{"id":52560,"date":"2015-06-08T19:09:00","date_gmt":"2015-06-08T23:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-361931"},"modified":"2023-07-26T14:46:19","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T18:46:19","slug":"nasa-commercial-crew-partner-spacex-achieves-pad-abort-milestone-approval","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-commercial-crew-partner-spacex-achieves-pad-abort-milestone-approval\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Commercial Crew Partner SpaceX Achieves Pad Abort Milestone Approval"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft returns from successful pad abort test\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg 3600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg?resize=768,513 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg?resize=1024,684 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg?resize=2048,1367 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg?resize=600,401 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg?resize=900,601 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg?resize=1200,801 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg?resize=2000,1335 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">SpaceX\u2019s Crew Dragon spacecraft splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean under three main parachutes following a successful test on May 6, 2015 of the spacecraft\u2019s ability to save astronauts in the unlikely event of a life-threatening situation on the launch pad. <strong>Credits: NASA<\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>NASA has approved a $30 million milestone payment to SpaceX under the agency\u2019s Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) agreement with the company following a recent and successful pad abort test of its Crew Dragon spacecraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Data gathered during the test are critical to understanding the safety and performance of the Crew Dragon spacecraft as the company continues on the path to certification for crew missions to the International Space Station, and helping return the ability to launch astronauts from the United States.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Crew Dragon\u2019s eight SuperDraco engines fired at 9 a.m. EDT on May 6 for about six seconds, each instantly producing about 15,000 pounds of thrust and lifting the spacecraft off a specially built platform at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station\u2019s Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida. The spacecraft traveled 3,561 feet (1,187 meters) up before jettisoning its trunk and safely splashing down under three main parachutes in the Atlantic Ocean, 3,606 feet (1,202 meters) from the launch pad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis test was highly visible and provided volumes of important information, which serves as tangible proof that our team is making significant progress toward launching crews on American rockets from America soon,\u201d said Jon Cowart, partner manager for NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program. \u201cThe reams of data collected provide designers with a real benchmark of how accurate their analyses and models are at predicting reality. As great as our modern computational methods are, they still can\u2019t beat a flight test, like this, for finding out what is going on with the hardware.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The successful test of SpaceX\u2019s Crew Dragon launch escape capabilities demonstrated the spacecraft\u2019s ability to save astronauts in the unlikely event of a life-threatening situation on the launch pad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is the first major flight test for a vehicle that will bring astronauts to space for the entire Commercial Crew Program,\u201d said Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX. \u201cThe successful test validated key predictions as it relates to the transport of astronauts to the space station.  With NASA\u2019s support, SpaceX continues to make excellent and rapid progress in making the Crew Dragon spacecraft the safest and most reliable vehicle ever flown.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The approval of the pad abort test milestone payment follows NASA\u2019s authorization for Boeing to begin work toward its first post-certification mission. These steps ensure continued progress in the agency\u2019s effort to return to U.S. soil American crew launches to the International Space Station. SpaceX is expected to receive its authorization to proceed with work on a post-certification mission later this year. The determination of which company will fly the first mission to station will be made at a later time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information about NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program, visit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/commercialcrew<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the latest on Commercial Crew progress, bookmark the program\u2019s blog at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>http:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/commercialcrew<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>-end-<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stephanie Schierholz<br>\nHeadquarters, Washington<br>\n202-358-1100<br>\nstephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov<br>\nStephanie Martin<br>\nKennedy Space Center, Fla.<br>\n321-867-2468<br>\nstephanie.a.martin@nasa.gov<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA has approved a $30 million milestone payment to SpaceX under the agency\u2019s Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) agreement with the company following a recent and successful pad abort test of its Crew Dragon spacecraft. Data gathered during the test are critical to understanding the safety and performance of the Crew Dragon spacecraft as the [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":54660,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"15-117","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"RELEASE","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[3191,2801,3146,2656,2735,2867],"news-tags":[12350],"internal-terms":[9514,9508],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA Commercial Crew Partner SpaceX Achieves Pad Abort Milestone Approval","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-commercial-crew-partner-spacex-achieves-pad-abort-milestone-approval\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-commercial-crew-partner-spacex-achieves-pad-abort-milestone-approval\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg"},"articleSection":"Missions","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"NASA"}],"creator":["NASA"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Centers & Facilities","NASA Headquarters","Commercial Crew","Commercial Space","Expedition 43","Humans in Space","International Space Station (ISS)"],"dateCreated":"2015-06-08T23:09:00Z","datePublished":"2015-06-08T23:09:00Z","dateModified":"2023-07-26T18:46:19Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA Commercial Crew Partner SpaceX Achieves Pad Abort Milestone Approval\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-commercial-crew-partner-spacex-achieves-pad-abort-milestone-approval\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2015-06-08T23:09:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Missions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities,NASA Headquarters,Commercial Crew,Commercial Space,Expedition 43,Humans in Space,International Space Station (ISS)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"NASA\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":3,"featured_image":{"id":54660,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/m15-117.jpg","title":"m15-117","alt":"Robotic fiber replacement system","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/52560"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-release"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/52560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":370636,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/52560\/revisions\/370636"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52560"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=52560"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=52560"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=52560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}