SpaceX has reached a milestone in its spaceflight. The company marks its 10th anniversary since it took flight with the COTS 2 mission aboard the Dragon spacecraft, headed towards the International Space Station. Here, the spacecraft journeyed towards the ISS and brought its cargo towards it, staying there and returning to the planet after a six-day stay.
SpaceX Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the COTS 2 Mission
(Photo : Roberto Gonzalez/Getty Images)
The COTS 2 Mission is ten years old, and it marked the first massive venture of the company towards space, an essential mission for them as it successfully went to the International Space Station. In the station, the Dragon docked one of its bays and handed off its cargo to the special place in the low-Earth orbit, which is also home to many scientific advancements.
SpaceX dedicated a thread to the 10th anniversary of the company's first mission, highlighting the capabilities of the Dragon and Falcon that made the trip possible. Last May 25, 2012, COTS 2 departed from the planet and went on its way to the ISS to hand off the Dragon and go on its way to travel towards the space station.
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Dragon successfully docked with the orbiting lab on May 25, becoming the first privately developed vehicle in history to successfully attach to the space station
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 31, 2022
Looking Back at SpaceX Dragon's Beginnings
The Dragon spacecraft did not go on to the space station and brought astronauts with it on its initial mission. It started with small beginnings and worked its way to becoming a trusted vessel to deliver not just cargo but also human lives to the space station.
As part of SpaceX's focus on sustainability, the spacecraft returned to the planet six days later and called its mission a success.
SpaceX and its Missions
SpaceX began with the Dragon and Falcon's tandem with the COTS 2 mission that became its highlight flight, putting the company on the map for its future trips with many partners worldwide. Now it is working towards a "ride-share" mission that would have different companies that aim to bring their technology to space join in with others.
Users that want to know more about SpaceX and its history, achievements, and ventures may also look into "Return to Space," a Netflix original documentary about the company. It shows the company's many processes and insider happenings, with Elon Musk appearing on the video as its primary source and top executive that brings information for all.
There are many more missions in the company, and it also includes the numerous flights it did for NASA, which is not limited to the Commercial Crew missions in the past two years.
The company made history, and no one can deny that SpaceX is one of the names that tops the list for everything about space, going alongside NASA, Boeing, ULA, and more. The company celebrates the first decade of the COTS 2 mission, which became its defining era, marking its competence in the space industry.
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Written by Isaiah Richard
