SpaceX: 90% Go for in-flight abort test launch targeted at January 18, 13:00 UTC

SpaceX and NASA, after learning weather conditions, give 90% Go for in-flight abort test launch targeted at January 18, 13:00 UTC. SpaceX will use buster that was used in previous missions three times. This is will be four and dramatycally last lounch for the buster.

SpaceX plan to simulated emergency situation with buster when Falcon 9 and Dragon 2 is on Max-Q - maximum aerodynamic pressure. This test is critical for certificate crew flights. In general this is very important step for all of us: first time private company can approve ability to launch crew flights! This step give us hope that the space is closer to us and open new ways of possibilty of development for civil aviation at all.

How SpaceX will do it?

First, January 18, 13:00 - launch from Cape Canaveral. On altitude 20 km - atmospher pressure velocity threshold is reached (MaxQ).

Emergency occurs with buster - in this timeslice Dragon 2 make separation from Falcon 9 and perform abort burn maneuver: Superdraco Engines raise Dragon 2 altitude to 42 km.

On Altitude ~ 42 km - Dragon 2 perform separation with payload trunk. Start from this timeslice - Dragon 2 start lose altitude.

~38 km - Dragon 2 use orientation engines to reorient him self for entry to atmosphere. Dragon 2 continue go down until ~5 km altitude

~5km - Dragon 2 perform Drogue parachute deploy

~2km - Main parachute deploy (actually this will be quadrochute :) )

~0 - Splash Down to Atlantic Ocean

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mRelOjn6qc

On-Line translation:

NASA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARIZnaMXTEU

SpaceX - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhrkdHshb3E

P.S.

WaitingHall would like to wish good luck to Space X and In general, to everyone who works on the project! Tomorrow I will definitely watch the broadcast - I hope you too... :)