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SpaceX Unveils Its First Manned Aircraft

By TechTaffy Desk

SpaceX-DragonV2

SpaceX, the space transport services company started by former PayPal entrepreneur and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, unveiled its first manned spacecraft, the Dragon V2, on Wednesday. The spacecraft is capable of transporting seven astronauts to orbit and back to Earth.

The Dragon V2 will be able to land anywhere on earth, much like a helicopter. It will also be able to be refueled and go back in orbit without much delay, says SpaceX. The manned spacecraft uses titanium fuel tanks for the Draco and SuperDraco thrusters, the SuperDraco thrusters being an advanced version of the Draco engines used by the Dragon spacecraft. The spacecraft will be able to land with its SuperDraco thrusters, even if three engines fail.

SpaceX has a $1.6 billion deal with NASA, and has already done three of its 12 scheduled missions to the International Space Station (ISS).

You can watch a video of the launch here:

[Image/Video courtesy: SpaceX]

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