Welcome to DragonFly- Testing Reuseable Capsule

[aronth5]

FAA just released an environment impact assessment for issuing an experimental permit for operation of the Dragonfly vehicle at the McGregor test site.
This is very interesting and an important step towards a manned Dragon capsule to the ISS. And we thought the Grasshopper videos were neat!

Here are the 4 testing modes:

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/20140513_DragonFly_DraftEA%28Public%29.pdf

 

[Cosmacelf]

I guess that answers my question of whether they are going to have a rocket assist landing of the Dragon capsule! Great document, thanks for posting.

 

[jdevo2004]

"Dropp from RLV from a helicopter from up to 10,000 ft and land only with SuperDraco engines (no parachute); engines would fire for 5 seconds"

That would be the brown pants ride. yikes!

 

[Mario Kadastik]

"Dropp from RLV from a helicopter from up to 10,000 ft and land only with SuperDraco engines (no parachute); engines would fire for 5 seconds"

That would be the brown pants ride. yikes!

I'm guessing the initial tests will run on empty cargo or dummy cargo or maybe mousetronauts But yeah, falling from 3km with no shutes would be quite ... interesting.

 

[kenliles]

I'm guessing the initial tests will run on empty cargo or dummy cargo or maybe mousetronauts But yeah, falling from 3km with no shutes would be quite ... interesting.

maybe they'll bring the monkeys back

 

[aronth5]

Good summary of the FAA document, in case you don't want to read all 76 pages:smile:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/05/faa-moves-closer-spacex-permit-dragonfly-testing/