Quote from: the_other_Doug on 04/10/2016 04:24 pm Dragon-2 cannot be berthed, it must dock at one of the smaller docking ports (yet to have their IDA docking adapters to be installed). This makes Dragon 2 unsuitable for pressurized cargo delivery. For example, you can't get anything rack-sized through the docking port; that requires using one of the berthing ports.



SpaceX offered Dragon 2 as an option for CRS-2, berthing requires valuable crew time and most flights dont need the full hatch size (ie anything going on Cygnus as it doesnt use a full PCBM) Without crew you dont need seats, displays ect.



Quote SpaceX  yet to release a statement on the CRS2 award  will utilize its Dragon spacecraft, in two configurations, during CRS2, with both the berthed Dragon spacecraft  as currently being employed during CRS1  and the upgraded Dragon 2, which can dock directly with the ISS.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/01/nasa-awards-crs2-spacex-orbital-atk-sierra-nevada/



Oh, sure. But that's for CRS-2, and the original question was whether or not SPX-DM1 could double as a full CRS flight under the current CRS contract. The CRS-2 cargo flights that might use a Dragon 2 would likely be sized in terms of upmass for the particular amount that a Dragon 2 would normally be able to carry -- which I believe would be less than that for a cargo Dragon. I mean, a Dragon 2 carries the super Dracos and their fuel, the ECLSS, and (unless they are unshipped) the crew couches and control panels. The mass of the extra Dragon 2 systems that the cargo Dragon doesn't carry isn't insignificant, and would need to come out of the cargo upmass. The internal volume is a bit less in the Dragon 2, as well, IIRC.And I can't see SpaceX modifying the first Dragon 2 to fly to the extent of removing items such as the crew couches, etc., that they will ultimately fly crew with. It's called test-as-you-fly, fly-as-you-test. An uncrewed cargo version of Dragon 2 will surely come as a set of modifications that will occur after Dragon 2 is fully qualified for crewed flight --which, after all, is what DM1 is all about, right?I can, though, see a very attractive scenario in which SpaceX uses cargo Dragon 2 uncrewed to deliver upmass, on a flight without any critical downmass requirements, and then test propulsive landing from orbit with such a craft. They have to test it uncrewed at some point before they try it with a crew on board anyway; this would seem the perfect type of mission profile with which to test it.