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Manual and automated clean up of style and formatting issues. Plus, add video of launch.
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→Launch events: updated event times and orbital inclination from video and press briefing
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The launch was ultimately scheduled for December 8, 2010, with launch windows available from 9:00-9:06 a.m., 10:38-10:43 a.m., and 12:16-12:24 p.m. EST based on availability of NASA [[Tracking and Data Relay Satellite]] (TDRS) network used to track and communicate with the spacecraft. The first attempt was originally scheduled for center of the middle of the first launch window 9:03 but moved to end at 9:06 a.m. EST. This attempt was aborted with 2:48 left in the countdown clock because of false telemetry data. |
The launch was ultimately scheduled for December 8, 2010, with launch windows available from 9:00-9:06 a.m., 10:38-10:43 a.m., and 12:16-12:24 p.m. EST based on availability of NASA [[Tracking and Data Relay Satellite]] (TDRS) network used to track and communicate with the spacecraft. The first attempt was originally scheduled for center of the middle of the first launch window 9:03 but moved to end at 9:06 a.m. EST. This attempt was aborted with 2:48 left in the countdown clock because of false telemetry data. |
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The launch was re-targeted for 10:43 a.m. EST, and was successful.<ref>{{cite news|title=Launch of SpaceX craft could be milestone for privatized space flight|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/12/08/space.flight/index.html?hpt=T2|newspaper=CNN}}</ref> First stage engines cut off at T+ |
The launch was re-targeted for 10:43 a.m. EST, and was successful.<ref>{{cite news|title=Launch of SpaceX craft could be milestone for privatized space flight|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/12/08/space.flight/index.html?hpt=T2|newspaper=CNN}}</ref> First stage engines cut off at T+2:56, nose cone separated at T+3:47, second stage engines cut off at T+8:56, all as planned. The Dragon vehicle separated at T+9:30 and achieved a near circular orbit, with a perigee of {{convert|288|km}} and an apogee of {{convert|301|km}} and an inclination of 34.53 degress. These were close to targeted marks of a {{convert|300|km|mi|-1}} circular orbit at an inclination of 34.5 degrees. |
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While on orbit, a battery of automated tests were performed including thermal control and attitude control to maintain uninterrupted TDRS data links. At 11:15am, SpaceX announced that it had achieved contact with the Dragon module through the TDRS system. After the two planned orbits and a flight time of 3:19:52 the craft was manually de-orbited, and [[Splashdown (spacecraft landing)|splashed down]] in the Pacific Ocean at 2:02 p.m. EST approximately {{convert|800|km}} west of [[Baja California]] after all three parachutes successfully deployed.<ref name="SFN Status" /> SpaceX reports that all test objectives were completed, and the recovery craft arrived to retrieve the spacecraft within 20 minutes of splashdown. The craft landed within {{convert|800|m}} of the targeted location, well within the {{convert|60|by|20|km|adj=on}} recovery zone.<ref name="SFN Status" /> |
While on orbit, a battery of automated tests were performed including thermal control and attitude control to maintain uninterrupted TDRS data links. At 11:15am, SpaceX announced that it had achieved contact with the Dragon module through the TDRS system. After the two planned orbits and a flight time of 3:19:52 the craft was manually de-orbited, and [[Splashdown (spacecraft landing)|splashed down]] in the Pacific Ocean at 2:02 p.m. EST approximately {{convert|800|km}} west of [[Baja California]] after all three parachutes successfully deployed.<ref name="SFN Status" /> SpaceX reports that all test objectives were completed, and the recovery craft arrived to retrieve the spacecraft within 20 minutes of splashdown. The craft landed within {{convert|800|m}} of the targeted location, well within the {{convert|60|by|20|km|adj=on}} recovery zone.<ref name="SFN Status" /> |
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COTS Demo Flight 1 was the first planned flight of the unmanned SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, the Dragon C1, which orbited the Earth, and the second overall flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9. It was also the first demonstration flight for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program for which SpaceX was selected. It was carried to orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket, which made its second scheduled launch.[1] Liftoff occurred on December 8, 2010, at 10:43 a.m. EST (1543 GMT).[1]
The two stages and Dragon capsule for the second Falcon 9 have been built and transported to SpaceX's facilities at Cape Canaveral.[2]
The mission profile includes orbital maneuvering and reentry tests of the Dragon capsule, as well as testing fixes to the Falcon 9 rocket including the unplanned roll of the first stage in Flight 1.
Target launch date was for the end of 2010 with COTS Demo 2 and 3 being rescheduled to 2011.[2]
A full wet dress rehearsal was conducted on September 15, 2010 and launch is currently (as of October 24, 2010) targeted for no earlier than December 7, 2010.[3]
On November 22, 2010, SpaceX announced that it had received a license for spacecraft re-entry from the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation for the flight. It is the first such license issued to a private enterprise. If all goes well, the Dragon spacecraft will splashdown in the Pacific Ocean approximately 500 miles (800 km) off the coast of Mexico after nearly two orbits.[4]
A successful static test fire was performed by SpaceX on December 4, 2010. This was the third attempt to do so, as the first two attempts were automatically aborted. The first attempt was on December 3, 2010, but the test was automatically aborted one second before ignition due to a high-pressure reading.
The launch was ultimately scheduled for December 8, 2010, with launch windows available from 9:00-9:06 a.m., 10:38-10:43 a.m., and 12:16-12:24 p.m. EST based on availability of NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) network used to track and communicate with the spacecraft. The first attempt was originally scheduled for center of the middle of the first launch window 9:03 but moved to end at 9:06 a.m. EST. This attempt was aborted with 2:48 left in the countdown clock because of false telemetry data.
The launch was re-targeted for 10:43 a.m. EST, and was successful.[5] First stage engines cut off at T+2:56, nose cone separated at T+3:47, second stage engines cut off at T+8:56, all as planned. The Dragon vehicle separated at T+9:30 and achieved a near circular orbit, with a perigee of 288 kilometres (179 mi) and an apogee of 301 kilometres (187 mi) and an inclination of 34.53 degress. These were close to targeted marks of a 300 kilometres (190 mi) circular orbit at an inclination of 34.5 degrees.
While on orbit, a battery of automated tests were performed including thermal control and attitude control to maintain uninterrupted TDRS data links. At 11:15am, SpaceX announced that it had achieved contact with the Dragon module through the TDRS system. After the two planned orbits and a flight time of 3:19:52 the craft was manually de-orbited, and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 2:02 p.m. EST approximately 800 kilometres (500 mi) west of Baja California after all three parachutes successfully deployed.[6] SpaceX reports that all test objectives were completed, and the recovery craft arrived to retrieve the spacecraft within 20 minutes of splashdown. The craft landed within 800 metres (2,600 ft) of the targeted location, well within the 60-by-20-kilometre (37 by 12 mi) recovery zone.[6]
The second stage engine was reignited in orbit. This allowed the second stage to reach a height of 11,000 kilometres (6,800 mi).[7]
| Attempt | Planned | Result | Turnaround | Reason | Decision point | Weather go (%) | Notes |
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| 1 | 8 Dec 2010, 9:06:00 am | Aborted | — | Automated abort on fault detected in ordinance interrupter[citation needed] | 8 Dec 2010, 9:03 am (T-2:48[6]) | 80%[8] | |
| 2 | 8 Dec 2010, 10:43:00 am | Successful | 0 days, 1 hour, 37 minutes | 80%[8] |
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* denotes unflown vehicles or engines, and future missions or sites. † denotes failed missions, destroyed vehicles, and abandoned sites.
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