Elon Musk has revealed his SpaceX firm’s latest spacecraft, the part-NASA-funded manned capsule, the Dragon Version 2. It is capable of carrying up to seven astronauts to and from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) while also being able make powered soft landings. While its hinged nose cap, automated docking systems, and touch screen controls are new, the key change over the first cargo-only version of the Dragon spacecraft (which already actually had a life support system) is that Dragon Version 2 will have canted thrusters allowing it to make powered landings on Earth rather that the first version’s parachute-slowed “splashdowns” into the ocean.
To make this possible, four sets of two downward pointing but canted outwards “SuperDraco” fully throttleable thrusters are used to brake the vehicle after its atmospheric re-entry to allow the craft make a vertical touch down. These 16,000 lb thrust engines are also used in the case of a launch abort to take the capsule away from the rocket.
Comment by David Todd: While it has emergency parachutes for extra safety, the real question is here what happens if one of the SuperDraco engines fails shortly before touchdown? Musk claims it can still land even if two SuperDraco engines fail – though presumably he means not in the same pair. Even so, it might be best to wrap the crew in bubble-wrap as an extra precaution.
