US, Civilian-Led Space Development Resumption Within the Year 'Approaching'

SpaceX Successfully Tests Emergency Escape of Crewed Spacecraft Capsule
Final Evaluation Step for Private Crewed Spacecraft Launch
Suspended NASA Crewed Space Development Expected to Resume Soon

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] On Sunday morning, Americans were swept up in excitement. Hope was raised that the launch of manned spacecraft in the United States could resume.

On the 19th (local time), Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), a space exploration company founded by Elon Musk, CEO of electric car company Tesla, successfully conducted an emergency escape test of the manned spacecraft "Dragon Capsule." This is an important experiment to ensure the safety of astronauts in emergencies. U.S. media unanimously evaluated that SpaceX has passed the final hurdle for launching a private manned spacecraft.

The experiment took place at 10 a.m. Eastern Time at Launch Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

At the scheduled launch time, the Falcon 9 rocket used by SpaceX soared into the sky with flames, equipped with the Dragon Capsule capable of carrying people. The Dragon Capsule was scheduled to separate from the rocket after a certain time following launch. At the moment the countdown was being observed by those watching the launch scene in the control room, the Dragon Capsule precisely shot out far from the rocket. Afterwards, the capsule deployed parachutes and safely landed in the Atlantic Ocean.

CEO Musk and SpaceX celebrated the success greatly while broadcasting the rocket launch and capsule separation scenes in real time. Jim Bridenstine, Administrator of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), evaluated, "This experiment has laid the foundation to send American astronauts back to space on rockets launched from the United States."

Since NASA ended the Space Shuttle program in 2011 due to budget and other issues, it has contracted with Boeing and SpaceX to transport astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) in Earth's orbit. This is why the scenes of space shuttles traveling to and from space, which began with Columbia in 1981, disappeared.

Musk’s plan envisions a bigger picture. He plans to launch the first private spacecraft carrying astronauts to send them to the International Space Station within this year.

In particular, with the success of this experiment, SpaceX is evaluated to have taken the lead over its competitor Boeing. Boeing, hampered by issues with the Boeing 737 Max aircraft, seems unlikely to catch up with Musk, who is advancing relentlessly. Following electric cars, the ultra-high-speed Hyperloop, and now manned space travel, Musk’s challenges continue without end.