SpaceX successfully completed the first Pad Abort Test of its Crew Dragon spacecraft, a reusable vehicle for human transport.
The two minute long test conducted yesterday demonstrated how Dragon could transport astronauts to safety if trouble flared up on the launch pad. The craft's abort system’s eight SuperDraco engines is capable of carrying astronauts into orbit in the event of emergency before descending to earth.
To radically condense today's test, the eight SuperDracos ignited simultaneously, reaching maximum thrust of 15,000 pounds, and then throttled to control the trajectory. Dragon traveled from 0-100 mph in 1.2 seconds, reaching a max velocity of 345 mph. According to Elon Musk, max acceleration was 6 times Earth's gravity, , lateral distance was 1,202 meters and velocity hit 155 m/s.
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The two minute long test conducted yesterday demonstrated how Dragon could transport astronauts to safety if trouble flared up on the launch pad. The craft's abort system’s eight SuperDraco engines is capable of carrying astronauts into orbit in the event of emergency before descending to earth.
To radically condense today's test, the eight SuperDracos ignited simultaneously, reaching maximum thrust of 15,000 pounds, and then throttled to control the trajectory. Dragon traveled from 0-100 mph in 1.2 seconds, reaching a max velocity of 345 mph. According to Elon Musk, max acceleration was 6 times Earth's gravity, , lateral distance was 1,202 meters and velocity hit 155 m/s.
Continue reading…
Continue reading...