SpaceX CRS-7

SpaceX CRS-7

Artist rendering of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft being berthed to ISS
Mission type ISS resupply
Operator NASA
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type Dragon
Manufacturer SpaceX
Start of mission
Launch date June 19, 2015
Rocket Falcon 9 v1.1
Launch site Cape Canaveral SLC-40
Contractor SpaceX
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Inclination 51.6 degrees
Epoch Planned
Berthing at ISS
Berthing port Harmony nadir
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SpaceX CRS-7, also known as SpX-7, is a cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station, contracted to NASA, and is currently manifested for launch in 2015. It will be the ninth flight for SpaceX's uncrewed Dragon cargo spacecraft and the seventh SpaceX operational mission contracted to NASA under a Commercial Resupply Services contract.

Launch History

As of January 2015, the launch was tentatively scheduled by NASA for 13 June 2015. This has since been adjusted to 19 June 2015.[1]

Primary payload

NASA has contracted for the CRS-7 mission from SpaceX and therefore determines the primary payload, date/time of launch, and orbital parameters for the Dragon space capsule.

As of July 2013, the first International Docking Adapter, IDA-1, is scheduled to be delivered to the International Space Station on CRS-7.[2] This adapter will be attached to one of the existing Pressurized Mating Adapters (specifically, PMA-2 or PMA-3) and convert the existing APAS-95 docking interface to the new NASA Docking System (NDS).[3][4] The new adapter is intended to facilitate future docking of new US human-transport spacecraft. Previous US cargo missions since the retirement of the Space Shuttle have been berthed, rather than docked, while docking is considered the safer and preferred method for spacecraft carrying humans.

Secondary payload

SpaceX has the primary control over manifesting, scheduling and loading secondary payloads. However there are certain restrictions included in their contract with NASA that preclude specified hazards on the secondary payloads, and also require contract-specified probabilities of success and safety margins for any SpaceX reboosts of the secondary satellites once the Falcon 9 second stage has achieved its initial low-Earth orbit (LEO).

References

  1. ↑ ""Worldwide Launch Schedule"". SpaceflightNow. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Status of Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEO)" (PDF). NASA. 2013-07-29. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  3. ↑ Hartman, Dan (23 July 2012). "International Space Station Program Status" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  4. ↑ Lupo, Chris (2010-06-14). "NDS Configuration and RequirementsChanges since Nov 2010" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 22 August 2011.

External links