Crew Dragon Demo-2 (officiallyCrew Demo-2,SpaceX Demo-2, orDemonstration Mission-2)[a] was the first crewedtest flight of theCrew Dragon spacecraft. The spacecraft, namedEndeavour, launched on May 30, 2020[7][11][12] on aFalcon 9 rocket, and carriedNASA astronautsDoug Hurley andBob Behnken to theInternational Space Station in the first crewed orbital spaceflight launched from the United States since thefinal Space Shuttle mission in 2011, and the first ever operated by a commercial provider.[13] Demo-2 was also the first two-person orbital spaceflight launched from the United States sinceSTS-4 in 1982. Demo-2 completed the validation of crewed spaceflight operations usingSpaceX hardware and receivedhuman-rating certification for the spacecraft,[14][15] including astronaut testing of Crew Dragon capabilities on orbit.[15]
Docking was autonomously controlled by the Crew Dragon, but monitored by the flight crew in case manual intervention became necessary.[16] The spacecraftsoft docked with the International Space Station on May 31, 2020, nineteen hours after launch. Following soft capture, 12 hooks were closed to complete a hard capture 11 minutes later.[5] Hurley and Behnken worked alongside the crew ofExpedition 63 for 62 days, including fourspacewalks by Behnken with fellow American astronautChris Cassidy to replace batteries brought up by aJapanese cargo vehicle.Endeavour autonomously undocked from the station on August 1, 2020, and thirteen hours later returned the astronauts toEarth in the firstwater landing by astronauts since 1975.[17]
After theSpace Shuttle program wasbrought to an end in 2011,NASA no longer had a spacecraft system capable of sendinghumans to space. As a result, it was forced to fly its astronauts to theInternational Space Station (ISS) aboard the RussianSoyuz space vehicle, at a cost of up to US$80 million per astronaut. As an alternative, NASA contracted with private companies such asSpaceX for theCommercial Crew Program, which is expected to cost 50% less than Soyuz once in regular operation.[18] Up to the launch, NASA has awarded a total of US$3.1 billion for the development of theDragon 2.[19] The Demo-2 mission was SpaceX's last major test before NASA certified it for regularcrewed spaceflights.[13] Prior to that, SpaceX had sent twenty cargo missions to the ISS, but never a crewed one.[19]Boeing was separately working on crewedorbital spaceflight under the same NASA effort.[13]
Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken were announced as the primary crew on August 3, 2018.[20] Both astronauts are veterans of the Space Shuttle program,[21] and the Demo-2 flight was the third trip to space for both of them. The lead flight director for this mission was Zebulon Scoville.[22]
NASA astronautKjell Lindgren was the sole backup crew member for the flight, backing up both Hurley and Behnken for the mission.[23]
The mission insignia was designed by artist Andrew Nyberg fromBrainerd, Minnesota, a nephew of spacecraft commander Hurley.[24] The insignia features the logos of theCommercial Crew Program,Falcon 9,Crew Dragon, and the red chevron ofNASA's "meatball" insignia. Also depicted are theAmerican flag and a graphic representation of the ISS. The wordsNASA, SPACEX, FIRST CREWED FLIGHT andDM-2 are printed around the border along with the surnames of the astronauts. The insignia outline is in the shape of the Crew Dragon capsule.[25]
The Falcon 9 rocket used to launchEndeavour displayed NASA's"worm" insignia, the first time the logo had been used officially since it was retired in 1992.[26]NASA TV and media coverage of the launch was branded as "Launch America", with its own logo.[27][28]
The SpaceX patch shows the top of the company's spacesuit, with the ISS and North America portrayed on the helmet shield and a white star denoting thelaunch site atCape Canaveral. Behind the suit are the American flag, and around the insignia's black borderSPACEX DRAGON andNASA DEMO-2 are written in white, alongside the names of the two astronauts at the bottom; with acloverleaf between the two names.
NASA calculated the loss-of-crew (LOC) probability for the test flight as 1-in-276, better than the commercial crew program requirement threshold of 1-in-270. The 1-in-276 number included mitigations to reduce the risk, such as on-orbit inspections of theCrew Dragonspacecraft once it wasdocked to the space station to look for damage frommicrometeoroids andorbital debris (MMOD). NASA pegged the overall risk of a loss of mission (LOM) as 1-in-60, covering scenarios where the Crew Dragon does not reach the space station as planned, but the crew safely returns to Earth.[29]
The Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission was initially planned for launch in July 2019 as part of theCommercial Crew Program contract with a crew of two on a 14-day test mission to the ISS.[30][20] The Crew Dragon capsule from theCrew Dragon Demo-1 mission was destroyed while itsSuperDraco thrusters were undergoing static fire testing on April 20, 2019, ahead of its planned use forthe in-flight abort test.[31][32] SpaceX traced the cause of the anomaly to a component that leakedoxidizer into the high-pressure helium lines, which then solidified and damaged a valve. The valves were since switched forburst discs to prevent another anomaly.[33] On January 19, 2020, a Crew Dragoncapsule successfully completed an in-flight abort test.[34] NASA AdministratorJim Bridenstine said on April 9, 2020, that he was "fairly confident" that astronauts could fly to the ISS aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spaceship at the end of May or in early June 2020, pending final parachute tests, data reviews and a training schedule that could escape major impacts from the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic.[35]
SpaceX DM-2 Promotional Poster
On April 17, 2020, NASA and SpaceX announced the launch date as May 27, 2020.[15] The arrival of theCrew Dragon will have raised the station's crew size from three to five. Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley will have performed duties and conducted experiments as crew on board the ISS for several months. Hurley and Behnken were expected to live and work aboard the space station for two or three months, and then return to Earth for a splashdown in theAtlantic Ocean east ofCape Canaveral.[15][35] NASA administratorJim Bridenstine urged space enthusiasts not to travel to the Kennedy Space Center to view the launch and asked people to instead watch the launch on television or online. Bridenstine explained that maintenance crews were working in cohesive shifts, to mitigate workers' exposure toSARS-CoV-2.[36] On May 1, 2020, SpaceX successfully demonstrated the Mark 3 parachute system, a critical milestone for the mission approval.[37] Crew Dragon Demo-2 marked the first crewed United States spaceflight mission not to include the presence of the public at theKennedy Space Center Visitor Complex due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[38] As the mission was previously delayed, the Visitor Complex opened as of May 28, 2020, with limited capacity for publicly viewing the launch. Admissions sold out almost immediately.[39] To engage the public, notably the Class of 2020, who were unable to attend their graduations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both NASA and SpaceX invited students and graduates to submit their photos to be flown to the ISS.[40]
Behnken and Hurley arrived atKennedy Space Center on May 20, 2020, in preparation for the launch. On May 21, 2020, the Falcon 9 rocket wasrolled out to the launch pad, and astatic fire test was conducted on May 22, 2020, a major milestone ahead of the launch.[41] The mission used aTesla Model X to transport Hurley and Behnken toLC-39A.[42]
An official launch weather forecast for Dragon Crew Demo-2 by the45th Weather Squadron of theU.S. Space Force, for the original launch time at 20:33:33UTC on May 27, 2020, predicted a 50% probability of favorable conditions. The launch was scrubbed at T−16:53 minutes due to thunderstorms and light rain in the area caused byTropical Storm Bertha.[43][44] The second launch attempt also faced a 50% probability of favorable conditions, but was successful and took place on May 30, 2020, at 19:22:45UTC.[45][46] The other launch windows were May 31, 2020, at 19:00:07UTC, with a 60% probability of favorable conditions and June 2, 2020, at 18:13UTC with a 70% probability of favorable conditions.[47][48]
Vice PresidentMike Pence and PresidentDonald Trump watch the Crew Dragon Demo-2 Falcon 9 rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center.
Three days after the first launch attempt was scrubbed, theCrew DragonEndeavour launched atop aFalcon 9 rocket fromKennedy Space CenterLaunch Complex 39A at 19:22:45UTC on May 30, 2020.[50][51] The first stage booster (serial numberB1058) landed autonomously on the floating bargeOf Course I Still Love You, which was prepositioned in the Atlantic Ocean.[52]PresidentDonald Trump andVice PresidentMike Pence, with their wives, were at Kennedy Space Center inFlorida to see the launch attempt on May 27, 2020,[53] and returned for launch on May 30, 2020.[48][54] The launch live stream was watched online by 3 million people on NASA feeds,[55] and the SpaceX feed peaked at 4.1 million viewers. NASA estimated roughly 10 million people watched on various online platforms, approximately 150,000 people gathered on Florida'sspace coast[56] in addition to an unknown number watching on television.[55]
Nineteen hours into the mission,Endeavour arrived at the ISS. Behnken and Hurley greeted the crew ofExpedition 63 shortly after the hatch was opened three hours later.
Each crew member brought along a toy from their family; anApatosaurus dinosaur named "Tremor" and aTy plush toy. As in past space missions, the plush toy was used as an indication ofzero gravity for the strapped-in astronauts. Behnken and Hurley said, "That was a super cool thing for us to get a chance to do for both of our sons, who I hope are super excited to see their toys floating around with us on board".[61][62]
The crew were awakened on the second day of the flight withBlack Sabbath's "Planet Caravan".[63] NASA began a tradition of playing music to astronauts during the Gemini program, and first used music to wake up a flight crew duringApollo 15. Each track is specially chosen, often by the astronauts' families, and usually has a special meaning to an individual member of the crew, or is applicable to their daily activities.[64]
Nineteen hours later,Endeavour approached the ISS. Hurley demonstrated the ability to pilot the spacecraft via its touchscreen controls until it reached a distance of 220 metres (720 ft), after whichEndeavour autonomously soft-docked to the pressurized mating adapterPMA-2 on theHarmony module of theISS at 14:16UTC on May 31, 2020.[6][65] Following soft capture, 12 hooks were closed to complete a hard capture at 14:27UTC.[5] Approximately two hours after docking, the last of three hatches betweenEndeavour and ISS was opened, and Hurley and Behnken boarded the ISS at 17:22UTC, welcomed by and joining theExpedition 63 crew, consisting of NASA astronaut and station commanderChris Cassidy and Russian cosmonautsAnatoly Ivanishin andIvan Vagner.[6][66][67][68]
Over their time aboard the ISS, Hurley and Behnken spent over 100 hours completing science experiments, while traveling 27 million miles over their 1024 orbits of the Earth. Behnken also completed 4 spacewalks with Chris Cassidy.[69]
Endeavour stayed docked to the ISS for 62 days, 9 hours and 8 minutes, undocking at 23:35UTC on August 1, 2020.[71] At the time of undocking,Endeavour weighed approximately 12,520 kg (27,600 lb).[72] The capsule completed four departure burns to move away from the ISS, followed by a phasing burn lasting over six minutes to place the capsule on a trajectory to return to Earth. The crew was awakened on the final day of the flight with prerecorded voice messages from their sons. A yaw maneuver occurred at 17:51 to separate the "claw" umbilical mechanism from the trunk.[73]
The deorbit burn of 11 minutes and 22 seconds occurred shortly after 17:56UTC. Just before reentry at 18:11UTC, the nose cone was closed. Drogue chutes deployed at 18:44UTC for approximately one minute, drawing out main parachute deployment approximately one minute later. A maximum of 4g was experienced by Dragon capsule and its crew during the re-entry period.[73]Endeavour returned to Earth with 150 kg (330 lb) of cargo including 90 kg (200 lb) of science cargo, mostly kept in freezers.[74]
Sixty-three days, 23 hours, 25 minutes and 21 seconds after launch, at 18:48:06UTC on August 2, 2020,Endeavoursplashed down off the coast ofPensacola, Florida, marking the first splashdown in 45 years for NASA astronauts since theApollo–Soyuz Test Project, as well as the first splashdown of a crewed spacecraft in theGulf of Mexico.[75][76][77][78][79] After splashdown, a crew in one fast boat approached the capsule, checking the air quality for any traces of highly toxichypergolic propellant which could indicate a leak, while a crew in another fast boat collected the four parachutes which had disconnected from the capsule. While crews worked, many private boats entered the hazardous area defined by the Coast Guard despite earlier warnings. Some moving close to the capsule even passing between the capsule placing themselves and recovery crews themselves in danger. After radioed warnings, the boats dispersed to form a more distant ring around the capsule. TheUnited States Coast Guard said in a statement later that evening that previous warnings were advisory in nature; the three patrol boats in the area were stationed within their jurisdiction and did not provide sufficient resources to board vessels interfering with the recovery. The statement added that they would be reviewing events withNASA andSpaceX.[70][73] Later SpaceX and NASA confirmed that their next mission will have a 16 km (9.9 mi) enforceable keep-out zone patrolled by the U.S. Coast Guard. There will be more boats to assist in enforcing the keep-out zone.[80][81]
TheMV GO Navigator, with the assistance of a fast boat crew, attached to the capsule using a retracting A-frame device over the back to place the capsule on the "nest". The "nest" was then pulled further on board the ship where a 30-minute purge of the service section took place, as there were abnormally high levels ofdinitrogen tetroxide detected around the capsule.[17][82] Hurley and Behnken were then greeted by crew aboardGO Navigator and were subsequently helped out of the capsule and onto stretchers where they were taken into the onboard medical facility, before taking a helicopter back to land.[73]
Post-flight analysis of the Dragon'sheat shield revealed higher-than-expected erosion at four points where the capsule bolts to the trunk of the vehicle using tension ties. SpaceX stated that the erosion was likely caused by airflow phenomena that were not expected to occur around the ties. The heat shield design was changed to include more erosion-resistant materials at the ties.[80] One of four ties was noted to have deep erosion. Though it could not be determined why this was not seen during SpaceX Demo-1,Hans Koenigsmann speculated that it may be related to different masses and trajectories flown by the spacecraft.[83] In addition, SpaceX noted that the parachutes were deployed lower than expected, but still within the allowable range. To address the issue, the instrument used to measure barometric pressure which determines altitude was replaced.[80]
SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 landing and recovery
Crew DragonEndeavour landing in theGulf of Mexico on August 2, 2020.
Support teams arrive in a fast boat at the SpaceX Crew DragonEndeavour.
Private boats coming close to a crew working on the capsule.
Large numbers of private boats create a circle around theEndeavour capsule.
Endeavour being loaded onto the "nest" on boardGO Navigator.
Behnken and Hurley insideEndeavour are greeted by SpaceX medical directorAnil Menon on boardGO Navigator.
Endeavour was refurbished and reused for theSpaceX Crew-2 mission that launched on April 23, 2021.[86] Alongside, Bob's seat of the Crew Dragon Endeavor is used by his wife,K. Megan McArthur in Crew-2 mission.[87] The intervening Crew Dragon mission,SpaceX Crew-1 SpaceX's first operational astronaut flight launched fourExpedition 64 astronauts aboardCrew DragonResilience on November 16, 2020, at 00:27:17UTC.[88]
^This mission has multiple official names. Mission operator SpaceX refers to the mission as "Crew Demo-2",[7] while customer NASA refers to the mission as "SpaceX Demo-2",[8][9] and theUnited States Space Force refers to the mission as "Dragon Crew Demo-2".[10] Unless otherwise noted, this article uses "Demo-2" to refer this mission
^abHeiney, Anna (July 23, 2020)."Top 10 Things to Know for NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 Return".nasa.gov.Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. RetrievedJuly 24, 2020.At the time of undock, Dragon Endeavour and its trunk weigh approximately 27,600 pounds This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
^Mclendon, Tori (May 23, 2020)."NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 Astronauts Rehearse for Launch Day". NASA.Archived from the original on May 26, 2020. RetrievedDecember 4, 2022....ahead of NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 mission [...] favorable weather conditions for the SpaceX Demo-2 mission This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
^Moran, Norah (May 21, 2020)."Ep 145: SpaceX Demo-2".nasa.gov.Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. RetrievedMay 31, 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
^Dunbar, Brian (March 31, 2020)."The Worm is Back!".nasa.gov. NASA.Archived from the original on April 2, 2020. RetrievedApril 2, 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ). Crewed flights are underlined. Launch failures are marked with the † sign. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are (enclosed in parentheses).
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
