SpaceX Test Success Allows U.S. To Resume Flights to ISS

Jan. 20, 2020 (EIRNS)—SpaceX and NASA’s successful launch yesterday of the Falcon 9 rocket and “Crew Dragon” capsule (capable of carrying seven astronauts) and successful ejection of its “Crew Dragon” capsule in a simulated rocket failure, means that NASA can resume carrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS), international media reported today.

The carrier, Falcon 9, was launched from Cape Canaveral and, supported by parachutes, splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean off Florida’s coast. Though the Crew Dragon can carry seven, the test carried only two human “dummies” equipped with sensors to track the effect of acceleration on the human body.

“Congratulations to the @NASA and @SpaceX team for a successful In-Flight Abort Test! This critical test puts us on the cusp of once again launching American astronauts on American rockets from American soil. Spacecraft recovery operations are underway,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted.

NASA has been sending its astronauts to the International Space Station from Russia, aboard Russian spacecraft, since NASA’s shuttle program ended in 2011. Since 2014, NASA has been working to once again use American ships through private partnerships. Then the Boeing Aerospace and SpaceX were awarded $4.2 billion and $2.5 billion respectively to develop pods for crews.