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The interior of the new SpaceX Crew Dragon that near the completion of the construction phase
Who wouldn’t want to catch a ride in the newly designed and revealed Crew Dragon, courtesy of SpaceX?
The newly designed spacecraft has one main purpose. As part of the agreement with NASA it must be a commercial ferry bound for the International Space Station. The future might see space tourists taxied to other destinations as well.
For now, the new interior of the Dragon spacecraft is the definition of travelling in style. The contrast between the white-padded walls and the coal-black seats, a little hint to ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, looks enchanting. And comfortable, to say the least. The first flights that will be operated under the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability program will probably be launched in 2017.
Four windows, siding each of the seats, are designed to provide a first-hand visual experience of the Earth and wider solar system for the passenger aboard the Crew Dragon. The seats have been created from Alcantara cloth and carbon fiber.
The video providing a glimpse of the cabin shows that complex design is not the only thing the Crew Dragon has to brag about. State of the art display panels offering real-time data on the functioning of the spacecraft, its exact location, features of the internal environment and other vital information can be spotted in the video.
According to the SpaceX release, the safety features of the Crew Dragon sport a redesigned emergency escape system. The newly installed system was tested last year. With the traveler’s safety constantly in mind, SpaceX declared that the emergency escape system will undergo one more test in 2017 when an unmanned test flight to the International Space Station is planned.
The crew aboard the Crew Dragon will not be alone in controlling the spacecraft. Missions control will also be closely followed from the control center located in California.
The first commercial flight operated by SpaceX in collaboration with NASA was accomplished in 2012. Then, SpaceX’s Dragon ferried cargo to the International Space Station.
Now, part of the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability program, SpaceX’s spacecraft will be transporting explorers. And it will be doing so in style, hopefully come 2017.
Photo Credits: Phys.org
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