NASA Selects SpaceX to Return Americans to Space +VIDEO
EDITOR'S NOTE: This spacecraft uses "SuperDraco Escape Engines." Wasn't Draco a minor James Bond bad-guy? And then the major bad-guy in Moonraker was Drax. What does this mean about Elon Musk? Is he a 007 aficionado or something more sinister – or is it just a coincidence?
HAWTHORNE, CA - August 4, 2012: Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) today won a $440 million contract with NASA to develop the successor to the Space Shuttle and transport American astronauts into space.
This is a decisive milestone in human spaceflight and sets an exciting course for the next phase of American space exploration,” said SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer Elon Musk. “SpaceX, along with our partners at NASA, will continue to push the boundaries of space technology to develop the safest, most advanced crew vehicle ever flown.”
SpaceX expects to undertake its first manned flight by 2015 - a timetable that capitalizes on the proven success of the company’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft combination. While Dragon is initially being used to transport cargo to the International Space Station, both Dragon and Falcon 9 were designed from the beginning to carry crew.
Under the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiative’s base period, SpaceX will make the final modifications necessary to prepare Dragon to safely transport astronauts into space. These include:
Seats for seven astronauts
The most technically advanced launch escape system ever developed,
with powered abort possibilities from launch pad to orbit. SpaceX
will
demonstrate that Dragon will be able to escape a launch-pad
emergency
by firing integrated SuperDraco engines to carry the spacecraft
safely
to the ocean. SpaceX will also conduct an in-flight abort test that
allows Dragon to escape at the moment of maximum aerodynamic drag,
again by firing the SuperDraco thrusters to carry the spacecraft a
safe distance from the rocket.
A breakthrough propulsive landing system for gentle ground touchdowns on legs
Refinements and rigorous testing of essential aspects of Dragon’s design, including life-support systems and an advanced cockpit
design complete with modern human interfaces.
SpaceX will perform stringent safety and mission-assurance analyses to demonstrate that all these systems meet NASA requirements.
Watch the SpaceX Dragon promo video
With a minimal number of stage separations, all-liquid rocket engines that can be throttled and turned off in an emergency, engine-out capability during ascent, and powered abort capability all the way to orbit, the Falcon 9-Dragon combination will be the safest spacecraft ever developed.
About SpaceX
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world's most advanced
rockets and spacecraft. With a diverse manifest of more than 40
launches
to resupply the space station and deliver commercial and government
satellites to orbit, SpaceX is the world's fastest growing launch
services provider. In 2012, SpaceX made history when its Dragon
spacecraft became the first commercial vehicle to successfully attach
to
the International Space Station€”a feat previously
achieved by only four
governments. With the retirement of the Space Shuttle, the SpaceX
Falcon
9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are carrying cargo, and one day will
carry astronauts, to and from the space station for NASA. Founded in
2002 by Elon Musk, SpaceX is a private company owned by management
and
employees, with minority investments from Founders Fund, Draper
Fisher
Jurvetson, and Valor Equity Partners. The company has more than 1,800
employees in California, Texas, Florida and Washington, DC. For more
information, visit www.spacex.com.