Nasa has contracted six more round trip astronaut flights from spacex the first from us soil since the space shuttle program ended in 2011.
Spacex dragon round solar panels.
The maximum stay will be will be 110 days due to concerns about how the crew dragon s solar panels will hold up in the challenging conditions of space.
Spacex s reusable dragon 2 crew capsule is covered in solar panels even the side fins appear to be lined with a mosaic of small panels.
Crew dragon a space capsule capable of ferrying up to seven astronauts and cargo dragon an updated replacement for the original dragon spacecraft.
The spacex dragon 2 is a class of reusable spacecraft developed and manufactured by american aerospace manufacturer spacex as the successor to dragon a reusable cargo spacecraft it has two variants.
Spacex s previous dragon design which retired earlier this year after 20 unpiloted cargo delivery flights to the space station used unfolding solar panels to generate electricity.
Eric berger dec 19 2018 2 43 pm utc.
Dragon shows off its new integrated solar arrays as spacex nears first flight confidence is increasing for a january flight of the first dragon 2 mission.
The launch was conducted at the returning.
Spacex launched a flight proven falcon 9 rocket friday deploying a dragon spacecraft on the crs 13 resupply mission to the international space station.
The crew dragon needs solar panel upgrades to last.
Spacex shows off crew dragon s integrated solar panels for the first time.
The spacex crew.
Victor tangermann december 19th 2018.
One half of the trunk is covered in solar panels which provide power to dragon during flight and while on station.
The spacecraft launches atop a falcon 9 block.
The trunk remains attached to dragon until shortly before reentry into earth s atmosphere.