Boeing space capsule passes drop test

Boeing carries out a parachute drop test of its Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft on April 3, 2012 at the Delamar Dry Lake Bed near Alamo, Nev. Boeing carries out a parachute drop test of its Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft on April 3, 2012 at the Delamar Dry Lake Bed near Alamo, Nev. Photo: Boeing Photo: Boeing Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Boeing space capsule passes drop test 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

Boeing successfully dropped its proposed crew space capsule from about 11,000 feet on Tuesday.

Boeing has proposed a reusable Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 capsule to ferry up to seven crewmembers at a time, cargo or a combination of people and cargo to the International Space Station and other destinations in low-earth orbit atop a variety of rockets. Boeing plans an initial launch for 2015 or 2016, using a United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket.

For Tuesday's test, an Erickson Sky Crane helicopter lifted the CST-100 test capsule to about 11,000 feet and released it. Three main parachutes slowed the descent before six airbags inflated, "providing a smooth ground landing," Boeing said.

"This successful test is a tremendous milestone that brings Boeing one step closer to completing development of a system that will provide safe, reliable and affordable crewed access to space," John Mulholland, vice president and program manager, Boeing Commercial Programs, said in a news release.

Boeing customer Bigelow Aerospace built the test capsule and associated electronics and is taking part in the testing. It plans to use the system for transportation to and from its private space stations.

The team plans to inspect and repack the parachutes and then conduct a second drop test later this month, adding in drogue parachute deployment. Boeing plans to conduct landing air bag tests in May, followed in June by a forward heat shield jettison test and an orbital maneuvering/attitude control engine hot fire test.

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