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SpaceX tries out its new SuperDraco rocket engine

SpaceX tries out its new SuperDraco rocket engine
SpaceX has test-fired its advanced new SuperDraco engine, to be used on the Dragon spacecraft
SpaceX has test-fired its advanced new SuperDraco engine, to be used on the Dragon spacecraft
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SpaceX's SuperDraco engines could also be used for precise propulsive landings
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SpaceX's SuperDraco engines could also be used for precise propulsive landings
SpaceX's SuperDraco engines are designed to allow the Dragon space capsule to escape in the event of a launch emergency
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SpaceX's SuperDraco engines are designed to allow the Dragon space capsule to escape in the event of a launch emergency
SpaceX has test-fired its advanced new SuperDraco engine, to be used on the Dragon spacecraft
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SpaceX has test-fired its advanced new SuperDraco engine, to be used on the Dragon spacecraft
View gallery - 3 images

SpaceX, the California company that is developing the reusable Dragon spacecraft, recently test-fired its new SuperDraco engine. Presently, the Dragon capsule is equipped with less-advanced Draco engines, which are designed for maneuvering the spacecraft while in orbit and during reentry. The SuperDraco, however, is intended to allow the astronauts to escape if an emergency occurs during the launch.

Plans call for eight of the engines to be installed in the outer side walls of the Dragon. Together, these will create 120,000 pounds (54,431 kg) of axial thrust. Should something go wrong with the Falcon launch rocket while the spacecraft is lifting off, the SuperDracos will fire, allowing the Dragon to separate and fly to safety.

SpaceX's SuperDraco engines are designed to allow the Dragon space capsule to escape in the event of a launch emergency
SpaceX's SuperDraco engines are designed to allow the Dragon space capsule to escape in the event of a launch emergency

SpaceX claims that the new engines will have several advantages over those used by other spacecraft. For starters, they will remain attached to the Dragon throughout the entire launch, unlike other systems that are jettisoned within a few minutes of lift-off. They can also be restarted multiple times within one flight, and have the ability to deep throttle, which should reportedly provide the astronauts with "precise control and enormous power."

Additionally, like the Dragon and the Falcon, the SuperDracos will be reusable - one set should be good for numerous flights. If one of them does fail, the escape system is designed to still work successfully using the remaining seven.

Besides their use in emergencies, the engines could also be used to perform precise "propulsive landings" on Earth or other planets. In this scenario, by varying the downward thrust of the engines, astronauts could gradually lower the Dragon to the ground.

SpaceX's SuperDraco engines could also be used for precise propulsive landings
SpaceX's SuperDraco engines could also be used for precise propulsive landings

The SuperDraco engine was developed using a US$75 million grant that NASA's Commercial Crew Program awarded to SpaceX last April. The ground tests were conducted at the company's Rocket Development Facility in McGregor, Texas, where the engine sustained full-duration, full-thrust firing, and performed multiple demonstrations of deep throttling.

Some of those tests can be seen in the video below.

SpaceX Testing - SuperDraco Engine Firing

View gallery - 3 images
11 comments
11 comments
Jon A.
I\'m a big fan of SpaceX. Still, I\'m a little disappointed to learn that the Draco engines are fueled with hydrazine.
Hydrazine is the standard fuel for things like spacecraft attitude thrusters. It makes for simple engines, and it\'s a hypergolic fuel, so ignition is assured, but it\'s nasty stuff. It\'s toxic, and it will ignite on contact with any oxidizer.
There has been talk about replacing hypergolic fuels with less toxic fuels like peroxide-based monopropellants, but I guess that day has not yet arrived.
Derek Howe
Awesome, Can\'t wait for the day when they land a spacecraft with no wheels or chutes!
Jay Finke
WOW that\'s kool I need a set for my roller skates
Pat Kelley
An interesting new monopropellant being tested is nitrous oxide fuel blend (NOFB), which promises to have a specific impulse that matches LOX/kerosene bipropellant. Fuels such as acetylene are suspended in N2O in a proprietary process. The propellant has been tested, so it\'s not imaginary. I have no personal involvement with the inventing company, but for those interested in learning more, see http://www.ispsllc.com/nofbx.html
solutions4circuits
The use of anything but hydrogen as a lift fuel for big rockets is environmentally irresponsible. SpaceX should be grounded by the EPA.
JMOdom
@ solutions4circuits;
Why does there always have to be at least one person that is so negative about everything?
Burnerjack
JMOdom, there\'s an EPA-Nazi in every crowd! If it weren\'t \"the enviroment\" it would be some other issue. Always a wet blanket.
James Dugan
Until we\'ve got better education about math, engineering, biology, and chemistry - we\'re going to have to put up with those that know next to nothing spouting \'environmental concerns\' about trace amounts of things that are difficult to avoid, yet the release of which is enormously helpful to mankind as a whole.
As is evidenced by our virtual inability to build certain things, environmental politics makes for a poor companion for engineering.
Glad to see Dragon is progressing.
Slowburn
re; solutions4circuits
The liftoff fuel that SpaceX uses is kerosene not Hydrazine. Hydrogen is energy intensive to extract and liquify and vast quantities are boiled off with every transfer. Kerosene is currently the less polluting fuel.
Pewe
@Jon A. I do not see your problem with hydrazine, it\'s efficient, easy to handle, just ask the germans who shipped in bulk by train during WWII.
Your alternative h2o2, will spontanius decombust in rocket grade concentrations... But what, it was shipped on the same trains that carried hydrazine. Consider the reaction if two tanks got mixed...
The protocols regarding the use of hydrazin, are so well proven over the past 70 years that it\'s probably the simplest and safest option available.
Btw. Given the current safty procedures gasoline would never have been aproved for use in cars today. It\'s just do da%#$% dangerous.
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