SpaceX Continues Development Of Soft-Landing Spacecraft | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.10.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Fri, May 23, 2014

SpaceX Continues Development Of Soft-Landing Spacecraft

'DragonFly' Would Use Retro Rockets And Legs Rather Than A Parachute To Land

A spacecraft designed to make soft landings on Earth, and maybe one day on Mars, is under development by SpaceX. The capsule is a modified Dragon spacecraft that has been code-named "DragonFly."

NBC News reports that the DragonFly Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) would most likely be tested at the SpaceX facility near McGregor Texas, according to a recently-released FAA draft environmental assessment.

The FAA document describes the DragonFly RLV as a "Dragon capsule with an integrated trunk (pictured), which may or may not be attached during a DragonFly operation, and up to four steel landing legs." It would be powered by a combination of nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) and monomethylhydrazine (MMH).

The document says that the program would consist of up to 30 annual operations, and multiple tests could be conducted in a single day.

The only other option available to the FAA is to not issue the experimental permit for the McGregor test site.

The FAA's Environmental Assessment is a draft document and is open to public comment. Comments must be received by the FAA by June 16, 2014.

(Image from FAA Draft EA document)

FMI: Draft EA

Advertisement

More News

Airborne 07.11.25: New FAA Boss, New NASA Boss (Kinda), WB57s Over TX

Also: ANOTHER Illegal Drone, KidVenture Educational Activities, Record Launches, TSA v Shoes The Senate confirmed Bryan Bedford to become the next Administrator of the FAA, in a ne>[...]

Airborne-Flight Training 07.10.25: ATC School, Air Race Classic, Samson School

Also: Sully v Bedford, Embraer Scholarships, NORAD Intercepts 11, GAMA Thankful Middle Georgia State University will be joining the Federal Aviation Administration’s fight ag>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 07.03.25: Sonex HW, BlackShape Gabriel, PRA Fly-In 25

Also: DarkAero Update, Electric Aircraft Symposium, Updated Instructor Guide, OSH Homebuilts Celebrate The long-awaited Sonex High Wing prototype has flown... the Sonex gang tells >[...]

Airborne-Flight Training 07.10.25: ATC School, Air Race Classic, Samson School

Also: Sully v Bedford, Embraer Scholarships, NORAD Intercepts 11, GAMA Thankful Middle Georgia State University will be joining the Federal Aviation Administration’s fight ag>[...]

Rick Kenin New Board Chair of VAI

30-Year USCG Veteran Aviator Focusing On Member Benefits The Vertical Aviation International Board of Directors announced its new leadership officers in April, and all began their >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC