F9: Cargo Dragon 2 CRS-21

[Dr Mordrid]

Maiden flight of Cargo Dragon 2.

It has the same airframe as Crew Dragon but no human life support system, no SuperDraco escape system, and an interior optimized for cargo (50% more). No more berthing using the robotic arm, Cargo Dragon 2 automatically docks.

Date: December 5, 2020
Time: 2339 Eastern (1639 UT)
Pad: LC-39A
Booster: B1058.4
Recovery: ASDS
Docking: Node 2 Zenith/IDA-3
Trunk cargo: Nanoracks 'Bishop' airlock

https://nanoracks.com/bishop-airlock/

Screenshot_20201127-162716.jpg

Screenshot_20201127-162704.jpg

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1315743645845254145

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1315743656716853253

[Dr Mordrid]

Scrubbed: weather

Date: December 6, 2020
Time: 1117 Eastern (1617 UT)

https://youtu.be/4xJAGFR_N-c

[Dr Mordrid]

CRS-21

Perfect, just.like.clockwork.

Separation showed the Cargo Dragon 2 two-fin config vs four fins for Crew Dragon, two being retained for their conformal solar tiles (no fins would reduce power by ~18%). The Trunk payload is the new Bishop airlock module for ISS.

CRS-21_Cargo Dragon 2 deploy_2020-12-06-1280.jpg

[Dr Mordrid]

SpaceX's Commercial Resupply Services 2 contract was for 6 missions to ISS. NASA has now extended it to 9 missions, with further extensions possible. SpaceX's CRS 1 contract was extended from 12 to 20 missions.

[Dr Mordrid]

Cargo Dragon 2 has un-docked and is on her way home, to touch down off the coast of Florida near Tampa Bay.

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1348994882694770688