What is Elon Musk's Crew Dragon, the spacecraft that will rescue NASA’s Sunita Williams from ISS?
What is Elon Musk's Crew Dragon, the spacecraft that will rescue NASA’s Sunita Williams from ISS?
Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Return Mission Scheduled
NASA has announced that astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), will return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Delayed Return
Williams and Wilmore, who travelled to the ISS in June on Boeing’s Starliner, faced delays due to technical issues with the spacecraft. Starliner will now return uncrewed to mitigate risks.
Crew Dragon Overview
Crew Dragon is a variant of SpaceX’s Dragon 2 spacecraft, designed for crew transport. The other variant, Cargo Dragon, is used for delivering cargo to the ISS.
Mission History
Developed to support NASA’s transition from the space shuttle program, Crew Dragon made its first ISS mission in 2020. It has since completed eight crew rotation missions for NASA.
Spacecraft Features
Crew Dragon comprises a reusable capsule and an expandable trunk module. The capsule includes 16 Draco thrusters for maneuvering, while the trunk has solar panels, heat radiators, and cargo space.
Launch and Docking
Crew Dragon is launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket. It docks with the ISS autonomously using GPS, cameras, and Lidar sensors to ensure precise alignment.
Return Procedure
To return, Crew Dragon undocks from the ISS, separates the trunk module, and performs a de-orbit burn to reduce speed. The capsule then reenters Earth's atmosphere.
Landing and Recovery
During descent, Crew Dragon deploys four parachutes to slow its fall. It eventually splashes down in the ocean, where it is retrieved by a recovery ship.
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