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SpaceX Dragon capsule proves it can hover
SpaceX is never shy to share the latest advancements of those snazzy Crew Dragon capsules, even if things don't always go as planned. Now, Elon Musk's firm is providing details from a test that took place last November at a facility in McGregor, Texas, where the Dragon V2 showed off its incredible propulsive landing features. The trial only lasted about five seconds, but this was more than enough time for the capsule to generate about 33,000 lbs of thrust as it hovered, before returning to a resting position.
SpaceX tests the safety rockets for its manned space vehicles
NASA's Commercial Crew Program is an initiative to get private companies to ferry personnel to-and-from the International Space Station. SpaceX is doing its very best to show that it can do the job, and has successfully tested one of the most important components its crewed vehicle needs: the escape engine. The company has test-fired a pair of its SuperDraco engines in Texas, demonstrating that the gear could ignite and throttle at the same time.
Boeing and SpaceX will shuttle American astronauts to the ISS
There had been rumors of NASA awarding Boeing a big contract for its Commercial Crew Program, and it turns out that the claims were true -- and then some. The agency has just announced that both Boeing's CST-100 capsule and SpaceX's Dragon V2 will ferry American astronauts to the International Space Station from 2017 onward. Most of the funding ($4.2 billion) will go to Boeing's entry, but the SpaceX deal is still pretty hefty at $2.6 billion. Once both vehicles are certified and tested, they'll participate in manned scientific missions (up to six each) and serve as lifeboats in emergencies. Unfortunately, Sierra Nevada's aircraft-like Dream Chaser isn't part of the picture. It's ultimately a good day for space travel, but those hoping for a Space Shuttle-like design will be disappointed.
Meet NASA's commercial space capsule contenders
Sure, the Dragon V2 is the latest (and greatest) spacecraft from SpaceX, but it's not the only capsule that may one day schlep astronauts to the International Space Station. In fact, Elon Musk's firm is just one of three private outfits currently competing in a NASA program for commercial launches with their own vehicles. We've surveyed the space capsule landscape and have whipped up a primer on the future crafts that may wind up taking humans to space.
SpaceX Dragon V2 can seat up to seven passengers, use thrusters to land on solid ground
SpaceX's Dragon capsule has been taking cargo to the International Space Station since 2012, but it's done so lacking the chops to shuttle humans into orbit. The firm's just unveiled the next generation of the spacecraft, dubbed Dragon V2, to remedy that, and it's designed to do much more than carry people. The new craft is reusable, can hold up to seven passengers and is designed to allow for swapping crew space for additional cargo. What's more, the vessel is able to land on solid ground with the accuracy of a helicopter -- as opposed to splashing down at sea -- without parachutes. Using eight SuperDraco thrusters, engines 3D-printed from a superalloy, the Dragon V2 can blast out enough force (16,000 lbf for each engine) to slow itself down for a landing on terra firma.
Watch SpaceX unveil its next-gen space capsule, Dragon V2 (update: done!)
SpaceX is getting ready to reveal its next-generation space capsule tonight at its HQ in Hawthorne, California, and while we'll be covering it live, you can watch as it unfolds too. The firm's setup a stream (which we've included after the break) for the proceedings, and they're set to get started at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT. So, what's the big hubbub about this new craft? It'll be able to carry humans into space, not just cargo. That's something the first Dragon wasn't outfitted to for. Update: And it's over! Elon Musk showed off the Dragon V2, get all the details right here.
