SpaceX is about to blow up a tens of millions of dollars worth of boosters on the Atlantic

SpaceX and NASA will jointly conduct an extremely important test, the 'In-flight Abort Test', regarding the spacecraft's ability to safely navigate after detach from boosters in challenging atmospheric conditions. most awake in the entire flight trajectory. This test will be done with Falcon 9 Block 5 boosters and takes place next week at a Atlantic location. This test will cost SpaceX at least one Falcon 9 rocket worth no less than $ 60 million.

If successful, the test will prove that SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft possesses the required escape system - one of the must-have factors if the ship wants to make the journey. to the International Space Station (ISS) in the future.

In fact, SpaceX has successfully launched the Space Shuttle Dragon, carrying supplies and research equipment and supplies to scientists on the International Space Station in 2018. However Crew Dragon is a Dragon's revamped version is larger, has more complex equipment and of course is heavier, making the same journey more difficult and needs to be carefully calculated.

A Falcon 9 rocket 'carried on the back' of the space crew Crew Dragon (all produced by US aerospace corporation SpaceX) is expected to be launched from the Lincoln Kennedy Space Station, Florida. It will fly for exactly 88 seconds before SpaceX begins testing. Immediately after an order from the ground command center, the SuperDraco engines will push the Crew Dragon away from the Falcon 9 rocket, and the spacecraft will land right on the surface of the sea thanks to the integrated parachute and buoy system.

As for Falcon 9, after being separated from the space shuttle, scientists hope it will fly an additional 31km and explode - a safe distance.

SpaceX is about to blow up a tens of millions of dollars worth of boosters on the Atlantic Picture 1

In addition, the quality of the explosion is also a factor that needs careful consideration. The engineers hope the experiment ends with 'an intense explosion of Falcon 9', destroying all the remaining fuel before the rocket debris falls into the sea. This is not a simple task because according to SpaceX's estimation, the case of intact rockets falling into the water is yes, and then the amount of residual fuel will pollute on a large scale.

The cleanup and recycling of all of Falcon 9's floating debris has also been carefully planned by SpaceX.

NASA and SpaceX are expected to live stream the entire test at 8 am on January 18 (local time).