spacetoday.net: Falcon 9 launches first upgraded cargo Dragon to ISS

Falcon 9 launches first upgraded cargo Dragon to ISS

Posted: Sat, Dec 12, 2020, 9:42 AM ET (1442 GMT)
Falcon 9 launch of CRS-21 (SpaceX)

A Falcon 9 launched the first in a new generation of Dragon cargo spacecraft Sunday. The Falcon 9 lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center at 11:17 am EST (1617 GMT) and released the CRS-21 cargo Dragon into orbit 12 minutes later. The Dragon docked with the International Space Station at 1:40 pm EST (1840 GMT) Monday. The spacecraft, carrying nearly 3,000 kilograms of cargo, is the first upgraded version of the Dragon spacecraft based on the Crew Dragon spacecraft, with additional payload capabilities. Among the cargo on the spacecraft is the Bishop airlock developed by Nanoracks, along with a range of experiments.