Space Exploration Technologies Corporation Spacex.com
COTS Program
Goal: to develop and demonstrate the vehicles, systems, and operations needed to resupply, return cargo from, and transport crew to and from the ISS The broader objectives of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Program are to:
facilitate U.S. private industry demonstration of cargo and crew space transportation capabilities to the ISS with the goal of achieving reliable, cost effective access to low-Earth orbit; create a market environment in which commercial space transportation services are available to Government and private sector customers; and to stimulate commercial enterprises in space.
COTS Parameters
COTS is envisioned to be executed in two phases:
Phase 1 – A period of development and demonstration; Phase 2 – A competitive procurement of orbital transportation services to resupply the ISS with cargo and crew
Once demonstrated, industry will be able to provide these new services to non-NASA customers.
In the future, NASA intends to extend its use of commercial space services to other NASA needs, such as in-space fuel delivery to support human exploration missions beyond the space station.
Funding Profile
SpaceX’s COTS Space Act Agreement = $278 million
Anticipated Funding appearing in COTS Announcement: $500 million in total
FY FY FY FY
06 07 08 09
= = = =
$50 million $120 million $200 million $130 million
Summary of SpaceX COTS – Options A-C
A single configuration of the Dragon spacecraft provides pressurized cargo, unpressurized cargo and crew transportation Every cargo flight is also a test flight for crew transport Demo 1, Q3 2008 – Core Functionality Only
Tests fundamentals
Demo 2, Q2 2009 – Autonomous Rendezvous & Berthing
Using the 2nd stage as a physical target and mapping a “virtual” Space Station, this mission verifies that Dragon can safely approach the ISS
Demo 3, Q3 2009 – Deliver Cargo and Return Down-mass
Establishes system as operational by executing a mission that demonstrates delivery of cargo to ISS and returns cargo safely to Earth
COTS Option D (Crew) (Schedule determined by contract authority to proceed and NASA funding, but could be completed by 2010)
Demo 1, 2009 – Unmanned high altitude abort
Verifies abort and recovery systems & operations
Demo 2, 2010 – Crew transport to ISS (three crew)
Cargo mission will have proven ISS rendezvous and berthing operations A “light” flight with three crew and min cargo to provide max delta V and life support margin
Demo 3, 2010 – Crew transport to ISS (seven crew)
Verifies ability to transport full complement of crew
Concept of Operations
Up to 10 launches per Year
Integration Flow Cargo loaded into Dragon & trunk in facilities at launch pad Dragon mated to trunk, whole assembly to booster Transported to pad, then erected Late-load of cargo (10% each type) and/or crew up to L-2 hours Launch Injection into 185 x 300 km orbit, hold, trim & separate Dragon phases to ISS & holds outside approach ellipsoid ISS approach => capture & berth On-station dwell 2~4 weeks cargo 6 months crewed Depart ISS Unberth & execute departure manuever De-orbit burn, jettison trunk, CAM & re-enter Landing Water splash-down Ship recovery Provision for early-access & crew medical facilities Crew and/or cargo returned to JSC
Falcon 9
NASA man-rating factor of safety Nine Merlin engines provide engine out
reliability similar to Saturn I & Saturn V
Upper stage also powered by a Merlin Basic F9 performance is ten tons to LEO
Multi-engine stage hold down firing in Q1
2007
Falcon 9 Under Construction
New Technologies
Skin & Stringer Construction Aluminum-lithium Friction Stir Welds (FSW)
Longitudinal stringer welds Circumferential barrel joints
Thrust Structure/Thrust Skirt
Merlin Regen Components
Texas Test Facilities
Falcon 9 Test Stand
Dragon
Dragon on Station
Thirteen Launches Contracted
Customer DARPA Demo Launch 1* Launch Q1 2006 Vehicle Falcon I Departure Point Kwajalein
DARPA Demo Launch 2
OSD/NRL Malaysia US Government MDA Corp (Canada) NASA MDA Corp (Canada) SpaceDev NASA Bigelow Aerospace NASA Swedish Space Corp
Q4 2006
Q1 2007 Q3 2007 Q2 2008 Q3 2008 Q3 2008 Q4 2008 Q1 2009 Q2 2009 Q2 2009 Q3 2009 Q4 2009
Falcon I
Falcon I Falcon I Falcon 9 Falcon 9 Falcon 9 Falcon 1 Falcon 1 Falcon 9 Falcon 9 Falcon 9 Falcon 1
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Kwajalein Kwajalein Kwajalein Kwajalein Vandenberg Vandenberg Kwajalein Kwajalein Kwajalein Vandenberg
Plus $100 Million AF IDIQ Falcon I Contract
* Launched