SpaceX Dragon

Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 09:00 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

SpaceX's Dragon is a pioneering commercial spacecraft making significant advancements in space exploration.
It holds the distinction of being the first commercial spacecraft to successfully launch into orbit and be recovered from the Pacific.
The Dragon cabin prototype is designed for crew transport, with capacity for seven seated and three standing individuals.
The spacecraft is capable of berthing with the International Space Station (ISS) and is launched by the Falcon 9 rocket.

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The Dragon is one of a handful of spacecraft making waves in the pursuit of commercial space exploration.

SpaceX Dragon — The test crew included (from top left): NASA Crew Survival Engineering Team Lead Dustin Gohmert, NASA Astronaut Tony Antonelli, NASA Astronaut Lee Archambault, SpaceX Mission Operations Engineer Laura Crabtree, SpaceX Thermal Engineer Brenda Hernandez, NASA Astronaut Rex Walheim, and NASA Astronaut Tim Kopra. (Courtesy of SpaceX)

SpaceX Dragon — According to SpaceX, the Dragon cabin prototype has enough room for seven seated crewmembers as well as three additional people standing. (Courtesy of SpaceX)

SpaceX — NASA Astronaut Rex Walheim, SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer Elon Musk and SpaceX Commercial Crew Development Manager and former NASA Astronaut Garrett Reisman evaluate the prototype during the trial. (Courtesy of SpaceX)

The Dragon being recovered from the Pacific after its successful launch into orbit. (Courtesy of SpaceX)

The Dragon was the first commercial spacecraft to accomplish such a feat. (Photo courtesy of SpaceX)

The Dragon in August 2010 during a high altitude drop test. (Photo courtesy of SpaceX)

DragonLab in orbit. (Courtesy of SpaceX)

The Falcon 9 rocket launching the Dragon. (Courtesy of SpaceX)

The Dragon berthed at the ISS. (Courtesy of NASA)

The Dragon approaching the ISS. (Courtesy of NASA)

The Dragon and the Falcon 9 rocket post separation. (Courtesy of NASA)

The Dragon during a water landing. (Courtesy of NASA)

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