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SpaceX preps for test of Dragon capsule’s life-saving abort system
SpaceFlightNow ^ | May 4, 2015 | Stephen Clark

Posted on 05/06/2015 5:55:08 AM PDT by NonValueAdded

A commercial spaceship designed to ferry U.S. astronauts into orbit by 2017 is set for a major test Wednesday, when SpaceX plans to blast the capsule away from a launch mount at Cape Canaveral on a mile-high demo flight to simulate the craft’s ability to protect occupants in the event of a catastrophic rocket mishap on the pad.

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will not travel far, but data from Wednesday’s test should arm engineers with results to prove the capsule’s emergency safety system can save astronauts from an explosive launch failure.

The test is scheduled for 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT) Wednesday from Cape Canaveral’s Complex 40 launch pad, the same facility used by SpaceX for operational flights of the Falcon 9 booster.

It is the most visible test to date for NASA’s commercial crew program at Cape Canaveral, where SpaceX and Boeing plan to launch crews to the International Space Station.

(Excerpt) Read more at spaceflightnow.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: dragon; florida; spacex
rescheduled to 9 AM. This is the escape system test and an essential step to becoming man-rated by 2017 AND DECOUPLING FROM OUR DEPENDENCE ON THE RUSSIANS.

Godspeed, SpaceX

1 posted on 05/06/2015 5:55:08 AM PDT by NonValueAdded
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To: NonValueAdded

I live a couple of hours north, unfortunately not sure the weather is going to cooperate to see the launch.


2 posted on 05/06/2015 5:56:49 AM PDT by V_TWIN
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To: NonValueAdded

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/ustream.html#.VUoP4JOBv5w


3 posted on 05/06/2015 5:57:09 AM PDT by don-o (He will not share His glory and He will NOT be mocked! Blessed be the name of the Lord forever!)
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To: Wilhelm Tell; BlueYonder; thingumbob; amzgirl; 75thOVI; Ravenstar; June2; LuvFreeRepublic; ...
Brevard County, Florida Spaceflight ping.

Let me know if you want on or off this ping list.
(not associated with the county government)


4 posted on 05/06/2015 5:58:41 AM PDT by NonValueAdded (I love it when we're Cruz'in together)
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To: V_TWIN

It is just the capsule being launched so I think you’d have to be there to see it. SpaceFlightNow and SpaceX will have streaming video though.


5 posted on 05/06/2015 5:59:35 AM PDT by NonValueAdded (I love it when we're Cruz'in together)
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To: NonValueAdded
Test looks successful with water landing and all three parachutes opened normally.
6 posted on 05/06/2015 6:01:24 AM PDT by Truth29
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To: NonValueAdded

Looked like it went very well. Detached from the booster, flipped and all three shoots deployed. Nice soft landing in the water.


7 posted on 05/06/2015 6:02:42 AM PDT by WakeUpAndVote
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To: Jack Hydrazine
From the live feed:
Eight hotrod 3D-printed SuperDraco rocket thrusters mounted around the circumference of the capsule are set to fire at 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT) to push the 20-foot-tall spacecraft off SpaceX’s launch pad at Cape Canaveral. Officials will watch for gusty winds that could delay the flight, but forecasters predicted Tuesday a 70 percent chance conditions will be acceptable Wednesday.
...
Burning a nearly two-ton supply of hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide propellants, the SuperDraco thrusters will almost instantly ramp up to 120,000 pounds of thrust, propelling the Dragon spaceship to an altitude of 100 meters — 328 feet — in two seconds. By the time the SuperDracos finish firing, the capsule will be a third of a mile above the launch pad.

Put another way, the capsule will go from 0 to nearly 100 mph in one second.

3D printed engine chambers ... amazimg
8 posted on 05/06/2015 6:03:21 AM PDT by NonValueAdded (I love it when we're Cruz'in together)
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To: NonValueAdded
Former heavy drop parachute rigger watching the launch live via FOX from fort living room... escape pod test appears successful. Drogue chute initiated the deployment of three very large "cargo" chutes. Crew survival system works flawlessly. Great job and kudos to all hands involved.

Rigger Motto: I WILL BE SURE ALWAYS.

9 posted on 05/06/2015 6:09:38 AM PDT by freepersup (Patrolling the waters off Free Republic one dhow at a time.)
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To: freepersup

Watched it .. man that would be one wild ride for the crew..but they’d be alive !!!!


10 posted on 05/06/2015 6:32:52 AM PDT by Robe (Rome did not create a great empire by talking, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
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To: NonValueAdded
Not only is this a test of the escape system, it is also the first test of the descent systems that will add re-usability to the dragon capsule as well as the first stage. They want to land the Dragon on land back at the launch complex just like they want to land the first stage.This is also the first test of the system that will land Dragon capsules on Mars as well. SpaceX has designed all their components with Mars in mind.

Spacex Reusable Launch system

11 posted on 05/06/2015 12:13:16 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
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