Starship's Ninth Flight Test

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Mission

To The space station

On its flight to the International Space Station, Dragon executes a series of burns that position the vehicle progressively closer to the station before it performs final docking maneuvers, followed by pressurization of the vestibule, hatch opening, and crew ingress.

On its flight to the International Space Station, Dragon executed a series of burns that positioned the vehicle progressively closer to the station before it performed final docking maneuvers, followed by pressurization of the vestibule, hatch opening, and crew ingress.

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01. LIFTOFF

Falcon 9’s first stage lofts Dragon to orbit. Falcon 9’s first and second stage separate. Second stage accelerates Dragon to orbital velocity.

02. ORBIT ACTIVATION

Dragon separates from Falcon 9’s second stage and performs initial orbit activation and checkouts of propulsion, life support, and thermal control systems.

03. PHASING BURNS

Dragon performs delta-velocity orbit raising maneuvers to catch up with the International Space Station.

04. APPROACH INITIATION

Dragon establishes a communication link with the International Space Station and performs its final orbit raising delta-velocity burn.

05. PROXIMITY OPERATION

Dragon establishes relative navigation to the International Space Station and arrives along the docking axis, initiating an autonomous approach.

06. DOCKING & PRESSURIZATION

Dragon performs final approach and docks with the International Space Station, followed by pressurization, hatch open, and crew ingress.

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