SpaceX CRS-20
![]() C112 approaches the ISS | |
Names | SpX-20 |
---|---|
Mission type | ISS resupply |
Operator | SpaceX |
COSPAR ID | 2020-016A |
SATCAT no. | 45341![]() |
Mission duration | 31 days, 13 hours, 59 minutes |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Dragon 1 C112 |
Spacecraft type | Dragon 1 |
Manufacturer | SpaceX |
Dry mass | 4,200 kg (9,300 lb) |
Dimensions | Height: 6.1 m (20 ft) Diameter: 3.7 m (12 ft) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 7 March 2020, 04:50:31 UTC[1][2] |
Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 (B1059.2) |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral, SLC-40 |
End of mission | |
Disposal | Recovered |
Landing date | 7 April 2020, 18:50 UTC [3] |
Landing site | Pacific Ocean |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Inclination | 51.66° |
Berthing with ISS | |
Berthing port | Harmony nadir[1] |
RMS capture | 9 March 2020, 10:25 UTC |
Berthing date | 9 March 2020, 12:18 UTC [1][2] |
Unberthing date | 7 April 2020, 10:30 UTC [1][3] |
RMS release | 7 April 2020, 13:06 UTC [3] |
Time berthed | 29 days |
Cargo | |
Mass | 1,977 kg (4,359 lb) |
Pressurised | 1,509 kg (3,327 lb) |
Unpressurised | 468 kg (1,032 lb) |
Fuel | 705 kg (1,554 lb) |
Gaseous | 50 kg (110 lb) |
Water | 420 kg (930 lb) |
![]() SpaceX CRS-20 mission patch |
SpaceX CRS-20, also known as SpX-20, was a Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on 7 March 2020.[1] The mission was contracted by NASA and flown by SpaceX. It was the final flight of Dragon 1 and concluded the NASA Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract extension.
The second contract (CRS-2) was awarded in January 2016 and began with SpaceX CRS-21 in December 2020 using Cargo Dragon.[4]
History
[edit]In February 2016, it was announced that NASA had awarded a contract extension to SpaceX for five additional CRS missions (CRS-16 to CRS-20).[5] A June 2016 NASA OIG report indicated the mission was manifested for 2019,[6] but by June 2019 the launch had been pushed back to March 2020.[7]
As the final flight of Dragon 1, CRS-20 concluded NASA's initial Commercial Resupply Services contract. Across the contract's 19 successful missions, Dragon carried 43,000 kg (94,000 pounds) of cargo to the International Space Station, and returned about 33,000 kg (74,000 pounds) of equipment and specimens to Earth.[8]
Mission
[edit]CRS-20 utilized Dragon capsule C112, which previously flew to the ISS on CRS-10 and CRS-16.[9] It was launched aboard Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at 4:50 UTC on 7 March 2020. The first stage booster, B1059.2, previously supported the CRS-19 mission.
Dragon arrived at the ISS on 9 March 2020 at 10:25 UTC and was captured by the station's robotic arm, marking the last capture of a Dragon spacecraft. Cargo Dragon, which replaced Dragon 1, docks directly with the space station.[10]
Payload
[edit]NASA contracted for the CRS-20 mission from SpaceX and therefore determines the primary payload, date of launch, and orbital parameters for the Dragon CRS.[11] The CRS-20 mission carries 1977 kg of cargo to ISS.[12][13][14]
- Science investigations: 960 kg
- Vehicle hardware: 219 kg
- Crew supplies: 273 kg
- Spacewalk equipment: 56 kg
- Computer resources: 1 kg
- Unpressurized payloads: Bartolomeo Platform 468 kg
Bartolomeo (named for the younger brother of explorer Christopher Columbus), is an external payload platform developed by Airbus and operated by the European Space Agency. Bartolomeo provides power and data transmission for up to 12 payload slots and is the first external commercial research platform to be installed on the ISS.[15][16][17]
The Bartolomeo platform was removed from Dragon's trunk section and installed outside ISS on 2 April 2020. A spacewalk to route power and communication wiring to the Bartolomeo facility for activation has been postponed. The EVA was originally planned in mid-April 2020, but the space station will not be at full staffing level of six crew members until autumn 2020. When activated, Columbus will have a new outdoor deck to host a range of materials science, Earth observation and space science instruments.[18]
Interoperable Radio System (IORS) is the foundation element of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) next-generation radio system aboard the ISS. A total of 4 flight units are being built by the ARISS hardware team. The first IORS radio system launched aboard CRS-20 and was installed in the Columbus module by Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy on 2 September 2020.[19][20] System activation was first observed at 01:02 UTC on 2 September 2020 by ARISS control station and amateur radio ground operators. Initial operation of the new radio system began as an FM cross band repeater. A second IORS flight unit is expected to be launched on a later flight for installation in the Zvezda module.[21]
Dragon was also packed with spare parts and replacement hardware for the space station's research facilities and life support systems. The components included upgraded hardware for the station's urine processing system, which converts human waste into drinking water. The new components allow NASA teams to test out modifications designed to extend the lifetime of the urine processing system's distillation assembly ahead of future missions to the Moon and Mars, which will require longer-lasting life support equipment.[13]
Gallery
[edit]See also
[edit]- Columbus External Payload Facility
- Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
- SpaceX CRS-21
- List of Falcon 9 launches
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Joachim Wilhelm Josef Becker (9 March 2020). "ISS Expedition 62". SpaceFacts. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ a b Jonathan C. McDowell (10 March 2020). "Space Report No. 776". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ a b c Jonathan C. McDowell (17 April 2020). "Space Report No. 777". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ "SpaceX". SpaceX. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ de Selding, Peter B. (24 February 2016). "SpaceX wins 5 new space station cargo missions in NASA contract estimated at US$700 million". Space News.
- ^ NASA Office of Inspector General (28 June 2016). NASA's Response to SpaceX's June 2015 Launch Failure: Impacts on Commercial Resupply of the International Space Station (PDF). NASA Office of Inspector General (Report). NASA. p. 13. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ Clark Stephen (7 April 2020). "With successful splashdown, SpaceX retires first version of Dragon spacecraft". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Dragon C2, CRS-1,... CRS-20 (SpX 1,... 20)". Gunter’s Space Page. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ Wall, Mike (9 March 2020). "SpaceX Dragon cargo ship, the last to be caught by robot arm, arrives at space station". Space.com. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
- ^ Gaskill, Melissa (19 February 2020). "Improving Shoes, Showers, 3D Printing: Research Launching to the Space Station". NASA.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ SpaceX SpX-20 Mission Overview (PDF) (Report). NASA. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b ISS National Lab Mission Overview: SpaceX CRS-20 (Television production). ISS National Laboratory. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "SpaceX CRS-20 NSSDCA/COSPAR ID:2020-016A". NASA. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Bartolomeo (CEPHFISS)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- ^ Staff Writers (27 January 2020). "Bartolomeo starts its journey to the International Space Station". Space Daily.
- ^ Clarke, Stephen (6 March 2020). "ISS to receive new outdoor deck for science experiments". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- ^ Clarke, Stephen (3 April 2020). "Pandemic prompts few changes to busy month on space station". Spacefligt Now.
- ^ ARISS PR (2 September 2020). "First Element of ARISS Next-Generation Radio System Installed and Operating on ISS". ARRL. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ Jordan, Dave (2 September 2020). "First Element of ARISS Next Generation (Next-Gen) Radio System" (Press release). Houston, TX: ARISS PR. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ Bauer, Frank (22 December 2019). "First Element of ARISS Next Generation Radio System Readied for Launch on SpaceX CRS-20" (Press release). ARISS. AMSAT-NA. Retrieved 17 February 2020.