Space X passes final parachute test ahead its historic launch on May 27 that will mark America's first manned spaceflight in nearly nine years before their 2024 Moon trip(7 Pics)
Space X completed its final parachute test as the aerospace company and Nasa prepare to launch two astronauts to the International Space Station on May 27.
Space X, founded by Elon Musk, shared news of the successful test run Friday on Twitter as they gear up for the historic lift off of Demo-2, the first crewed test flight of the Crew Dragon spacecraft.
'27th and final test of Crew Dragon’s upgraded Mark 3 parachutes complete,' Space X wrote.
Space X announced that it passed the final parachute test ahead of the May 27 lift off
This Monday, March 30, 2020 photo made available by SpaceX shows NASA astronauts Bob Behnken, left, and Doug Hurley during a test at a SpaceX processing facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
'One step closer to flying NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station and safely returning them back home to Earth.'
A photo of the test showed the Crew Dragon's parachutes fully functional as it safely floated to the ground.
Space enthusiasts are anticipating the launch as it is latest step is helping push the U.S. back to the front of human spaceflight.
It will be America's first manned spaceflight in nearly nine years.
NASA has been unable to fly astronauts since the Space Shuttle fleet was retired 2011, and have been forced to rely on Russian Soyuz rockets for rides to the International Space Station at $84million a seat.
This undated photo made available by SpaceX in February 2020 shows the Crew Dragon spacecraft undergoing acoustic testing in Florida
NASA astronauts Bob Behnken (left) and Doug Hurley (right) will man the spacecraft as it travels to the International Space Station
Space officials also complete an investigation into an engine failure on the first stage of the Space X Falcon 9 rocket during a previous launch in March.
During that test, 60 of Space X's Starlink internet satellites were aboard, Space.com reports.
The misstep didn't interfere with the overall mission since the satellites reached orbit, but NASA and Space X conducted an investigation since the upcoming launch would also use a Falcon 9 rockte.
'We have reviewed the anomaly resolution of the Starlink launch and actually have cleared the engines on our vehicle for that failure,"said Kathy Lueders, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
Space X has developed Crew Dragon in contact with the Commercial Crew Program.
The crew will be transported into space in Crew Dragon (pictured)
Pictured: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a demo Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off from pad 39A on an un-crewed test flight to the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Center
In 2014, NASA awarded contracts to Boeing and SpaceX to create a spacecraft capable of flying humans to the space station.
The following years were bogged down by funding issues and technical problems that halted progress.
However, Space X's deal includes finishing the capsule and flying six operational crew missions to and from ISS.
Meanwhile, Boeing has had difficulty with its Starliner spacecraft, including arriving in the wrong orbit during a test flight and problems with deploying parachutes.
It’s unclear when Boeing will need to send another Starliner to the space station without launching astronauts later this year
An investigation team is still looking into why the Starliner's automated timer was off by 11 hours during the December test flight.
NASA has also chosen Dynetics to design the human landing system, which will work the Dynetics Human Landing System (DHLS) – a single structure providing the ascent and descent capabilities that will launch on the ULA Vulcan launch system.
The Alabama-based firm has excelled in designing a myriad of useful components for space, including satellites, propulsion systems, vehicles, satellites and more.
NASA has also chosen Dynetics to design the human landing system, which will work the Dynetics Human Landing System (DHLS) – a single structure providing the ascent and descent capabilities that will launch on the ULA Vulcan launch system
NASA's partners will refine their lander concepts during the 10 month contracts.
During that time, the agency will evaluate which of the contractors will perform initial demonstration missions and then choose the final designs to be develop for Artemis.
Lisa Watson-Morgan, HLS program manager at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, said: 'I am confident in NASA's partnership with these companies to help achieve the Artemis mission and develop the human landing system returning us to the Moon.'
'We have a history of proven lunar technical expertise and capabilities at Marshall and across NASA that will pave the way for our efforts to quickly and safely land humans on the Moon in 2024.
Space X passes final parachute test ahead its historic launch on May 27 that will mark America's first manned spaceflight in nearly nine years before their 2024 Moon trip(7 Pics)
![Space X passes final parachute test ahead its historic launch on May 27 that will mark America's first manned spaceflight in nearly nine years before their 2024 Moon trip(7 Pics)]()
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May 03, 2020
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