时间:2025-04-26 13:16:37 来源:网络整理编辑:時尚
It's been a momentous Saturday for SpaceX, and for the future of crewed voyages into space.At 2:49 a
It's been a momentous Saturday for SpaceX, and for the future of crewed voyages into space.
At 2:49 a.m. ET, the American aerospace company founded by Elon Musk staged its first launch of Crew Dragon. It's big news because this is the first time a commercial interest has launched a spacecraft that was built to carry humans.
Tweet may have been deletedSEE ALSO:SpaceX launches moon lander, lands booster despite tough conditions
American spaceflight has traditionally been the domain of NASA, but the past decade has seen a gradual shift toward having commercial interests share the responsibility. SpaceX and Boeing are leading that charge, so the successful Crew Dragon launch represents a major milestone moment.
It's still just a first step, however. Although the Dragon capsule itself is designed to carry a crew of up to seven astronauts skyward, the one that launched on Saturday -- Demo-1 is its designation -- is more of a test run: it's carrying a few hundred pounds of cargo, plus a sensor-filled dummy named "Ripley."
NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine hailed the launch as a "new era in spaceflight."
Tweet may have been deleted
He added: "We are looking forward to being one customer of many customers in a robust commercial marketplace in low-Earth orbit, so we can drive down costs and increase access in ways that, historically, have not been possible."
The cost savings Bridenstine mentioned are very real. After NASA retired its shuttle fleet in 2011, the U.S. has relied on Russia to bring astronauts to and from the International Space Station. Hitching a ride on a Russian Soyuz rocket costs roughly $80 million per seat, compared to the $51 million cost to fly on a SpaceX or Boeing vehicle.
Bridenstine's comments don't make it very clear, but NASA is closely involved with the U.S. development of commercial spaceflight. The agency's influence shapes various aspects of third-party planning, including design, safety, and funding, under its Commercial Crew Program.
Now that Demo-1 is in space, the next phase of its mission begins. Early on Sunday morning, the capsule will dock with the ISS to drop off its cargo. After that, Demo-1 will detach and begin its return trip to Earth.
Assuming everything goes well for Demo-1, the first Crew Dragon launch to carry actual humans into space could come as soon as summer 2019.
TopicsSpaceX
J.K. Rowling makes 'Harry Potter' joke about Olympics event2025-04-26 13:09
大羅:本澤馬配得上金球獎 我已經這麽說過很多年2025-04-26 12:26
韓媒關注世界杯小組對手 :加納臨時主帥合同到期 新帥未定2025-04-26 12:21
歐冠四強對陣:藍月VS銀河戰艦 紅軍PK黃色潛水艇2025-04-26 12:09
Major earthquake and multiple aftershocks rock central Italy2025-04-26 11:53
敗人品!拜仁官推賽前曬分92025-04-26 10:55
利物浦11進半決賽9次突圍 菲米科納特分別隊史第42025-04-26 10:52
迷惑 !切爾西曼城球迷馬德裏幹架 靠當地警方調解2025-04-26 10:49
Michael Phelps says goodbye to the pool with Olympic gold2025-04-26 10:37
迷惑 !切爾西曼城球迷馬德裏幹架 靠當地警方調解2025-04-26 10:32
Daughter gives her 1002025-04-26 12:59
萊奧不滿400萬歐年薪續約合同 米蘭標價9000萬歐2025-04-26 12:44
西媒 :本澤馬領跑金球獎爭奪戰 對手僅剩丁丁薩拉赫2025-04-26 12:33
歐聯四強對陣:西漢姆VS法蘭克福 萊比錫VS流浪者2025-04-26 12:22
Twitter grants everyone access to quality filter for tweet notifications2025-04-26 12:20
C羅實名羨慕 ?梅西下賽季將身穿“史上最佳”出戰2025-04-26 12:01
揭秘黃潛教頭埃梅裏:擲骰子選首發 歐聯杯拿到手軟2025-04-26 11:56
本澤馬3場7球平此前紀錄 切爾西破伯納烏54年榮耀2025-04-26 11:45
This German startup wants to be your bank (without being a bank)2025-04-26 11:27
迷惑!切爾西曼城球迷馬德裏幹架 靠當地警方調解2025-04-26 10:41