SpaceX Unveil 'No Runway' Dragon V2 Space Capsule

And about time too , this has to be a great step forward and a way of making journeys into space much cheaper , ultimately it could open up space travel to the general public.

SpaceX has unveiled a re-useable spacecraft which it says will be able to take-off and land anywhere on Earth, "like a helicopter".
The seven-seater Dragon V2 is equipped with side-mounted thrusters and legs to allow it to land vertically, without the need for a runway.
www.bbc.co.uk...

Full unveil.

yeah this was their first actual test i remeber from a few months ago.

Very close to making this a reality

a reply to: gortex

Freaking awesome! I can't wait 'til I can buy my own.

This Dragon v2 is giving me hope for the future. We need to focus more on leaving our planet than what celebrities eat on Sunday brunch.

a reply to: gortex

I'm eager to see a drop test of one of these Dragon 2 Capsules -- i.e., drop it from 30,000 feet up and watch it land like it does in the video animation.

a reply to: gortex

Now that is cool.
I love the interface screens-much more up to date than the sort of analogue switches and flashing lights of the space shuttle era.
Looks quite roomy as well-so less chance of astronaugts getting clastrophobic/cabin fever!

I really could see one of these landing on Mars within the next 10-15 years.

Good Job SpaceX!

originally posted by: Silcone Synapse

Looks quite roomy as well-so less chance of astronaugts getting clastrophobic/cabin fever!

I really could see one of these landing on Mars within the next 10-15 years.

There is a configuration of the Dragon 2 that can fit seven astronauts (if they wanted to shuttle 7 astronauts back and forth between the ISS and Earth), so just think how roomy it is for four.


EDIT TO ADD:
However, I think that is still too small to be used as the only crew compartment for a mars Mission. Maybe the Dragon 2 could be part of that Mars vehicle, but I think they would need another habitation/supply module.

originally posted by: Soylent Green Is People
However, I think that is still too small to be used as the only crew compartment for a mars Mission. Maybe the Dragon 2 could be part of that Mars vehicle, but I think they would need another habitation/supply module.

Totally agree,not for the crew for the whole journey. its part of a bigger beast-but as a landing module,this is streets ahead of any we have seen deployed.

Bring on the tests!

originally posted by: Biigs

yeah this was their first actual test i remeber from a few months ago.

Very close to making this a reality

Cool video, but that's not the Dragon 2. That's the Grasshopper Rocket. The Dragon 2 is a reusable capsule capable of the same type of landing though. Gotta hand it Elon Musk, the man's got vision.