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SpaceX shares video of Crew Dragon parachute test
@spacex:
At Naval Air Facility El Centro in Southern California, SpaceX recently completed its 16th test of Crew Dragon's parachute system-verifying the system's ability to slow Crew Dragon and ensure a safe landing in the unlikely event of a low altitude abort. https://t.co/OOQnAtNXJ3 https://t.co/kFX7Qth3AK
A little disappointing they aren't doing propulsive landings for Dragon 2, but I suppose it's understandable that NASA would want to stick to proven technologies. Maybe if they're not being too optimistic on the timescales, we'll see the BFR doing those before too awful long.
The most important thing is that they get crew up and back safely. Propulsively landing a booster is one thing. If it crashes they only lose what other launch providers routinely throw away. Land with crew and the stakes go way up. It's understandable that NASA doesn't want the extra risk if it isn't necessary.
I can't wait to see BFR in action. That thing is going to be a beast.
I wonder if they'll try to do any dry landings, Soyuz shows that's possible with parachutes and I imagine it'd help cut down on refurb costs. Saltwater is nasty, corrosive stuff.
I can't wait to see what they want to do after ITS. They'll get the 9m BFR running at a good pace and then I imagine with the experience gained they'll announce they're going to build a fleet of the original 12m ITS but then what?
A 15 meter ship?
A 20 meter ship?
A stripped down passenger version of ITS that can haul 200 people to an in-orbit constructed transfer ship that can ferry 1000 people to Mars?
I believe the ITS has been outright canceled, so whatever ship they design after BFR will probably be an entirely different design, using what they learned as a basis. Maybe they'll find a large fleet of smaller ships is the way to go, although personally I would love to see a huge 20 meter monster with the capacity for hundreds of people.
Dragon 2?
Dragon 2 won't be going to Mars, it will only be used to ferry astronauts/paying customers to the ISS/Commercial stations in low earth orbit.
BFR will be going to Mars and that will be using propulsive landing (since you can't really land on mars with parachutes; the atmosphere is too thin)
Nah, they nixed Red Dragon in favor of focusing on BFR development, this capsule's not going to Mars.
Alternate view
This reminds of some very tragic moments in KSP when I would forget the parachutes or discovering a bit too late that one parachute might actually not be enough.
That thing really swings all over the place doesn't it
Yeah, it will be a wild ride.