(Image source: SpaceX)
BY STEVEN SPARKMAN
ANCHOR CHRISTIAN BRYANT
Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, is taking another step toward the stars. The company released video of a successful test of its SuperDraco engine.
The tests included full throttle and full duration burns. The engine is designed to reach full thrust within 100 milliseconds of an astronaut flipping the switch. (Video source: SpaceX)
There’s a lot of talk among space bloggers about the engine.
Its main purpose is to let astronauts abandon their rocket if something goes wrong during launch. But a writer for Forbes explains, SpaceX designed SuperDraco to do way more than that. (Video source: NASA)
“The purpose of the SuperDraco is to allow for powerful, but pinpoint control for precision maneuvers. … They also give a spacecraft the ability to land propulsively, like you see in movies. They’re also reusable...”
The eventual plan is for the Dragon space capsule to ditch the old parachute reentry system and simply hover back down to the launch pad it lifted off from. Sound a little sci-fi? A writer for CNET thinks so.
“In a sense, SuperDracos are the closest thing we've seen yet to ‘Star Trek’-style on-demand thrusters that can be restarted multiple times...”
SpaceX hopes to be the first private company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station. On its website, the company took the opportunity to brag about the latest achievement.
“NASA’s Commercial Crew Program awarded SpaceX $75 million in April of last year to begin work developing the escape system in order to prepare the Dragon spacecraft to carry astronauts. Less than nine months later, SpaceX engineers have designed, built and tested the engine.”
But a writer for Geek.com points out, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the company.
“Originally the Dragon was to make its maiden voyage last November, but that got pushed back to this February. Unfortunately, the launch has been delayed again due to further engineering work being required. No new launch date has been set yet.”
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