Wednesday, May 6, 2015

SpaceX Tests Astronaut Safety System

Hawthorne-based SpaceX launched a test early Wednesday morning, to help test an astronaut safety system intended to deliver astronauts safely in the case of an aborted launchpad liftoff. SpaceX has not yet reported on the results of that test, however, SpaceX founder Elon Musk said the company's Dragon capsule reached a top speed of 345 mph, going from 0 to 100 mph in 1.2 seconds. The tests were held at Cape Canaveral, and are part of an effort for SpaceX to start delivering astronauts to space. The company is currently in the middle of a number of equipment resupply missions to the International Space Station, but has yet to deliver an astronaut to space.