SpaceX CRS-20

SpaceX CRS-20
C112 approaches the ISS
NamesSpX-20
Mission typeISS resupply
OperatorSpaceX
COSPAR ID2020-016A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.45341Edit this on Wikidata
Mission duration31 days, 13 hours, 59 minutes
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftDragon 1 C112
Spacecraft typeDragon 1
ManufacturerSpaceX
Dry mass4,200 kg (9,300 lb)
DimensionsHeight: 6.1 m (20 ft)
Diameter: 3.7 m (12 ft)
Start of mission
Launch date7 March 2020, 04:50:31 UTC[1][2]
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5 (B1059.2)
Launch siteCape Canaveral, SLC-40
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing date7 April 2020, 18:50 UTC [3]
Landing sitePacific Ocean
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Inclination51.66°
Berthing with ISS
Berthing portHarmony nadir[1]
RMS capture9 March 2020, 10:25 UTC
Berthing date9 March 2020, 12:18 UTC [1][2]
Unberthing date7 April 2020, 10:30 UTC [1][3]
RMS release7 April 2020, 13:06 UTC [3]
Time berthed29 days
Cargo
Mass1,977 kg (4,359 lb)
Pressurised1,509 kg (3,327 lb)
Unpressurised468 kg (1,032 lb)
Fuel705 kg (1,554 lb)
Gaseous50 kg (110 lb)
Water420 kg (930 lb)

SpaceX CRS-20 mission patch
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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

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

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

Main article: Columbus – External Payload Facility § Bartolomeo

NASA contracted for the CRS-20 mission from SpaceX and therefore determined the primary payload, date of launch, and orbital parameters for the Dragon CRS.[11] The CRS-20 mission carried 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][needs update]

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]

SpaceX CRS-20
  • CRS-20 on the pad
    CRS-20 on the pad
  • Launch of CRS-20
    Launch of CRS-20
  • Bartolomeo removed from the trunk of Dragon
    Bartolomeo removed from the trunk of Dragon

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Joachim Wilhelm Josef Becker (9 March 2020). "ISS Expedition 62". SpaceFacts. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b Jonathan C. McDowell (10 March 2020). "Space Report No. 776". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Jonathan C. McDowell (17 April 2020). "Space Report No. 777". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  4. ^ "SpaceX". SpaceX. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  8. ^ Clark Stephen (7 April 2020). "With successful splashdown, SpaceX retires first version of Dragon spacecraft". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  9. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Dragon C2, CRS-1,... CRS-20 (SpX 1,... 20)". Gunter’s Space Page. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Gaskill, Melissa (19 February 2020). "Improving Shoes, Showers, 3D Printing: Research Launching to the Space Station". NASA. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  12. ^ SpaceX SpX-20 Mission Overview (PDF) (Report). NASA. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  13. ^ a b ISS National Lab Mission Overview: SpaceX CRS-20 (Television production). ISS National Laboratory. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  14. ^ "SpaceX CRS-20 NSSDCA/COSPAR ID:2020-016A". NASA. Retrieved 28 July 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  15. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Bartolomeo (CEPHFISS)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  16. ^ Staff Writers (27 January 2020). "Bartolomeo starts its journey to the International Space Station". Space Daily.
  17. ^ Clarke, Stephen (6 March 2020). "ISS to receive new outdoor deck for science experiments". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  18. ^ Clarke, Stephen (3 April 2020). "Pandemic prompts few changes to busy month on space station". Spacefligt Now.
  19. ^ ARISS PR (2 September 2020). "First Element of ARISS Next-Generation Radio System Installed and Operating on ISS". ARRL. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ 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.