One Step Closer to US Flights to the ISS

With the unveiling of SpaceX's Dragon V2 last week, the United States is that much closer to flying its own astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) as it once did under the US space shuttle program.  After multiple successful Dragon V1 resupply missions to the ISS, SpaceX is taking the next step to carry humans.  Elon Musk walked an audience through the features of the spacecraft at the unveiling. 

What will be unique about this reusable spacecraft is that it will return to Earth and land like a helicopter, unlike the sea-splashing capsules or even the plane-like landing of the shuttles.  The Dragon V2 will still have a parachute for emergency backup during landing.  And the new spacecraft can carry up to seven astronauts, though they will sit in two tiers while being transported to the ISS.  The Dragon V2 is a capsule and not a working platform similar to the shuttle where the astronauts can move around and conduct their work.  However, SpaceX has also created the unmanned DragonLab that serves as a stand-alone platform for research.

In partnership with NASA, SpaceX is moving us in the right direction and away from dependence on the Russians.