Dragon In-Flight Abort Test

Mission

Crew Dragon In-Flight Abort Test

Type: Test Flight

When the Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket reaches Max-Q (maximum dynamic forces), the launch abort system of the Crew Dragon spacecraft will be triggered. This will fire up its SuperDraco engines and propel the spacecraft and its theoretical passengers away from the launch vehicle before landing back safely in the Atlantic Ocean. The goal of this test is to demonstrate the capacity of the spacecraft to ensure a safe return to the ground for the astronauts in the event of a launch vehicle failure. The booster for this launch will be B1046, a thrice-flown core which was the first of the Block 5 generation. It will not attempt to land and is expected to be destroyed by the SuperDracos and aerodynamic loads.

Location

Launch Complex 39A

Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

185 rockets have launched from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.

Rocket

Falcon 9 Block 5

Length: 70 meters
Diameter: 3.65 meters
First Launch: May 11, 2018

Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.

The Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket has been launched a total of 56 times with 56 successful and 0 failed launches.

Landing

NO attempt to recover this stage will be made. The booster does not have any recovery hardware installed.

Atlantic – ATL

The Atlantic ocean on the East coast of the United States is a common landing area for expended boosters.

Ocean – Ocean

Typically indicates a landing in which the booster is not recovered.

Agency

SpaceX

Type: Commercial
Abbreviation: SpX
Administration: CEO: Elon Musk
Founded: 2002
Launchers: Falcon
Spacecraft: Dragon
Country: USA

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX has many pads, on the East Coast of the US they own SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral and LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center for their lower inclination launches. They also own SLC-4E at Vandenberg, California for their high inclination launches. Another site is also being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.