Dragon Resupply Mission (CRS-20) Was The Last Of The Initial 'Dragon 1' Generation

Packed with more than 4,000 pounds of cargo and science, SpaceX’s Dragon 1 spacecraft departed the International Space Station on Tuesday, April 7.

A parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean occurred that morning just west of Baja California. A recovery team then secured Dragon on a boat for the return trip to the Port of Los Angeles, wrapping up SpaceX’s 20th resupply mission to the space station.

Filled with approximately 4,500 pounds of supplies and payloads, Dragon launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on March 6, 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and arrived at the space station on March 9. The Dragon spacecraft supporting the CRS-20 mission previously supported the CRS-10 mission in February 2017 and the CRS-16 mission in December 2018.

The Dragon spacecraft is capable of carrying up to 7 passengers to and from Earth orbit, and beyond. The pressurized section of the capsule is designed to carry both people and environmentally sensitive cargo. Towards the base of the capsule and contained within the nose cone are the Draco thrusters, which allow for orbital maneuvering.

SpaceX will begin using its new Dragon 2 capsule from here on out. SpaceX notes that the Dragon vehicle is the only spacecraft currently flying that is capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth.

FMI: www.spacex.com