SpaceX Dragon 2 facts for kids
Crew Dragon C206 Endeavour approaching the ISS in May 2024 during Crew-8
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| Manufacturer | SpaceX |
|---|---|
| Designer | SpaceX |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Operator | SpaceX |
| Applications | ISS crew and cargo transport; private spaceflight |
| Specifications | |
| Spacecraft type | Capsule |
| Design life |
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| Launch mass | 27,600 lb (12,500 kg) |
| Dry mass | 16,976 lb (7,700 kg) |
| Payload capacity |
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| Crew capacity |
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| Volume |
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| Power |
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| Batteries | 4 × lithium polymer |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Dimensions | |
| Diameter | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Width | 3.7 m (12 ft) |
| Production | |
| Status | Active |
| Built | 13 (7 crew, 3 cargo, 3 prototypes) |
| Operational | 9 (5 crew, 3 cargo, 1 prototype) |
| Retired | 3 (1 crew, 2 prototypes) |
| Lost | 1 (crew, during uncrewed test) |
| Maiden launch |
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| Related spacecraft | |
| Derived from | SpaceX Dragon 1 |
| Thruster details | |
| Propellant mass | 2,562 kg (5,648 lb) |
| Engines |
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| Thrust |
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| Specific impulse | Draco: 300 s (2.9 km/s) |
| Fuel | N 2O 4 / CH 6N 2 |
| Configuration | |
 Cross-sectional views of the Crew Dragon 1: Parachutes, 2: Crew access hatch, 3: Draco thrusters, 4: SuperDraco engines, 5: Propellant tank, 6: IDSS port, 7: Port hatch, 8: Control panel, 9: Cargo pallet, 10: Environmental control system, 11: Heat shield |
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The Dragon 2 is a special kind of spacecraft made by an American company called SpaceX. It's designed to be used more than once, which helps save money. Dragon 2 flies to the International Space Station (ISS) and also takes people on private space trips.
This spacecraft has two main parts: a reusable space capsule and a part called a "trunk" that is used only once. There are two versions of Dragon 2: the Crew Dragon which carries up to 7 people, and the Cargo Dragon which carries supplies. Dragon 2 launches into space on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket. When its mission is over, the capsule returns to Earth by landing in the ocean.
The main job of the Crew Dragon is to take astronauts to and from the ISS. It does this for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Before Dragon 2, the Space Shuttle used to do this job, but it was retired in 2011. Crew Dragon also flies people on private trips to the ISS and other places. It might even be used to take people to a future private space station called Axiom Space Station.
The Cargo Dragon delivers supplies to the ISS for NASA. It shares this job with another spacecraft called Cygnus. As of 2025, Cargo Dragon is the only reusable spacecraft that carries cargo to orbit. Another one, called Dream Chaser, is being developed.
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Dragon 2: Crew and Cargo Versions
Dragon 2 comes in two main types: the Crew Dragon and the Cargo Dragon. The Crew Dragon was first called "DragonRider." It was always meant to carry astronauts, or a mix of astronauts and cargo.
Older spacecraft had to be pulled into place at the ISS by astronauts. But Dragon 2 has a special docking port that lets it connect directly to the ISS by itself. It can fly to the station and dock automatically, though astronauts can take control if needed. A Crew Dragon usually stays connected to the ISS for about 180 days, but it can stay for up to 210 days.
All About Crew Dragon
The Crew Dragon can fly on its own without a pilot. SpaceX and NASA say it can carry seven astronauts. However, it usually carries two to four crew members. As of early 2025, it has never carried more than four.
The Crew Dragon has a special safety system called a launch escape system. Eight powerful SuperDraco engines can quickly push the capsule away from the rocket if there's an emergency during launch. SpaceX first planned to use these engines to land the capsule on land. But now, it always lands in the ocean using parachutes.
Astronauts wear special space suits during launch and landing. These suits keep them cool inside the Dragon. They also protect them if the cabin suddenly loses air pressure. For a test flight, a dummy with sensors wore a spacesuit to collect data. The suits are made from a fire-resistant material called Nomex.
The design of the Dragon 2 was shown to the public in May 2014. In October 2014, NASA chose Dragon as one of the spacecraft to fly American astronauts to the ISS. This was part of the Commercial Crew Program. SpaceX continues to build new parts and refurbish capsules for future missions.
Each seat on a Crew Dragon flight for NASA costs about US$88 million. This is less than the US$76 million per seat NASA paid for Soyuz flights in 2014.
All About Cargo Dragon
The Cargo Dragon was designed to carry supplies to the ISS. It became a real project after 2014. That's when NASA asked companies to bid on new contracts to deliver cargo to the ISS from 2020 to 2024. In January 2016, SpaceX won contracts for six of these flights. These are called CRS-2 missions. As of April 2024, Cargo Dragon has completed nine missions. Six more are planned.
Cargo Dragons are different from Crew Dragons. They don't have seats, controls for astronauts, or the special SuperDraco engines for emergency escapes. Cargo Dragon is much better than the older Dragon 1 for bringing things back to Earth and being reused.
Since 2021, Cargo Dragon can even provide power to some experiments on the ISS. This saves space and time for astronauts. This feature is called "Extend-the-Lab." In November 2024, a Cargo Dragon even helped push the ISS higher in orbit using its thrusters.
SpaceX is also planning a special Cargo Dragon called the US Deorbit Vehicle. This vehicle will be used to safely bring the ISS out of orbit when it's retired. It will guide the station to a remote part of the Pacific Ocean called the "spacecraft cemetery." This vehicle will have a longer trunk and many more thrusters and fuel than a regular Cargo Dragon. NASA plans to launch it in 2030. It will stay attached to the ISS for about a year. Then, it will push the station to safely re-enter Earth's atmosphere.
How Dragon 2 Is Designed
SpaceX wants to make space travel much cheaper. That's why they designed Dragon 2 to be reused, unlike most spacecraft that are thrown away after one use. It has two main parts: the reusable capsule and the trunk, which is used once.
SpaceX and NASA first said the capsule could be used for five missions. Now, they are working to make it certified for up to fifteen missions!
To save money, SpaceX made some smart design choices. The Crew Dragon uses eight SuperDraco engines on its sides for emergency escapes. This means it doesn't need a separate, disposable escape tower. Also, important systems like life support, thrusters, and fuel tanks are built right into the reusable capsule. This means they don't need to be in a separate, disposable part.
The trunk connects the capsule to the Falcon 9 rocket. It also has solar panels to make electricity. It has a radiator to get rid of heat and fins for stability during emergencies. Unlike the older Dragon 1, Dragon 2's solar panels are built right into the trunk. The trunk can also carry cargo that doesn't need to be inside the pressurized cabin, like the Roll Out Solar Array that was taken to the ISS.
A typical Crew Dragon mission carries four astronauts. There's a commander who leads the mission. A pilot helps the commander and can take over if needed. Two mission specialists have specific jobs for the flight. However, Crew Dragon can fly with just two astronauts. In an emergency, it can bring up to seven astronauts back from the ISS.
On the ground, crews get into the capsule through a side door.
Inside the Crew Dragon, there's a control panel with three screens above the two main seats. Below the seats is a cargo area for about 500 pounds of items. The capsule also has a small space toilet with a privacy curtain. There's a special docking port called IDSS on the ceiling. For private missions that don't go to the ISS, this port can be replaced with a large, clear window for amazing views. SpaceX also made a special hatch for spacewalks.
The Cargo Dragon is also loaded through a side hatch and has an IDSS port. But it doesn't have the control panels, windows, or seats that the Crew Dragon has.
The spacecraft can work in the total vacuum of space. Astronauts wear their special space suits to protect them if the cabin suddenly loses air pressure. The spacecraft is also designed to land safely even if it has a small leak.
The nose cone of the spacecraft protects the docking port and front thrusters during launch and re-entry. It opens up when the spacecraft is in space. The fuel for the emergency abort system and orbital maneuvers is stored in special tanks at the bottom of the capsule.
For emergency aborts during launch, the capsule uses eight SuperDraco engines. Each engine is very powerful. Sixteen smaller Draco thrusters are used to control the spacecraft's direction and move it in orbit.
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When the capsule returns to Earth, a special PICA-3 heat shield protects it from the extreme heat of re-entry. Dragon 2 uses six parachutes (two small ones and four main ones) to slow down before splashing into the ocean. The extra parachute was added for safety after an older Dragon 1 had a parachute problem. In 2024, the SuperDraco thrusters were allowed to be used again for landing, but only as a backup if the parachutes have problems.
Crewed Flights: Taking Astronauts to Space
Crew Dragon is used by both private companies and government agencies like NASA. Axiom Space uses it to send private astronauts to the ISS. NASA flights to the ISS usually have four astronauts. The extra space is used to carry cargo.
In September 2014, NASA announced that SpaceX and Boeing would provide rides for astronauts to the ISS. SpaceX was given up to US$2.6 billion for test flights and six regular missions. Dragon was the cheaper option.
Unlike older NASA missions where NASA ran the spacecraft, NASA now buys space transport services from SpaceX. This includes building, launching, and operating the Dragon 2.
NASA also approved a new way to load fuel onto the Falcon 9 rocket. The fuel is kept super cold. It's loaded just before launch, even after astronauts are on board. This is different from older rockets where fuel was loaded hours before. The launch escape system is active during fueling to keep the crew safe.
The first test flight without a crew, called "Demo-1," launched to the ISS on March 2, 2019. The first flight with a crew, "Demo-2," launched on May 30, 2020.
Testing the Dragon 2
SpaceX planned several tests for the Crew Dragon to make sure it was safe. These included a pad abort test, an uncrewed flight to the ISS, an in-flight abort test, and finally, a crewed flight.
Pad Abort Test
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The pad abort test happened on May 6, 2015. The Dragon capsule launched from a test stand and landed safely in the ocean 99 seconds later. This test showed that the SuperDraco engines could quickly pull the capsule away from the launchpad in an emergency. A crash test dummy with sensors was inside to measure the forces.
Later, on November 24, 2015, SpaceX tested the Dragon 2's ability to hover. The same capsule from the pad abort test, nicknamed "DragonFly," hovered for about 5 seconds using its SuperDraco engines.
Demo-1: First Orbital Test
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The first test flight of Crew Dragon without a crew was called "Demo-1." It launched on March 2, 2019. The spacecraft practiced flying to the ISS and docking automatically. It stayed docked for a few days, then returned to Earth, splashing down in the ocean. This test was important to make sure everything worked before astronauts flew on it.
An Incident During Testing
On April 20, 2019, the capsule used for the Demo-1 mission was damaged during a test. This happened when a small amount of fuel leaked into a helium line, causing an issue during a test of the SuperDraco abort system.
SpaceX fixed the problem by changing some parts in the Dragon 2. They added special "burst discs" and flaps to the SuperDraco engines to prevent water from getting in after splashdown. A new test of the SuperDraco engines in November 2019 was successful, showing the fixes worked.
This incident caused delays for the next tests and the first crewed flight.
In-Flight Abort Test
The in-flight abort test happened on January 19, 2020. The Crew Dragon launched on a Falcon 9 rocket. Shortly after launch, the rocket's engines were intentionally shut off. The Dragon 2 then used its SuperDraco engines to quickly fly away from the rocket. The Falcon 9 rocket was then destroyed. The Dragon capsule continued its flight, jettisoned its trunk, and landed safely in the Atlantic Ocean using parachutes.
This test showed that the Dragon could safely separate from the rocket even during the most difficult parts of the launch. It was the final test before astronauts could fly on the spacecraft.
Demo-2: First Crewed Flight
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On May 30, 2020, the first crewed Crew Dragon mission, "Demo-2," launched. Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were on board. This was the first time astronauts launched to the ISS from U.S. soil since 2011. The capsule, named Endeavour by the crew, successfully docked with the ISS.
On August 2, 2020, Crew Dragon undocked and splashed down safely in the Atlantic Ocean. Astronaut Bob Behnken described the launch as "smooth" but also like "riding a dragon." He said the re-entry was exciting, with the capsule making noise and feeling small movements as it controlled its descent. The parachute deployments felt like "getting hit in the back of the chair with a baseball bat."
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Timeline of Dragon 2 Missions
Crew Dragon has flown many missions for NASA and private companies. It has also completed many cargo missions for NASA. Here's a timeline of some of its flights:
See also
In Spanish: Dragon 2 para niños
- Comparison of crewed space vehicles
- Comparison of space station cargo vehicles
- List of crewed spacecraft
