SpaceX tests for parachute worst case scenario

November 5, 2019 Off By Naveen Victor

SpaceX has successfully conducted 13 consecutive tests of its upgraded Mark 3 Parachutes for Crew Dragon. In its most recent test, which is depicted in the embedded twitter link below, the team successfully completed a test where only three out of four parachutes were used to land the spacecraft from a free-fall.

SpaceX team has completed 13 successful tests in a row of upgraded Mark 3 parachutes for Crew Dragon. Most recent test demonstrated the parachute system’s ability to land the spacecraft safely in the unlikely event that one of the four main parachutes fails. pic.twitter.com/VJzDeS8UAG

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 3, 2019

This was done to prove the capability of the parachute system in the unlikely event that one of the four parachutes fails to deploy during a mission. It’s an impressive test especially due to the close-up shots captured by the filming camera crew.

Installing SuperDraco engines, which will power Crew Dragon’s launch escape system, for the first mission with @NASA astronauts on board pic.twitter.com/doBMSUIuK0

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 29, 2019

Safety is of paramount importance to the people at SpaceX, who just recently, successfully completed a series of tests on the engines of the spacecraft’s escape system. Called SuperDraco, the engines will power this escape system for its first mission with NASA astronauts on-board.