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Launch of CRS-26
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Dragon approaching the ISS
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Dragon docked to the ISS
SpaceX CRS-26, also known as SpX-26, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on 26 November 2022.[2] The mission was contracted by NASA and flown by SpaceX using a Cargo Dragon. This was the sixth flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2 contract awarded in January 2016.
Names | SpX-26 |
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Mission type | ISS resupply |
Operator | SpaceX |
COSPAR ID | 2022-159A |
SATCAT no. | 54371 |
Mission duration | 45 days, 14 hours and 59 minutes |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Cargo Dragon C211[1] |
Manufacturer | SpaceX |
Dry mass | 9,525 kg (20,999 lb) |
Dimensions | Height: 8.1 m (27 ft) Diameter: 4 m (13 ft) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 26 November 2022, 19:20:42 UTC[2] |
Rocket | Falcon 9, B1076.1 |
Launch site | Kennedy Space Center, LC-39A |
Contractor | SpaceX |
End of mission | |
Recovered by | Megan (ship) |
Landing date | 11 January 2023, 10:19 UTC[3] |
Landing site | Gulf Of Mexico |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Inclination | 51.66° |
Docking with ISS | |
Docking port | Harmony zenith |
Docking date | 27 November 2022, 12:39 UTC |
Undocking date | 9 January 2023, 22:05 UTC |
Time docked | 43 days, 9 hours and 26 minutes |
SpaceX CRS-26 mission patch |
SpaceX plans to reuse each Cargo Dragon up to five times. Cargo Dragon does not include SuperDraco abort engines, seats, cockpit controls or life support system neded on a Crew Dragon.[4][5] Dragon 2 improves on Dragon 1 in several ways, including lessened refurbishment time, leading to shorter periods between flights.[6]
Cargo Dragon capsules under the NASA CRS Phase 2 contract land near Florida in the ocean.[4][6]
NASA contracted for the CRS-26 mission from SpaceX and therefore determines the primary payload, date of launch, and orbital parameters for the Cargo Dragon.[7]
Second pair of new solar arrays using XTJ Prime space solar cells. They were delivered to the station in the unpressurized trunk of the Cargo Dragon spacecraft.[8]
The installation of these new solar arrays, designated 4A and 3A, required two spacewalks: one to prepare the worksite with a modification kit and another to install the new panel.[8][9]
NASA Glenn Research Center studies:[10]
European Space Agency (ESA) research and activities:
CubeSats carried by this mission, deployed through NRCSD#24 (including ELaNa 49) and J-SSOD#24:[12][13][14]