SpaceX crew capsule abortion scheduled for tomorrow

[OvB]

[quote]Crew Dragon's first critical flight test, known as a Pad Abort Test, is expected to take place this Wednesday, May 6, from SpaceX’s Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) in Cape Canaveral, Florida. While the test is originating from the same launch pad we use for operational missions, this is not an operational flight.

This will be the first flight test of SpaceX’s revolutionary new launch abort system, and the odds of encountering delays or issues are high. Fortunately the test doesn’t need to be perfect to be valuable—our primary objective is to capture as much data as possible as the data captured here will be key in preparing Crew Dragon for its first human missions in 2017.

[B]1. What is a Pad Abort Test?[/B]

A Pad Abort Test is a trial run for a spacecraft’s launch abort system (sometimes called a launch escape system). This system is designed to quickly get the crew and spacecraft away from the rocket in the event of a potential failure. It is similar to an ejection seat for a fighter pilot, but instead of ejecting the pilot out of the spacecraft, the entire spacecraft is “ejected” away from the launch vehicle.

[B]*2-5 in article*[/B][/quote]
[url]http://www.spacex.com/news/2015/05/04/5-things-know-about-spacexs-pad-abort-test[/url]
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/kGbwXMJ.jpg[/img_thumb]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/udqfZe7.jpg[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/e7r7nXN.jpg[/img]
More pictures here: [url]http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/05/05/photos-dragon-prototype-poised-for-abort-test/[/url]

I'm pro-lift.

[jordguitar]

I thought it was today :(

Heres some Orion pad abort porn:

[video=youtube;1c9rS5G5X6Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c9rS5G5X6Y[/video]

[Sableye]

Spaceships with crash dummies in them...why don't we ever see more of this

Anyway its exciting because it is a totally new way of aborting from a launch that doesn't use the big launch escape tower on top saving weight

[Kite_shugo]

SpaceX is paving the way to the future. What a time to be alive.

[OvB]

Some related media:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIGVi_rMFGw[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEQrmDoIRO8[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf_-g3UWQ04[/media]

[Map in a box]

I thought they were going to see what it would take to give an abortion in space. Glad to see it's a little less.. uhh. yeah.

[OvB]

static fire successful. Onward to launch tomorrow morning.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/YKa1x4D.jpg[/img]

[JennyC6]

As much as I loathe commercial spaceflight right now, I hope the test goes well. Regardless of why the crew are on board or who made it, we need to make sure the LES system of any crew-served rocket is up to snuff.

[Zeke129]

[QUOTE=TestECull;47666431]As much as I loathe commercial spaceflight right now, I hope the test goes well. Regardless of why the crew are on board or who made it, we need to make sure the LES system of any crew-served rocket is up to snuff.[/QUOTE]

You struck me as the kind of person who would prefer private companies doing what NASA used to, for less money. What's wrong with commercial spaceflight? It's more or less the same as what the government has been doing for decades but with more money to play with.

[salmonmarine]

[QUOTE=TestECull;47666431]As much as I loathe commercial spaceflight right now, I hope the test goes well. Regardless of why the crew are on board or who made it, we need to make sure the LES system of any crew-served rocket is up to snuff.[/QUOTE]

the more things in space the better

[Terry]

[QUOTE=TestECull;47666431]As much as I loathe commercial spaceflight right now, I hope the test goes well. Regardless of why the crew are on board or who made it, we need to make sure the LES system of any crew-served rocket is up to snuff.[/QUOTE]

Why do you loathe it? This is the next step to space, these companies are doing what governments cant (Don't have the money to do).

[OvB]

[QUOTE=Zeke129;47666540]You struck me as the kind of person who would prefer private companies doing what NASA used to, for less money. What's wrong with commercial spaceflight? It's more or less the same as what the government has been doing for decades but with more money to play with.[/QUOTE]

It doesn't have a V8.

[jordguitar]

[QUOTE=salmonmarine;47666617]the more things in space the better[/QUOTE]

The more things in space with people on it going to other planets the better.

[OvB]

[B]Oh yeah its going to be streamed live here:[/B] [url]http://www.spacex.com/webcast/[/url]

[Sableye]

[QUOTE=Cpt.Funkymonk;47666648]Why do you loathe it? This is the next step to space, these companies are doing what governments cant (Don't have the money to do).[/QUOTE]
Companies aren't beholdened to congress, spacex was developing the dragon and falcon long before the commercial crew program because there was a market for commercial space launches at a fraction of the cost, the dragon being manned was a possibility that was brought to reality through the commercial crew program but would still have existed eventually without congress and their ass backwards understanding of science. I still believe that NASA should be the ones leading the charge back to the moon but damnit if congress hasn't tied their arms and legs up and thrown them into a lake with their constant budget adjustments and unrealistic arbitrary goals and their own political agendas. The SLS could be running modern engines without the need for srbs but congress told NASA how to build a rocket and shockingly it preserved all the jobs from the space shuttle while simultaneously being horrendously expensive to manufacture and only one being built every 2 years with 3 being expended in testing alone.

Thankfully spacex has the benefit of NASA research and resources private funding and no congressional overreach to hold them back, the falcon heavy should return man to the moon and hopefully lift the parts for an actual space-ship to mars

[FunnyBunny]

[QUOTE=TestECull;47666431]As much as I loathe commercial spaceflight right now[/QUOTE]

Anyone who says this has obviously never worked for the government...

[Zeke129]

[QUOTE=OvB;47666761]It doesn't have a V8.[/QUOTE]

Musk should put some truck nuts on the capsule to keep everyone happy.

[Antdawg]

[QUOTE=OvB;47666761]It doesn't have a V8.[/QUOTE]

And even if it did, it would have to be carbureted.

[FlandersNed]

It was successful.

[video=youtube;V4l-QAcJZmU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4l-QAcJZmU[/video]

I love how the fairing detaches.

[OvB]

Onward to the in flight abort test!

[Kite_shugo]

[QUOTE=FlandersNed;47670794]It was successful.

[video=youtube;V4l-QAcJZmU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4l-QAcJZmU[/video]

I love how the fairing detaches.[/QUOTE]

holy shit that is cool

[Sableye]

Its just like those army parachute men toys you threw around when you were a kid...only this has rocket engines

[Provost]

[QUOTE=Sableye;47671602]Its just like those army parachute men toys you threw around when you were a kid...only this has rocket engines[/QUOTE]

I had a toy Gemini capsule as a kid. Had the parachute and everything.

I remember one time, my dad rigged it up to a kite with a piece of twine that you reeled out along with the kite-string. You pulled the twine, releasing the capsule and dropping it from 50 feet up.

That shit was dope.

[lordcrypto]

[QUOTE=OvB;47666761]It doesn't have a V8.[/QUOTE]

it has 2 much new fangled computers

[FunnyBunny]

Haha did anyone see the trunk recovery