

### Q: How does Dragon return to Earth?
A: Dragon returns to Earth using a heat shield and parachutes for a water landing. The spacecraft is designed to be reusable, though the original Dragon version was not recovered and reused as frequently as later versions.

## Why It Matters
Dragon represents a pivotal achievement in commercial spaceflight, demonstrating that private companies could develop spacecraft capable of servicing the International Space Station. As the first commercial spacecraft to successfully return from orbit and dock with the ISS, Dragon helped establish SpaceX as a major player in the space industry and paved the way for more ambitious projects like crewed missions and satellite internet constellations. The spacecraft's development proved that reusable space technology could be both reliable and cost-effective, challenging traditional aerospace paradigms and accelerating the commercialization of low Earth orbit. Dragon's success also provided NASA with a dependable cargo resupply capability during a crucial period when the Space Shuttle program had ended, ensuring continuous American presence and operations on the ISS.

## Notable For
- First commercial spacecraft to successfully return from orbit and dock with the ISS
- Demonstrated the viability of reusable spacecraft technology for cargo missions
- Enabled continuous US cargo resupply to the ISS after the Space Shuttle retirement
- Served as the foundation for SpaceX's crewed Dragon 2 development
- Completed over 20 successful missions to the International Space Station

## Body
### Development and Design
Dragon was developed by SpaceX beginning in 2004 as a commercial cargo spacecraft. The design features a capsule shape with a heat shield for reentry, measuring 3.66 meters in diameter and 7.2 meters in height including the service module. The spacecraft has a dry mass of 4,200 kg and can carry up to 6,000 kg of payload to orbit.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft is powered by 18 Draco thrusters for reaction control and attitude control. It features two solar arrays that provide electrical power, with each array capable of generating 1.8 kW of power. The spacecraft uses a combination of parachutes and a heat shield for safe reentry and water landing.

### Mission History
Dragon's first flight was on December 8, 2010 (SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1). The spacecraft completed over 20 missions to the International Space Station, including regular Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) missions. The final Dragon mission, CRS-20, was completed in 2020, after which the spacecraft was retired.

### Relationship to Other SpaceX Vehicles
Dragon was launched using the Falcon 9 rocket, also developed by SpaceX. The spacecraft served as the basis for Dragon 2, a more advanced version capable of carrying crew. Multiple Dragon units were manufactured (C101 through C110) for various missions throughout its operational life.

### Retirement and Legacy
Dragon was retired in 2020 after completing its final mission, CRS-20. The spacecraft's success demonstrated the viability of commercial cargo resupply to the ISS and paved the way for more ambitious commercial spaceflight endeavors. Its technology and experience directly contributed to the development of Dragon 2 and other SpaceX spacecraft.

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## References

1. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20120320032815/http://www.spacex.com/SpaceX_Brochure_V7_All.pdf)
2. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SpaceXCRS-3_PressKit_FINAL.pdf)
3. [Source](https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/The_Annual_Compendium_of_Commercial_Space_Transporation_2012.pdf)
4. [Source](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11699810)
5. [Source](https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-11948329)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20170412113142/http://www.spacex.com/dragon)
8. [Dragon (Spacecraft) - Quora](https://www.quora.com/topic/Dragon-Spacecraft)
9. [Source](https://www.zhihu.com/question/314292163/answer/612702508https)
10. [Source](https://www.zhihu.com/search?q=SpaceX+%E9%BE%99%E9%A3%9E%E8%88%B9&type=content#龙飞船空间站对接&SpaceX_载人龙飞船成功首飞)