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Since the end of the US shuttle program in 2011, astronauts – American and foreign – depended on the Russian space shuttle Soyuz to get to and from the International Space Station (ISS). the addiction, which cost NASA $ 70 million each, was expensive and also left astronauts at risk failed in case of malfunction of a spacecraft, like the one observed in October 2018. Now, thanks to SpaceX Crew Dragon's successful test mission, astronauts could soon alternate, more affordable, mode of transportation to the ISS.
the epic The Demo-1 mission began on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 2:49 pm EST, when a Space X Falcon 9 rocket took off from the Kennedy Space Center with a Crew Dragon spacecraft. Ten minutes after takeoff, the first reusable rocket of the Falcon 9 allowed a perfect landing on the drone of the company. Of course I still love you, waiting in the Atlantic Ocean.
Shortly after, the Crew Dragon capsule detached second rocket of Falcon 9 and headed for its final destination, the ISS. On March 5 at 5:51 am EST, approximately 27 hours after launch in space, the capsule with success berthed at the space science laboratory. In addition to bringing 400 pounds of supplies, the Crew Dragon also carried his first "astronaut" – a model named Ripley. The figurine dressed in a spacesuit was equipped with a suite of sensors around the head, neck and spine, monitor how would a human be rate on the flight.
After his planned five-day stay, early March 8, 2019, the Crew Dragon in an autonomous way undocked from the ISS and, with his only passenger still on board, returned to Earth. Entering the earth's atmosphere, the spaceship deployed four parachutes to help slow his fast pace. The crew dragon then splashed the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida, from where it was instantly dig up by a pending recovery ship.
"Everything went perfectly, on schedule," said Benjamin Reed, director of crew mission management for SpaceX, live from California.
The same spacecraft will be used for a second flight in April. This time, the mission will test themiscarry system, designed to save the crew in the event that their rocket seed. he comprises eight SuperDraco thrusters ignite during the ascent and pilot a Crew Dragon capsule away from his falcon 9 failing.
If all goes well, in July 2019, the Crew Dragon will transport its first two human passengers – NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Douglas Hurley – to the ISS for a stay of about a week. Contracted missions for NASA, each with four astronauts, will follow shortly thereafter.
Although Space X is the first to complete its test mission, it's not the only private company contracted by NASA to build the astronaut "taxis" of the future. Boeing plans to test an unprepared mission on its Starliner spacecraft, which can carry up to seven astronauts at a time, in early April. If all goes as planned, the company hopes to be able to transport astronauts to the ISS by August 2019.
In addition to eliminating Soyuz and reducing costs, SpaceX and Boeing spacecraft will carry up to eleven astronauts substantial increase from the current three. This will allow NASA will send larger teams of scientists and expand the use of the stations, which will allow additional search time and more extensive discovery opportunities on board the orbiting laboratory.
Resources: Space.com. Smithsonianmag.com, NASA.gov, Newsatlas.com
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