Flight of the Crew Dragon

Crew Dragon is a passenger version of SpaceX’s robotic Dragon cargo ship. The reusable capsule can carry seven astronauts to the International Space Station, and is built to last for a total of 10 flights before refurbishment

Crew Dragon
Falcon 9
Second stage
Inter- stage adapter
Grid fins control flight when booster returns to earth
Reusable first stage Tanks contain RP-1 propellant (kerosene) and liquid oxygen (oxidiser)
Landing legs
Nine Merlin 1D engines Each with sea-level thrust of 654kN (66,700kg)
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Trunk: Carries unpressurized cargo. Solar panels cover half of surface. Trunk jettisoned prior to re-entry

Second stage: Contains avionics and flight control computers

Merlin 1D Vac engine: Generates 801kN (81,700kg) of thrust in vacuum

Engine pods: Four pairs of SuperDraco rocket engines provide escape system from launch pad to orbit

SuperDraco thrusters are also used to land on Earth

Heat shield: Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator-X (PICA-X) protects capsule from re-entry temperatures exceeding 1,500° Celsius

Bob Behnken (below left) and Doug Hurley (right) will be first two NASA astronauts to fly Crew Dragon

Crew Dragon

Diameter: 3.7m Height: 7.8m (capsule and trunk)

Multi-mission spacecraft: Can be configured to carry astronauts, cargo, or turned into “DragonLab”

Nosecone: Covers docking hatch to International Space Station

Entry hatch

Window (five)

Capsule-to-trunk umbilical

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Sources: Associated Press, NASA, SpaceX, Space.com  Picture: SpaceX     © GRAPHIC NEWS