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The non-public spaceflight firm SpaceX will launch a important launch escape system check for its Crew Dragon spaceship to no sooner than Jan. four, NASA introduced Friday (Dec. 6).
SpaceX and NASA initially hoped to launch the check flight, called an In-Flight Abort Test, someday this month, however a precise launch date was by no means launched. In a statement Friday, NASA officers stated the mission will now elevate off no sooner than Jan. four from Pad 39A of NASA’s Kennedy Area Heart in Cape Canaveral, Florida, pending launch vary approval from the U.S. Air Drive.
The brand new launch goal will push the SpaceX flight past the year-end holidays, in addition to a deliberate Boeing launch of its first uncrewed Starliner astronaut taxi for NASA, which is slated to launch Dec. 20.
Throughout the upcoming check, SpaceX will launch a uncrewed spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket and, in mid-flight, activate the capsule’s launch abort system to separate the the spacecraft from the rocket. The check will reveal Crew Dragon’s capability to make use of its eight SuperDraco abort motors to drag the spacecraft free from its rocket throughout a launch emergency, a important security system wanted earlier than NASA astronauts can start flying on the car in 2020.
Video: Watch SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Abort System in Close-Up Action
As soon as ripped from the Falcon 9, the Crew Dragon capsule will deploy parachutes and splashdown within the Atlantic Ocean.
“As a part of the check, SpaceX will configure Crew Dragon to set off a launch escape shortly after liftoff and reveal Crew Dragon’s functionality to securely separate from the Falcon 9 rocket within the unlikely occasion of an in-flight emergency,” NASA officials said in the statement. “The demonstration additionally will present worthwhile information towards NASA certifying SpaceX’s crew transportation system for carrying astronauts to and from the Worldwide Area Station.”
SpaceX is one among two corporations with multibillion contracts to fly astronauts to the house station for NASA after the company retired its house shuttle fleet in 2011. The opposite firm is Boeing, which is creating its personal CST-100 Starliner spacecraft for launches on Atlas V rockets.
Associated: The Emergency Launch Abort Systems of SpaceX and Boeing Explained
NASA picked the 2 corporations as its business crew carriers in 2014, with SpaceX receiving $three.14 billion and Boeing $four.82 billion thus far beneath the deal to develop and fly the brand new automobiles.
SpaceX launched its first uncrewed Crew Dragon test flight to the Worldwide Area Station, known as Demo-1, in March of this yr. However the capsule used on that flight was destroyed during a ground test failure whereas testing its SuperDraco abort engines.
SpaceX has since upgraded the engines to forestall an analogous failure and carried out a collection of profitable floor checks. The corporate has additionally been upgrading and testing its Crew Dragon parachutes to ensure they’re prepared for crewed flights. On Wednesday (Dec. four), SpaceX introduced it had accomplished the seventh profitable check of its Mark three parachute system for Crew Dragon.
Boeing, in the meantime, has been pushing ahead with Starliner checks.
Final month, the corporate successfully tested its launch abort engines in a so-called pad-abort check. Boeing plans to launch its first uncrewed Starliner mission to the Worldwide Area Station, known as the Orbital Flight Take a look at, no earlier than Dec. 20.
Electronic mail Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or comply with him @tariqjmalik. Comply with us @Spacedotcom and Facebook.
