Crew Dragon | In-Flight Escape Demonstration Recap

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Published 2020-05-01

On Sunday, January 19, SpaceX successfully completed an in-flight test of Crew Dragon’s launch escape capabilities from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This test, which did not have NASA astronauts onboard the spacecraft, demonstrated Crew Dragon’s ability to reliably carry crew to safety in the unlikely event of an emergency on ascent.

Falcon 9 and Dragon lifted off at 10:30 a.m. EST, or 15:30 UTC, with the abort sequence initiating approximately one and a half minutes into flight. Crew Dragon's eight SuperDraco engines powered the spacecraft away from Falcon 9 at speeds of over 400 mph. Following separation, Dragon's trunk was released and the spacecraft's parachutes were deployed, first the two drogue parachutes followed by the four upgraded Mark III parachutes. Dragon safely splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean and teams successfully recovered the spacecraft onto SpaceX's recovery vessel.

All Comments (21)

@benheinz8817 4 years ago

It's telling that just a few years ago rocket reusability was a pipe dream, but now there are people complaining that it was a wase to destroy that rocket on only it's 4th flight.
@theadventuringnerd 4 years ago

For once it’s a Rapid Scheduled Disassembly
@scottmanley 4 years ago

Bod and Doug are happy this went well
@thejesuschrist 4 years ago

SpaceX is one of the most redeeming factors of humanity.
@titanii4568 4 years ago

We are living in a time where history is being made.
@agentkerbal9840 4 years ago

Next step : Humans aboard
@DangItshere 4 years ago

F for B1046 "A falcon must die for a dragon to fly"
@jorgeblanco6708 4 years ago

This is really spectacular to see how a private company of this scales is making such leaps in simplifying space travel in such a short period of time! Simply amazing!!
@Gabriel-cq1ut 4 years ago

This is one of the most important Space X flights in history!
@cp12298 4 years ago

"We are the middle children of history. Born too late to explore the earth, born too early to explore the universe." - IDK
@jimwilliams1536 4 years ago

SpaceX your bringing a happy tear to my eye. I was 6 years old when Challenger broke apart. It really broke my heart. Just remember people, Shuttle Astronauts never had any chance to escape an explosion at those altitudes.
@infernosxe 4 years ago

Music: LAPLAGE - Synthesis Moment
@seino__ 4 years ago

Last time I was this early Falcon heavy hadn't flown yet.
@FacterinoCommenterino 4 years ago

Today's fact: The term 'footage' comes from films being measured in feet, when being edited in the early days of film making.
@horseradish4046 4 years ago

"Houston we have a prob.. *ejects na we're alright, we'll try it again next time."
@1wafumbafan 4 years ago

Aren't rocket launches just the most badass things? I can't get enough of 'em.
@jamietodd2560 4 years ago

I love the feeling of this accelerating Space Age. Can't wait to see the crewed flight!
@ahmedyahiameribout8286 4 years ago

1:24 I can feel that man
@joelo0504 4 years ago

Can we get the full soundtrack? I can listen to this for hours.
@itsadisood 4 years ago

I remember how cloudy it was that day. So many professional camera setup failed in the dense clouds but thank you SpaceX for providing us with this brilliant quality video of the event! Go falcon 🚀 go dragon. 🐉