NASA Resupply to ISS - Flight 1
Mission Summary
November 6, 2012
The SpaceX CRS-1 mission, October 7 - 28, 2012, was the first of at least 12 cargo resupply missions SpaceX will carry out for NASA under the $1.6 billion Cargo Resupply Services contract. It marked the return of American capability to resupply the station and return cargo to Earth, a capability absent since the retirement of the space shuttle.
Below is a summary in pictures of the historic mission, from the Falcon 9 rocket’s rollout to the Dragon spacecraft’s splashdown into the Pacific Ocean.
The Falcon 9 rocket on SpaceX’s launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
October 7, 2012. Photo: SpaceX
The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are raised vertically by the transporter erector on SpaceX’s launch pad
at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. October 7, 2012. Photo: SpaceX
The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft on SpaceX’s launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,
Florida, hours before liftoff. October 7, 2012. Photo: SpaceX
Liftoff of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft from SpaceX’s launch pad at Cape Canaveral
Air Force Station, Florida, at 8:35PM ET on October 7, 2012. Photo: SpaceX
Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft over SpaceX’s launch pad at Cape Canaveral
Air Force Station, Florida, at 8:35PM ET on October 7, 2012. Photo: SpaceX
SpaceX employees watch Falcon 9 and Dragon’s historic launch from SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California.
October 7, 2012. Photo: SpaceX
Fans watch as the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft soar into the night sky over Cape Canaveral, Florida.
October 7, 2012. Photo: SpaceX
Twelve minutes into flight, Dragon’s solar arrays deployed, giving power to the spacecraft. October 7, 2012. Photo: SpaceX
Dragon spent two and a half days firing its Draco thrusters to climb to higher orbits and catch up to the International
Space Station. Early in the morning on October 10, Dragon became visible from station. View from the ISS
of the Dragon spacecraft’s approach. Photo: NASA
Dragon established a communication link with the ISS from much farther away than during the previous demonstration
mission in May 2012. Using the COTS Ultra-high Frequency Communication Unit (CUCU), Dragon and station connected
from 415 kilometers (258 miles) apart, compared to 191 kilometers (118 miles) previously. View from
the International Space Station of the Dragon spacecraft’s approach. October 10, 2012. Photo: NASA
View from the International Space Station of the Dragon spacecraft’s approach. October 10, 2012. Photo: NASA
View from the International Space Station of the Dragon spacecraft’s approach. At 250 meters, Dragon used
its close-range guidance systems to enter station’s Keep Out Space (200 meters), then received the go from
Mission Control to proceed to 30 meters, then to the 10-meter capture point. October 10, 2012. Photo: NASA
Expedition 33 Commander Sunita Williams cranes to get a good look at Dragon on its approach to the International
Space Station. October 10, 2012. Credit: NASA
At 7:01AM ET, Expedition 33 crew member Akihiko Hoshide used the space station’s 17.6 meter robotic Canadarm2
to reach for and grapple the spacecraft. Dragon experienced no unplanned holds or retreats, and arrived
at the station more than 20 minutes ahead of schedule. October 10, 2012. Photo: NASA
The Dragon spacecraft is grappled by the space station’s robotic arm and moved into position for attachment.
October 10, 2012. Photo: NASA
Expedition 33 crew member Akihiko Hoshide and Commander Sunita Williams guided Dragon to the Earth-facing side
of the station’s Harmony module, and installed the spacecraft. At 9:03AM ET on October 10, Dragon was berthed
to the Earth-facing side of the International Space Station’s Harmony module. Photo: NASA
Dragon berthed to the Earth-facing side of the International Space Station’s Harmony module. Prior to opening
the spacecraft’s hatch, ISS crew pressurized the vestibule between the station and Dragon. Photo: NASA
Astronauts Sunita Williams and Akihido Hoshide open Dragon’s hatch and enter the spacecraft for the first time, one day
ahead of schedule. They spent approximately 2.5 weeks unloading cargo, including equipment for some 166 investigations relevant
to the space station’s ongoing scientific mission, 23 student experiments, station hardware, crew supplies, and computers.
They then packed the spacecraft with return cargo, including scientific samples in the GLACIER freezer carried up by Dragon.
October 10, 2012. Photo: NASA
After 2.5 weeks at the International Space Station, the Dragon spacecraft departed for Earth. Astronaut Kevin Ford maneuvered
Dragon to its 10 meter release point with the station’s robotic arm, and released the spacecraft at 6:29AM PT
on October 28, 2012. Photo: NASA
After performing a series of burns, including a large deorbit burn, Dragon reentered Earth’s atmosphere. View of
the Dragon spacecraft with three main parachutes during its descent to the recovery zone in the Pacific Ocean,
approximately 250 miles off the coast of Southern California. October 28, 2012. Photo: SpaceX
View of the Dragon spacecraft with three main parachutes during its descent to the recovery zone
in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 250 miles off the coast of Southern California. After its 2.5
weeks at the International Space Station, the spacecraft returned with a load of NASA cargo,
including hardware, supplies, and a GLACIER freezer packed with scientific samples.
October 28, 2012. Photo: SpaceX
The Dragon spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean, shortly after splashdown. October 28, 2012. Photo: SpaceX
SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft on its 100-foot recovery boat, with telemetry and support boats nearby.
October 28, 2012. Photo: SpaceX
SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft on the recovery boat, after splashdown into the Pacific Ocean
250 miles off the coast of Southern California. October 28, 2012. Photo: SpaceX