Fri, Jan 24, 2020

SpaceX Recovers Crew Dragon Trunk From Abort System Test

Component Was Not Expected To Survive The Test

SpaceX has recovered a piece of the Crew Dragon abort test launch system that it did not expect to get back.

An expandable 'trunk' that carries a solar array, radiators and four fins was located in the Atlantic Ocean following the launch apparently having suffered minimal damage. That's a bit surprising, since SpaceX would have expected to only recover bits of debris from the component, which is built mainly out of carbon composites.

Telsarati reports not only did it have to survive the pressures of the abort test and (planned) destruction of the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the test spacecraft, it stayed in one piece when it hit the surface of the ocean at high velocity.

Still, SpaceX does not plan to try to recover the component regularly following launches, according to the report.

In all, the abort test was deemed to be a success, and SpaceX says it is on target to launch a crewed mission to ISS later this year.

(Image from Elon Musk's Twitter)

Episode Date	Airborne-Monday	Airborne-Tuesday	Airborne-Wednesday	Airborne-Thursday	Airborne-Friday
Airborne On YouTube	Airborne-Unlimited-06.23.25	Airborne-NextGen-06.24.25	AirborneUnlimited-06.25.25	Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.26.25	AirborneUnlimited-06.27.25

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-NextGen-06.24.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.25.25

SpaceX Recovers Crew Dragon Trunk From Abort System Test

Component Was Not Expected To Survive The Test

FMI: Source report

Advertisement

More News

NTSB Final Report: Rutan Long-EZ

ANN FAQ: Turn On Post Notifications

Classic Aero-TV: ICAS Perspectives - Advice for New Air Show Performers

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.28.25)

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (06.28.25)

Change Display

Advertisement

Top Videos

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement