Credit: SpaceX/Space
Launching people into space has many difficulties, not the least of which is caused by placing said people at the top of a rocket filled with a lot of energy-dense chemicals which stand a reasonable chance of starting a runaway reaction which may blow said people to pieces.
If a catastrophic failure occurs, those people need to get out of there really fast. Spacex has successfully tested their launch abort system for doing just this. A launch abort system is like an ejector seat, but instead of ejecting seat & pilot, the entire crew capsule is ejected.
Previous launch abort systems have involved a rocket tower mounted on top of the crew capsule. In the event of an abort, a rocket tower would tow the crew capsule to safety. Rocket towers were jettisoned soon after launch.
SpaceX places its launch abort system below the crew capsule. It remains attached & provides an abort capability all the way to orbit. On return from space, the same thrusters can be used to provide a controlled descent to land.
SpaceX expects its first crewed flights in 2017.
http://www.spacex.com/news/2015/05/06/crew-dragon-completes-pad-abort-test
http://www.engadget.com/2015/05/06/spacex-dragon-pad-abort-test-video/
Written before the test was run, but has excellent background information:
http://www.spacex.com/news/2015/05/04/5-things-know-about-spacexs-pad-abort-test / SpaceX first key flight test of its Crew Dragon spacecraft vehicle designed carry astronauts to and from space successful Pad Abort Test first flight test SpaceX’s revolutionary launch abort system data captured here Crew Dragon first human missions 2017 test simulated Dragon would carry astronauts to safety emergency on the launch pad Crew Dragon’s abort system powered eight SuperDraco engines produces 15,000 pounds of thrust engines integrated directly into the sides of the vehicle carried on top of the vehicle previous launch abort systems configuration astronauts escape capability launch pad all the way to orbit spacecraft use the same thrusters land propulsively at the end of a mission Pad Abort Test eight SuperDracos ignited ignite simultaneously reached maximum thrust propel propelling spacecraft launch pad half a second vertical flight Crew Dragon pitched controlled burn SuperDraco engines throttled throttle control trajectory real-time measurements vehicle’s sensors accelerate 0-100 mph in 1.2 seconds maximum velocity 345 mph abort burn terminated propellant trunk jettisoned spacecraft heat shield small parachutes drogues deployed trunk separation drogue parachutes stabilized vehicle three main parachutes deployed spacecraft splashdown ignition Dragon splashed down Atlantic Ocean downrange launch pad test Crew Dragon test dummy equipped with sensors gather data necessary safe environment future crew humans provide valuable data future flight testing Crew Dragon spacecraft high-altitude abort test uncrewed mission Space Station /
