View source for Crew Dragon Demo-1

{{short description|Demonstration flight of the SpaceX Dragon 2}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                 = Crew Dragon Demo-1
| image                = NASA Johnson 3.3-445A2747.jpg
| image_caption        = Dragon C204 silhouetted against Earth's horizon, during its approach to the ISS
| names_list           = {{Unbulleted list|Crew Demo-1|SpaceX Demo-1|Demonstration Mission-1}}
| mission_type         = [[Flight test]]
| operator             = [[SpaceX]]
| mission_duration     = {{time interval|2 March 2019 07:49:03|8 March 2019 13:45:08|show=dhm|sep=,}}
| orbits_completed     = 62
| spacecraft           = {{ComV|SpaceX Crew Dragon|C204|full=nolink}}
| spacecraft_type      = {{ComV|SpaceX Crew Dragon}}
| manufacturer         = SpaceX
| launch_mass          = {{cvt|12055|kg}}
| dry_mass             = {{cvt|6350|kg}}
| launch_date          = {{Start date|2 March 2019, 07:49:03|timezone=yes}}{{nbsp}}[[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] (2:49:03{{nbsp}}am{{nbsp}}[[Eastern Standard Time|EST]])
| launch_rocket        = [[Falcon 9 Block 5]] ([[List of Falcon 9 first-stage boosters#B1051|B1051.1]])
| launch_site          = [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|LC{{nbhyph}}39A]]
| recovery_by          = {{MV|GO Searcher}}
| landing_date         = {{End date|8 March 2019, 13:45:08|timezone=yes}}{{nbsp}}UTC<ref name="NASAPressKit">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/commercialcrew_press_kit.pdf|title=Commercial Crew Program American Rockets American Spacecraft American Soil|website=nasa.gov|publisher=NASA|access-date=February 28, 2019|archive-date=18 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218153814/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/commercialcrew_press_kit.pdf|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
| landing_site         = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| orbit_reference      = [[Geocentric orbit]]
| orbit_regime         = [[Low Earth orbit]]
| orbit_inclination    = 51.66°
| apsis                = gee
| docking              = {{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
  | docking_target     = [[International Space Station|ISS]]
  | docking_type       = dock
  | docking_port       = ''[[Harmony (ISS module)|Harmony]]'' forward <ref name="nasa20190302">{{cite web|title=NASA, SpaceX Launch First Flight Test of Space System Designed for Crew |url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-spacex-launch-first-flight-test-of-space-system-designed-for-crew|website=nasa.gov|date=2 March 2019 |publisher=NASA|access-date=March 2, 2019}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
  | docking_date      = 3 March 2019, 10:51{{nbsp}}UTC
  | undocking_date    = 8 March 2019, 07:32{{nbsp}}UTC
  | time_docked       = {{time interval|3 March 2019 10:51|8 March 2019 7:32|show=dhm|sep=,}}
  }}
| insignia            = Crew Dragon Demo-1.png
| insignia_caption    = Mission patch
| programme           = [[Commercial Crew Development]]
| previous_mission    = [[Crew Dragon Pad Abort Test|Dragon {{abbr|PAT|Pat Abort Test}}]]<!--forced to use abbreviations because long names mess up the infobox-->
| next_mission        = [[Boeing Pad Abort Test|Boeing {{abbr|PAT|Pat Abort Test}}]]
| programme2          = [[SpaceX Dragon 2#Crew_Dragon_flights|Crew Dragon flights]]
| previous_mission2   = [[Crew Dragon Pad Abort Test|Pad Abort Test]]
| next_mission2       = [[Crew Dragon In-Flight Abort Test|In-Flight Abort Test]]
}}

'''Crew Dragon Demo-1''' (officially '''Crew Demo-1''', '''SpaceX Demo-1''', or '''Demonstration Mission-1'''){{Efn|This mission has multiple official names. Mission operator SpaceX refers to the mission as "Crew Demo-1", while customer NASA refers to the mission as "SpaceX Demo-1". Unless otherwise noted, this article uses "Demo-1" to refer to this mission.}} was the first orbital test of the [[SpaceX Dragon 2 |Dragon 2]] spacecraft. The mission launched on 2 March 2019 <ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://fcc.report/ELS/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Corp/0068-EX-ST-2019 |title=Space Exploration Technologies Corp. WF9XGI 0068-EX-ST-2019 FCC Experimental License|publisher=FCC|access-date=February 5, 2019}} {{PD-notice}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2019/02/06/|title=February 6, 2019 – Commercial Crew Program|date=6 February 2019 |publisher=NASA|access-date=February 6, 2019}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> at 07:49:03 [[Coordinated Universal Time |UTC]], and arrived at the [[International Space Station]] on 3 March 2019, a little over 24 hours after the launch. The mission ended with a splashdown on 8 March 2019 at 13:45:08{{nbsp}}UTC.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=SpaceX #CrewDragon Demonstration Flight Return to Earth|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aAe0GWIWGI|access-date=May 6, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":2"/>

During a separate test, on 20 April 2019, the capsule used on Crew Demo-1 was unexpectedly destroyed when firing the SuperDraco engines at Landing Zone 1.<ref name=accident>{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/04/heres-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-about-the-crew-dragon-accident/|title=Here's what we know, and what we don't, about the Crew Dragon accident|first=Eric |last=Berger|publisher=Ars Technica|date=April 22, 2019|access-date=April 22, 2019}}</ref>

== Mission ==
The spacecraft tested the approach and automated docking procedures with the [[International Space Station]] (ISS), consequent undocking from the ISS, full [[atmospheric reentry|re-entry]], [[splashdown]] and recovery steps to provide data requisite to subsequently qualify for flights transporting humans to the ISS. Life support systems were monitored throughout the test flight.<ref name="shotwell-crewdragon">{{cite news|last=Foust|first=Jeff|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-seeks-to-accelerate-falcon-9-production-and-launch-rates-this-year/|title=SpaceX seeks to accelerate Falcon 9 production and launch rates this year|publisher=SpaceNews|date=February 4, 2016|access-date=March 21, 2016|quote=Shotwell said the company is planning an in-flight abort test of the Crew Dragon spacecraft before the end of this year, where the vehicle uses its thrusters to separate from a [[Falcon 9]] [[launch vehicle]] during ascent. That will be followed in 2017 by two demonstration flights to the International Space Station, the first without a crew and the second with astronauts on board, and then the first operational mission.}}</ref> The capsule was to be re-used in an [[Crew Dragon In-Flight Abort Test|in-flight abort test]], but it was destroyed in an accident during a static fire test of its [[SuperDraco]] thrusters.<ref name="accident"/>

The mission was launched on a SpaceX [[Falcon 9 Block 5]] launch vehicle contracted by NASA's [[Commercial Crew Program]]. Initial plans had hoped to see CCDev2 flights as early as 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last=Richardson|first=Derek|url=https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/falcon-9-with-crew-dragon-vertical-at-launch-complex-39a/|title=Falcon 9 with Crew Dragon vertical at Launch Complex 39A|publisher=SpaceFlight Insider|date=January 5, 2019|access-date=March 3, 2019}}</ref> Demo-1 was eventually slated for no earlier than December 2016, and then delayed several times throughout 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/first-spacex-commercial-crew-flight-test-could-slip-to-2019/|title=First SpaceX commercial crew test flight could slip to 2019|date=October 3, 2018 |publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=December 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-delays-commercial-crew-test-flights-to-latter-half-of-2018/|title=SpaceX delays commercial crew test flights to latter half of 2018|date=January 11, 2018|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=December 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/report-warns-of-additional-commercial-crew-delays/ |title=Report warns of additional commercial crew delays|date=September 6, 2016|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=December 8, 2018}}</ref> The first exact date was published by NASA in November 2018 to be 17 January 2019,<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-invites-media-to-spacex-demo-1-launch|title=NASA Invites Media to SpaceX Demo-1 Launch|publisher=NASA|date=November 21, 2018 |access-date=March 3, 2019}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> but this was delayed until February 2019.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2019/01/10/spacex-demo-1-launch-update/|title=SpaceX Demo-1 Launch Update|work=NASA Commercial Crew Program Blog|publisher=NASA|date=January 10, 2019|access-date=January 11, 2019}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The static fire took place on 24 January 2019 and the launch date was set to 23 February 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/01/25/falcon-9-rocket-fires-engines-in-key-test-ahead-of-crew-dragon-demo-flight/|title=Falcon 9 rocket fires engines in key test ahead of Crew Dragon demo flight|last=Clark|first=Stephen|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref> By the end of January 2019, the launch was delayed to no earlier than 2 March 2019 according to a [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] filing by SpaceX for Dragon 2 capsule telemetry, tracking, and command.<ref name=":1"/> 

Demo-1 passed its Flight Readiness Review (FRR) and Launch Readiness Review (LRR) on 22 February 2019 and 27 February 2019 respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-crew-dragon-falcon-9-rollout/|title=SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 head to Pad 39A for historic launch debut|last=Ralph|first=Eric|publisher=Teslarati|date=February 28, 2019|access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref>

The Falcon 9 with Demo-1 rolled out to the [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|LC-39A]] on 28 February 2019 at around 15:00{{nbsp}}UTC and went vertical a few hours later.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/02/28/spacexs-crew-dragon-rolls-out-for-test-flight/|title=SpaceX's Crew Dragon rolls out for test flight|last=Clark|first=Stephen|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref> The spacecraft was launched on 2 March 2019 at 07:49:03{{nbsp}}UTC and docked with the ISS on 3 March 2019 at 10:51{{nbsp}}UTC.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/03/crew-dragon-first-docking-iss-dm1/|title=Crew Dragon successfully conducts debut docking with the ISS|date=3 March 2019 |publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|access-date=March 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2019/03/02/demo-1-underway-crew-dragon-launches-on-debut-flight/|title=Demo-1 Underway: Crew Dragon Launches on Debut Flight|publisher=NASA|date=2 March 2019|access-date=March 2, 2019}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

The Dragon 2 spacecraft undocked from the ISS on 8 March 2019 at 07:32{{nbsp}}UTC. The capsule separated from the trunk, performed its de-orbit burn, entered the [[Atmosphere of Earth|Earth's atmosphere]] and splashed down in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] about {{cvt|320|km}} off Florida's east coast later that day at 13:45:08{{nbsp}}UTC.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/03/eom-spacex-crew-dragons-inaugural-station//|title=Crew Dragon's inaugural flight to Station concludes with splashdown|date=8 March 2019 |publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|access-date=March 8, 2019}}</ref> The capsule was recovered using SpaceX's recovery ship ''[[GO Searcher]]'' and was returned to the mainland where it was examined and the data collected by the on board sensors was analyzed.<ref>[https://english.tachyonbeam.com/2019/03/03/mission-spx-dm1-the-spacex-crew-dragon-spacecraft-has-reached-the-international-space-station/ Mission SpX-DM1 accomplished: the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft has come back to Earth] Massimo Luciani, ''Tachyon Beam'' March 8, 2019</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2019/03/08/crew-dragon-lifted-onto-recovery-ship/|title=Crew Dragon Lifted Onto Recovery Ship – Commercial Crew Program|date=8 March 2019 |publisher=NASA|access-date=April 12, 2019}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

== Payload ==
Instead of carrying astronauts to the ISS, this flight had an [[Crash test dummy|Anthropomorphic Test Device]] (ATD) wearing SpaceX's [[Space suit|custom flight suit]]. The ATD is named [[Ellen Ripley|Ripley]], as a homage to [[Sigourney Weaver|Sigourney Weaver's]] character in the [[Alien (franchise)|''Alien'' movies franchise]]. The capsule was weighted similarly to missions with astronauts onboard and carried about {{cvt|180|kg}} of supplies and equipment including a "super high tech zero-g indicator" ([[Stuffed_toy|a plush toy]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/22/18236771/nasa-spacex-dragon-commercial-crew-dm-1-test-flight|title=NASA gives SpaceX the okay to launch new passenger spacecraft on uncrewed test flight|last=Grush|first=Loren|date=February 22, 2019|publisher=The Verge|access-date=February 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Boyle|first1=Alan|title=NASA, SpaceX and a test dummy are ready for Dragon 2's first trip to space station|date=23 February 2019 |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2019/nasa-spacex-test-dummy-set-dragon-2s-first-trip-space-station/|publisher=GeekWire|access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Bartels|first1=Meghan|title=Meet Ripley, SpaceX's Dummy Astronaut Riding on Crew Dragon Test Flight|date=March 2019 |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-crew-dragon-dummy-called-ripley.html|publisher=Space.com|access-date=March 1, 2019}}</ref><ref name="nasa20190302"/> The "zero-g indicator" was left on board the ISS after undocking, while Ripley returned safely to [[Earth]] on 8 March 2019.

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:NASA Crew Demo-1 (31433487787).jpg|The Dragon 2 at SpaceX's LC-39A Horizontal Integration Facility
Crew Demo-1 Mission (46535572784).jpg|C204 launches from Kennedy LC-39A.
File:SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-1 Successfully Docks to Station.jpg|alt=DM1 docked|Dragon 2 docked to the International Space Station
File:SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-1 Hatch Open.jpg|alt=Entering Crew Dragon|[[Expedition 58]] crew members enter the Dragon 2 for the first time. They are wearing protective gear to avoid breathing particulate matter that may have shaken loose during launch.
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* [[Boeing Starliner]]
* [[Boeing Orbital Flight Test]]
* [[Boeing Orbital Flight Test 2]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|SpaceX Demo-1}}

* [https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/crew_demo-1_press_kit.pdf Crew Demo-1 Mission] press kit <small>(Archived [https://web.archive.org/web/20190302235308/https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/crew_demo-1_press_kit.pdf 2 March 2019])</small>

* [https://www.spacex.com/dragon Dragon] at [[SpaceX]] <small>(Archived [https://web.archive.org/web/20190302235320/https://www.spacex.com/dragon 2 March 2019])</small>

{{Dragon spaceflights}}
{{Falcon rocket launches}}
{{Uncrewed ISS flights}}
{{Orbital launches in 2019}}

[[Category:SpaceX Dragon 2]]
[[Category:SpaceX payloads contracted by NASA]]
[[Category:Supply vehicles for the International Space Station]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 2019]]
[[Category:Spacecraft which reentered in 2019]]
[[Category:Test spaceflights]]