New SpaceX Dragon Pad Abort Video Shows How Crazy Astronauts Are

SpaceX published a first person view video of the Dragon pad abort emergency procedure tested a two weeks ago. It is stomach churning. The rocket with Dragon lifts off with 0-100 mph in 1.2 seconds. Watch the incredible footage below.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is working on bringing astronauts into space with the Crew Dragon Spacecraft. Two weeks ago a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft did a test to simulate an emergency abort from the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 40. This test was a critical milestone moving forward for SpaceX to get the NASA approval to carry astronauts into space. 

The Dragon pad abort test was a success. SpaceX has now released a point of view video that shows the test as how astronauts would have experienced it. Watching the first seconds are stomach churning. This thrill ride accelerates from 0 to 100 mph in 1.2 seconds and reaches a max. speed of 345mph. Astronauts must be real thrill seekers to stomach that acceleration.

The crew Dragon’s abort system is powered by eight SuperDraco engines which together produce 120,000 pounds of axial thrust. The engines are integrated directly into the sides of the vehicle rather than carried on top of the vehicle as with previous launch abort systems. This configuration provides astronauts escape capability from the launch pad all the way to orbit and allows the spacecraft to use the same thrusters to land propulsively on land at the end of a mission.

SpaceX and Boeing are working under separate Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contracts to complete the development of their spacecraft and flight systems ahead of flight tests in 2017 to certify their use in operational flights to the International Space Station.