Cargo spacecraft "Dragon CRS-31" (SpX-31, Cargo Dragon C208)

Launch, orbit & landing data: Satcat n° / COSPAR ID  61790 / 2024-200A Launch date - time  5 November 2024 - 02:29:31 UTC Launch site  CCK, SLC-39A Launch vehicle  Falcon-9 v1.2 Block 5 (Booster B1080-5) Spacecraft  Cargo Dragon C208 Manufacturer  SpaceX Dimensions cabine  Height: 8.1m (27 ft) - Dia: 4m (13 ft) Launch mass   9525 kg Cargo Mass (kg)  2762 kg Total cargo mass (kg)  Pressurised: 2435 kg  Unpressurised: 327 kg Geocentric orbit:

Credit: Collectspace.com

Description:

• SpaceX CRS-31, sometimes identified by NASA as CRS SpX-31, was an American cargo spacecraft flight to the International Space Station (ISS), which launched on 5 November 2024. The mission was operated by SpaceX under a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. The spacecraft was a Cargo Dragon, serial number C208. This mission marked capsule C208's fifth flight.
• Cargo Dragon capsules under the NASA CRS Phase 2 contract land near Florida in the ocean.

Payload:

• The Cargo Dragon spacecraft was loaded with a total of 2,762 kg (6,089 lb) of cargo and supplies before its launch, including 2,435 kg (5,368 lb) of pressurised and 327 kg (721 lb) of unpressurised cargo.

• Vehicle hardware: 238 kg
• Science investigations: 917 kg
• Crew supplies: 961 kg
• Spacewalk equipment: 171 kg
• Computer resources: 20 kg

Thrusters firing CRS-31 after backed away from ISS.

Mission details:

• CRS-31 launched from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center on 5 November 2024 at 02:29:31 UTC (4 November, 9:29:31 pm EST, local time at the launch site).
• CRS-31 was the first Dragon to perform an ISS "reboost". On 8 November 2024 at 17:50 UTC, Cargo Dragon C208 fired its aft-facing Draco thrusters at 0.3 m/s (0.98 ft/s) for 12.5 minutes adjusting the station’s orbit by 0.07 miles (0.11 km) at apogee and 0.7 miles (1.1 km) at perigee. Periodic reboosts counteract atmospheric drag on the station. The American Cygnus and Russian Progress cargo spacecraft also regularly perform reboosts during missions to the ISS.
• This reboost test will aid in developing the SpaceX United States Deorbit Vehicle as changes in orbit, trajectory and velocity will be carefully observed.[8] NASA is also believed to be testing its ability to maneuver the station with just Cygnus and Dragon spacecraft in the event that the Russian Orbital Segment, which historically has handled reboosting and maneuvering the station, is abandoned or separated from the US Orbital Segment.

External links:

• Wikipedia: Dragon CRS-31 mission.

Astrophilately covers:

Dragon CRS-31 launch, cancel Hawthorne. Credit: #411

Dragon CRS-31 landing cancel Houston. Credit: #411