Dragon (spacecraft) Dragon is a partially reusable spacecraft developed by SpaceX, an American private space transportation company based in Hawthorne, California.
Dragon is launched into space by the SpaceX Falcon 9 two-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle, and is capable of both manned and robotic operation. During its uncrewed maiden flight in December 2010, Dragon became the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to be recovered successfully from orbit.[3] On 25 May 2012, an uncrewed variant of Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to successfully rendezvous with and be attached to the International Space Station (ISS).[11][12][13] SpaceX is contracted to deliver cargo to the ISS under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program, and Dragon began regular cargo flights in October 2012.[14][15][16][17] SpaceX is additionally developing a crewed variant of the Dragon called DragonRider. SpaceX. Falcon 9.
Falcon 9 is a family of rocket-powered spaceflight launch vehicles designed and manufactured by SpaceX, headquartered in Hawthorne, California.
The family consists of the Falcon 9 v1.0, Falcon 9 v1.1, and the Falcon 9-R. Both stages of this two-stage-to-orbit vehicle burn liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) propellants. The current Falcon 9 can lift payloads of 13,150 kilograms (28,990 lb) to low Earth orbit, and 4,850 kilograms (10,690 lb) to geostationary transfer orbit. All three Falcon 9 vehicles are situated in the medium-lift range of launch systems. SpaceX has developed a new and 60 percent larger launch vehicle—the Falcon 9 v1.1—which flew for the first time on a demonstration mission on the sixth overall launch of the Falcon 9 on September 29, 2013.[8]