Facts about SpaceX Dragon
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The Crew Dragon capsule features four reaction control thrusters per side that provide precise attitude control and orbital maneuvering capability independent of the Superdraco abort engines.
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Dragon's Cargo variant has delivered over 100,000 kilograms of supplies to the International Space Station across more than two dozen resupply missions since 2012.
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Dragon's pressurized cabin accommodates up to seven astronauts, making it capable of transporting more crew members than the Space Shuttle's typical four to five person capacity.
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SpaceX Dragon's heat shield, made of a phenolic impregnated carbon ablator material, withstands reentry temperatures exceeding 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit to safely return crews and cargo to Earth.
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Each Dragon capsule can safely splashdown in the ocean and be recovered and reused for multiple missions, with some capsules completing five or more flights to orbit.
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Dragon's Superdraco thrusters, eight total engines mounted on the spacecraft's sides, can decelerate the capsule at up to 0.3 g during emergency aborts throughout ascent.
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Dragon's trunk module can carry up to 2.7 metric tons of cargo to the International Space Station while remaining unpressurized for external equipment transport.
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In May 2020, SpaceX Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station during the Demo-2 mission.