Space X's Dragon spaceship isn't just for sending packed lunches up to the International Space Station. The private space company also plans to turn it into one of the most advanced launch vehicles for astronauts as well.
The Dragon 2 (Dragon Crew) capsule is already well into testing and the company has just uploaded a new video showcasing what is by far and away its coolest feature.
This hover test video shows the Dragon's propulsive thrusters which would allow the Dragon to take passengers safely from the ISS to the Earth's surface without having to ditch in the sea.
Instead the thrusters would kick in and land the spacecraft vertically using an autopilot similar to that found on Space X's reusable Falcon 9 rocket.
SEE ALSO:
- SpaceX Falcon-9 Rocket Pulls Off Breakthrough Vertical Landing
- SpaceX Mars Mission Rumours In Over Drive After Journalist Tweets 'The Most Exciting Thing Ever'
- Remains Of SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Washes Up In Isles of Scilly
- SpaceX Rocket Explodes After Liftoff From Cape Canaveral On Cargo Mission To The ISS
Those thrusters serve a dual-purpose though as they're also the emergency thrusters for an aborted take-off. Should the crew find themselves in extreme danger either on the launchpad or on their way up into orbit they can turn the capsule into an escape pod.
The thrusters would kick in propelling the craft away from the danger at around 345mph and then either land using the thrusters or by using emergency parachutes.
As cool as the demo looks this isn't just for show, Space X actually plans to start sending astronauts into space using Dragon 2 as early as 2017.