In the 84th second after launch, the rocket in flight suddenly exploded into a fireball. The people at the scene were not surprised. Because this is a scheduled experiment. A few minutes later, the sound of the explosion came from the air, and the dragon spacecraft flew out of the fireball generated by the explosion. As the dragon spacecraft opened the parachute in the air, cheers came from the surrounding crowd. So far, Musk’s road to manned space has been paved.
▲ The Falcon rocket detonated the scene, this channeling monkey is big enough
In fact, this rocket explosion was a test project arranged by Musk. The rocket exploded after launch to test the rocket’s escape. System, simulating the worst situation that a rocket might encounter after launch.
What is a rocket escape system
For manned spaceflight, the escape function after launch failure is essential. Imagine if you were an astronaut and asked you to sit on a jar filled with flammable chemical fuel and tell you that once the jar explodes, you have no way to escape the day of birth. You can only crush the bones with the jar. What would you do? Feeling.
▲ Dragon 2 manned spacecraft Picture from: SpaceX
The rocket development experts and astronauts obviously do not want to be left to fate, so they have prepared escape towers made of solid rockets, tied On the top of the rocket, once the rocket failed to launch, the escape tower took the astronaut out of the rocket.
▲ Saturn 5 also did escape experiments
Russia, the United States, and China, which have manned space technology, have added escape tower designs to their rockets. .
▲ Old-fashioned top escape tower design, which is used by Alliance China.
Among them, a failure occurred 90 seconds after the launch of the Russian Soyuz in 2018, and the astronaut injured his body due to the severe vibration of the rocket vibration. After 24 seconds, the Soyuz escape tower was successfully launched and the Soyuz returned to the capsule. Breaking away from the rocket successfully saved the astronaut’s life.
▲ Alliance launch failed, escape tower saves two astronauts
This shows the importance of escape towers for manned spaceflight. Under normal circumstances, the rocket will test the escape function before the first manned flight. China’s Shenzhou and the US Saturn 5 have tested the escape tower separation before launch.
What’s different about the escape system of the dragon ship?
Long spacecraft also conducted escape tower ignition tests in 2015. Unlike traditional escape towers at the top of the return capsule, dragon spaceships The suspension system (in conjunction with the escape tower) is powered by eight SuperDraco engines, each of which produces approximately 15,000 pounds of thrust, all of which are housedOn the side of the return cabin.
▲ Dragon’s Liquid Engine Ignition for SuperDraco
In the event of an accident when the rocket launches, the dragon ship’s escape engine will ignite and take the dragon ship away from the exploding rocket. Unlike previous manned spacecraft, Musk’s escape engine was not designed on the top of the return capsule, but was integrated directly into the recyclable spacecraft. In this way, Musk can fully recycle the spacecraft. In multiple tests in 2015, Dragon’s eight SuperDraco engines performed well.
▲ SuperDraco uses monomethylhydrazine fuel (fuel is highly toxic)
But the accident still happened. In April last year, the Dragon spacecraft exploded during the ground test of the SuperDraco engine. The entire dragon The spacecraft was blown up. After three months of investigation, SpaceX released an investigation report.
▲ Loose valve causes SuperDraco explosion
A loose valve caused a rocket launch propellant to leak, which triggered a chain reaction that caused the spacecraft to burst.
After improving the failure point, the Dragon spacecraft successfully passed the ground ignition test. Although the problem has been solved, it is obviously impossible. Demonstrating to NASA the safety of the design of “liquid fuel engine placed in the return capsule”, Musk planned this high-altitude escape experiment to detonate a rocket in the sky and let the dragon ship land safely.
▲ After the high-altitude escape experiment, the dry return cabin was safely recovered and splashed on the sea surface.
It is worth mentioning that this time the detonated rocket is not a brand new rocket, it has been executedThree missions, this launch is the fourth time, even if the artillery battle is ordered this time, it can be said to be worth the cost.
What does this aerial rocket escape experiment mean
In all senses, Musk’s “super-large channeling sky monkey” is very worthwhile. This escape experiment proved to NASA the safety of the Dragon Spacecraft + Falcon 9 Rocket, and ultimately qualified for manned flight to the International Space Station.
< / p>
▲ Long spacecraft 2 has docked with the International Space Station before
At this press conference after the test, Musk announced that the task of picking up and dropping off the crew of the International Space Station will take place in the second quarter of this year, and the time is basically determined Between April and June. For SpaceX, they finally broke through the problem of manned flight, which will be the world’s first commercial rocket that can carry people.
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▲ Overlooking Dragon 2 from the International Space Station
For SpaceX’s old rival Boeing, SpaceX’s success will put tremendous pressure on Starliner’s manned spacecraft. To know that Starliner has just encountered the problem of failing to dock with the International Space Station.This unmanned test failed. Coupled with the recent 737 MAX problem, Boeing’s life is now very hard. Once SpaceX completes the manned mission of the space station before Boeing, Boeing’s Starliner project may completely fail.
< / p>
▲ Comparison of Dragon Spaceship 2 and Boeing Starliner
You know, the launch cost of the SpaceX Dragon is much lower than the cost of the Boeing Starliner, which is completely uncompetitive in the business.
Apart from SpaceX, the happiest is probably NASA. With so many years of funding, the United States has finally supported A cheap and easy-to-use domestic manned spacecraft was developed, and it was developed by a commercial company. From then on, there is no need to buy Russian Soyuz seats at high prices.
▲ Dragon 2 manned spacecraft Picture from: SpaceX
The rocket development experts and astronauts obviously do not want to be left to fate, so they have prepared escape towers made of solid rockets, tied On the top of the rocket, once the rocket failed to launch, the escape tower took the astronaut out of the rocket.
▲ Saturn 5 also did escape experiments
Russia, the United States, and China, which have manned space technology, have added escape tower designs to their rockets. .
▲ Old-fashioned top escape tower design, which is used by Alliance China.
Among them, a failure occurred 90 seconds after the launch of the Russian Soyuz in 2018, and the astronaut injured his body due to the severe vibration of the rocket vibration. After 24 seconds, the Soyuz escape tower was successfully launched and the Soyuz returned to the capsule. Breaking away from the rocket successfully saved the astronaut’s life.
▲ Alliance launch failed, escape tower saves two astronauts
This shows the importance of escape towers for manned spaceflight. Under normal circumstances, the rocket will test the escape function before the first manned flight. China’s Shenzhou and the US Saturn 5 have tested the escape tower separation before launch.
What’s different about the escape system of the dragon ship?
Long spacecraft also conducted escape tower ignition tests in 2015. Unlike traditional escape towers at the top of the return capsule, dragon spaceships The suspension system (in conjunction with the escape tower) is powered by eight SuperDraco engines, each of which produces approximately 15,000 pounds of thrust, all of which are housedOn the side of the return cabin.
▲ Dragon’s Liquid Engine Ignition for SuperDraco
In the event of an accident when the rocket launches, the dragon ship’s escape engine will ignite and take the dragon ship away from the exploding rocket. Unlike previous manned spacecraft, Musk’s escape engine was not designed on the top of the return capsule, but was integrated directly into the recyclable spacecraft. In this way, Musk can fully recycle the spacecraft. In multiple tests in 2015, Dragon’s eight SuperDraco engines performed well.
▲ SuperDraco uses monomethylhydrazine fuel (fuel is highly toxic)
But the accident still happened. In April last year, the Dragon spacecraft exploded during the ground test of the SuperDraco engine. The entire dragon The spacecraft was blown up. After three months of investigation, SpaceX released an investigation report.
▲ Loose valve causes SuperDraco explosion
A loose valve caused a rocket launch propellant to leak, which triggered a chain reaction that caused the spacecraft to burst.
After improving the failure point, the Dragon spacecraft successfully passed the ground ignition test. Although the problem has been solved, it is obviously impossible. Demonstrating to NASA the safety of the design of “liquid fuel engine placed in the return capsule”, Musk planned this high-altitude escape experiment to detonate a rocket in the sky and let the dragon ship land safely.
▲ After the high-altitude escape experiment, the dry return cabin was safely recovered and splashed on the sea surface.
It is worth mentioning that this time the detonated rocket is not a brand new rocket, it has been executedThree missions, this launch is the fourth time, even if the artillery battle is ordered this time, it can be said to be worth the cost.
What does this aerial rocket escape experiment mean
In all senses, Musk’s “super-large channeling sky monkey” is very worthwhile. This escape experiment proved to NASA the safety of the Dragon Spacecraft + Falcon 9 Rocket, and ultimately qualified for manned flight to the International Space Station.
< / p>
▲ Long spacecraft 2 has docked with the International Space Station before
At this press conference after the test, Musk announced that the task of picking up and dropping off the crew of the International Space Station will take place in the second quarter of this year, and the time is basically determined Between April and June. For SpaceX, they finally broke through the problem of manned flight, which will be the world’s first commercial rocket that can carry people.
< / p>
▲ Overlooking Dragon 2 from the International Space Station
For SpaceX’s old rival Boeing, SpaceX’s success will put tremendous pressure on Starliner’s manned spacecraft. To know that Starliner has just encountered the problem of failing to dock with the International Space Station.This unmanned test failed. Coupled with the recent 737 MAX problem, Boeing’s life is now very hard. Once SpaceX completes the manned mission of the space station before Boeing, Boeing’s Starliner project may completely fail.
< / p>
▲ Comparison of Dragon Spaceship 2 and Boeing Starliner
You know, the launch cost of the SpaceX Dragon is much lower than the cost of the Boeing Starliner, which is completely uncompetitive in the business.
Apart from SpaceX, the happiest is probably NASA. With so many years of funding, the United States has finally supported A cheap and easy-to-use domestic manned spacecraft was developed, and it was developed by a commercial company. From then on, there is no need to buy Russian Soyuz seats at high prices.
▲ Dragon’s Liquid Engine Ignition for SuperDraco
In the event of an accident when the rocket launches, the dragon ship’s escape engine will ignite and take the dragon ship away from the exploding rocket. Unlike previous manned spacecraft, Musk’s escape engine was not designed on the top of the return capsule, but was integrated directly into the recyclable spacecraft. In this way, Musk can fully recycle the spacecraft. In multiple tests in 2015, Dragon’s eight SuperDraco engines performed well.
▲ SuperDraco uses monomethylhydrazine fuel (fuel is highly toxic)
But the accident still happened. In April last year, the Dragon spacecraft exploded during the ground test of the SuperDraco engine. The entire dragon The spacecraft was blown up. After three months of investigation, SpaceX released an investigation report.
▲ Loose valve causes SuperDraco explosion
A loose valve caused a rocket launch propellant to leak, which triggered a chain reaction that caused the spacecraft to burst.
After improving the failure point, the Dragon spacecraft successfully passed the ground ignition test. Although the problem has been solved, it is obviously impossible. Demonstrating to NASA the safety of the design of “liquid fuel engine placed in the return capsule”, Musk planned this high-altitude escape experiment to detonate a rocket in the sky and let the dragon ship land safely.
▲ After the high-altitude escape experiment, the dry return cabin was safely recovered and splashed on the sea surface.
It is worth mentioning that this time the detonated rocket is not a brand new rocket, it has been executedThree missions, this launch is the fourth time, even if the artillery battle is ordered this time, it can be said to be worth the cost.
What does this aerial rocket escape experiment mean
In all senses, Musk’s “super-large channeling sky monkey” is very worthwhile. This escape experiment proved to NASA the safety of the Dragon Spacecraft + Falcon 9 Rocket, and ultimately qualified for manned flight to the International Space Station.
▲ Long spacecraft 2 has docked with the International Space Station before
At this press conference after the test, Musk announced that the task of picking up and dropping off the crew of the International Space Station will take place in the second quarter of this year, and the time is basically determined Between April and June. For SpaceX, they finally broke through the problem of manned flight, which will be the world’s first commercial rocket that can carry people.
▲ Overlooking Dragon 2 from the International Space Station
For SpaceX’s old rival Boeing, SpaceX’s success will put tremendous pressure on Starliner’s manned spacecraft. To know that Starliner has just encountered the problem of failing to dock with the International Space Station.This unmanned test failed. Coupled with the recent 737 MAX problem, Boeing’s life is now very hard. Once SpaceX completes the manned mission of the space station before Boeing, Boeing’s Starliner project may completely fail.
▲ Comparison of Dragon Spaceship 2 and Boeing Starliner
You know, the launch cost of the SpaceX Dragon is much lower than the cost of the Boeing Starliner, which is completely uncompetitive in the business.
Apart from SpaceX, the happiest is probably NASA. With so many years of funding, the United States has finally supported A cheap and easy-to-use domestic manned spacecraft was developed, and it was developed by a commercial company. From then on, there is no need to buy Russian Soyuz seats at high prices.