Hawthorne, California-based SpaceX inched one step closer to bringing astronauts to space this weekend as it completed a test of the in-flight launch escape capabilities of its Crew Dragon. The Crew Dragon test flight, which launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, atop SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, showed the spaceship’s “ability to separate from Falcon 9 and carry astronauts to safety in the unlikely event of an emergency on ascent,” according to a SpaceX post on Twitter.
SpaceX Crew Dragon Takes Another Step Toward Flying Astronauts
Key Takeaways:
- SpaceX successfully completed an in-flight launch escape test of its Crew Dragon, demonstrating its ability to safely separate from the Falcon 9 rocket during an emergency ascent.
- The Crew Dragon uses SuperDraco engines for separation, parachutes for descent, and is recovered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Go Searcher vessel.
- This test brings SpaceX closer to its goal of transporting astronauts, building on NASA-funded development from the original Dragon program which first carried supplies to the International Space Station.
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