SpaceX test Saturday could be final one before firm carries people

JAN. 17, 2020 / 3:00 AM
By Paul Brinkmann

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 17 (UPI) -- SpaceX plans a final test launch of its Crew Dragon capsule in Florida on Saturday to prove it can carry astronauts to safety in an emergency -- a fiery demonstration that will destroy a Falcon 9 rocket.

Although liftoff had been planned for as early as 8 a.m., with a four-hour window in case of delays, SpaceX announced late Friday that high seas in the Atlantic Ocean might hinder recovery of the capsule, and the launch might occur closer to noon.

The test, called an in-flight abort, is intended to show that the capsule can detach, fire its own engines and land if the rocket has a problem. The rocket will be lost as it burns up in the atmosphere over the Atlantic Ocean.

If all goes well, SpaceX will be poised to launch the first astronauts to the International Space Station from U.S. soil since the space shuttle program ended in 2011.

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https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2020/01/17/SpaceX-test-Saturday-could-be-final-one-before-firm-carries-people/9461578931288/?sl=1&ur3=1