SpaceX unveils crewed version of Dragon spacecraft
Posted: Fri, May 30, 2014, 7:32 PM ET (2332 GMT)
SpaceX, one of three companies competing for a commercial crew contract from NASA, unveiled Thursday night the crewed version of of its Dragon spacecraft that the company says could carry people into orbit as soon as 2016. The Dragon V2 spacecraft is designed to carry up to seven people to and from the International Space Station or other destinations in low Earth orbit. The spacecraft is equipped with new "SuperDraco" thrusters that can be used as a launch escape system in an emergency and, in normal flight, to perform powered landings. An initial orbital test flight of Dragon V2 could take place as soon as late 2015, with a crewed mission to follow in 2016, according to the company. SpaceX is competing with Boeing and Sierra Nevada Corporation for contracts in the next phase of NASA's commercial crew program, which would cover development and initial flights of such spacecraft. NASA is expected to award one or more contracts late this summer.
SpaceX, one of three companies competing for a commercial crew contract from NASA, unveiled Thursday night the crewed version of of its Dragon spacecraft that the company says could carry people into orbit as soon as 2016. The Dragon V2 spacecraft is designed to carry up to seven people to and from the International Space Station or other destinations in low Earth orbit. The spacecraft is equipped with new "SuperDraco" thrusters that can be used as a launch escape system in an emergency and, in normal flight, to perform powered landings. An initial orbital test flight of Dragon V2 could take place as soon as late 2015, with a crewed mission to follow in 2016, according to the company. SpaceX is competing with Boeing and Sierra Nevada Corporation for contracts in the next phase of NASA's commercial crew program, which would cover development and initial flights of such spacecraft. NASA is expected to award one or more contracts late this summer.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, February 5
Sidus Space Announces LizzieSat Has Arrived at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California for Launch
Business Wire — 6:07 am ET (1107 GMT) Rocket Lab Signs Multi-Launch Contract with iQPS for Four Electron Missions
Rocket Lab — 6:05 am ET (1105 GMT) First Irish astronaut Norah Patten had ‘no road map’ for space dreams – but she paved the path herself
Irish Star — 6:04 am ET (1104 GMT) SpaceX launches Maxar 3 mission, high-resolution commercial satellites
UPI — 6:02 am ET (1102 GMT) UAE joins forces with European space company to develop airlock for Nasa lunar station
The National (UAE) — 5:59 am ET (1059 GMT) |
