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PROPULSION

Reaction Control System (Dragon)

ACTIVE
Reaction ControlTYPE
SpaceXMANUFACTURER
120 (dry system)MASS (KG)
50POWER (W)
16 thrusters (redundant pairs)REDUNDANCY
ABOUT REACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (DRAGON)

The Dragon 2 Reaction Control System uses 16 Draco thrusters arranged around the spacecraft trunk and capsule for attitude control and orbital maneuvering. Each thruster produces 400 N of thrust using NTO/MMH hypergolic propellant. The system handles on-orbit attitude, deorbit burns, and reentry orientation.

SPECIFICATIONS
CategoryPropulsion
SubcategoryReaction Control
ManufacturerSpaceX
Mass120 kg
Power50 W
DimensionsDistributed around capsule
Redundancy16 thrusters (redundant pairs)
StandardCrew-rated
StatusActive
First UseMarch 2, 2019
OPERATING PRINCIPLE
Pressure-fed hypergolic bipropellant (NTO/MMH) thrusters with electric valve actuation for attitude and translation control
KEY SPECIFICATIONS
thrusters16 Draco
thrust_n400 each
propellantNTO/MMH
isp_s300
MASS CONVERSIONS
Kilograms120.0 kg
Pounds264.6 lbs
VEHICLES USING REACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (DRAGON) (2)
  • Dragon 2 Crew
  • Dragon 2 Cargo