| Revision as of 05:29, 9 March 2006 editNeuronExMachina (talk | contribs)1,277 edits mobile servicing system← Previous edit | Revision as of 22:03, 9 March 2006 edit undoNeuronExMachina (talk | contribs)1,277 edits →External linksNext edit → | ||
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| == External links == | == External links == | ||
| === News articles === | |||
| * (Space News, March 6, 2006) | * (Space News, March 6, 2006) | ||
| * : Includes a number of cutaway views of capsule | * : Includes a number of cutaway views of capsule | ||
| === Analysis and speculation === | |||
| * (Chair Force Engineer, March 6, 2006): an engineer's analysis of the capsule design | * (Chair Force Engineer, March 6, 2006): an engineer's analysis of the capsule design | ||
| * (Selenian Boondocks, March 6, 2003): More analysis | * (Selenian Boondocks, March 6, 2003): More analysis | ||
| * (Selenian Boondocks, March 9, 2003) | |||
| * (Selenian Boondocks, March 9, 2003) | |||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 22:03, 9 March 2006
The SpaceX Dragon is a is a conventional blunt-cone ballistic capsule spacecraft, capable of carrying 7 people or a mixture of personnel and cargo, to and from low earth orbit. The nosecone of the vehicle has a hinged cap which opens to reveal a standard ISS Common Berthing Mechanism, which allows the Dragon to dock to the US segment of the ISS. The capsule is being developed by SpaceX, a space transportation startup company.
The Dragon capsule will be launched atop a Falcon 9 vehicle. SpaceX has built a full-sized prototype of the vehicle and "thoroughly tested" its life support system. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has stated that he plans to have the capsule enter service by 2009.
The vehicle is part of a proposal submitted on March 3, 2006 for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program for commercially delivering cargo and crew to the International Space Station. SpaceX's team for the COTS proposal consists of a number of companies, including MD Robotics, a Canadian company which built the International Space Station's Mobile Servicing System, a robotic arm with a mobile re-attachable base. They intend to use the robotic arm to simplify docking with the space station.
External links
News articles
- SpaceX Building Reusable Crew Capsule (Space News, March 6, 2006)
- The SpaceX Dragon: America's First Privately Financed Manned Orbital Spacecraft? : Includes a number of cutaway views of capsule
Analysis and speculation
- Draggin' Quest (Chair Force Engineer, March 6, 2006): an engineer's analysis of the capsule design
- Apparently Some People Keep Secrets Better Than Others (Selenian Boondocks, March 6, 2003): More analysis
- Time for a Canadarm Mini? (Selenian Boondocks, March 9, 2003)
- Translunar Dragon Flights? (Selenian Boondocks, March 9, 2003)
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