Dragon capsule

SpaceX has completed the test flight of its Dragon capsule, to evaluate the capabilities of the spacecraft to carry astronauts to safety should a life-threatening situation occur during launch.

The two-minute flight is designed to test the launch abort system in preparation of Dragon for its planned first manned mission in 2017.

Lifted-off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, the Dragon ignited its eight SuperDraco engines for around six seconds, with each producing around 15,000lb thrust.

Nasa commercial crew programme manager Kathy Lueders said: "This is a critical step toward ensuring crew safety for government and commercial endeavours in low-Earth orbit."

After reaching maximum altitude, the capsule jettisoned its trunk and began a slow rotation with its heat shield and safely parachuted back to Earth.

Following trunk separation, small parachutes were deployed to stabilise the vehicle, and three main parachutes then slowed the spacecraft before splashdown.

The Dragon has been recovered by boat crews, and will be sent for further analysis.

Various special instruments, including temperature sensors and accelerometers were installed on the vehicle, to determine the stresses and acceleration effects.

A test dummy and weights were placed at crew seat locations to simulate a crewed launch and evaluate the possible effects on the human body.

SpaceX said that the Dragon’s engines are installed into the vehicle’s sides to allow astronauts escape from the launch pad all the way into orbit.

At the end of a mission, the spacecraft can use the same thrusters to make propulsive landings on Earth.

"This is a critical step toward ensuring crew safety for government and commercial endeavours in low-Earth orbit."

SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell said: "SpaceX was founded with the goal of carrying people to space, and today’s pad abort test represented an important milestone in that effort.

"Our partnership with Nasa has been essential for developing Crew Dragon, a spacecraft that we believe will be the safest ever flown."

Data accumulated from the launch abort system test will assess SpaceX in future flight testing of the Dragon, including a high-altitude abort test and an uncrewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Nasa plans to increasing the number of crew on the ISS, to conduct more science experiments there.

The agency intends to use SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Boeing’s CST-100, to as many as four astronauts on each mission.

Image: After reaching maximum altitude, the Dragon deployed three main parachutes before splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean. Photo: courtesy of Space Exploration Technologies Corp.