SpaceX's mission this week to the space station represents just the start of the company's ambitions which include putting a man on Mars by 2020.But before SpaceX reaches for Mars, their more immediate ambition is create a space launch system that is completely reusable.
Integral to the company’s resuable ambitions (and future interplanetary aspirations) is a powerful new engine currently under development, the SuperDraco, which enable the capsule to land on solid ground rather than dropping into the ocean.
For Dragon's up and coming flight to the space station, now scheduled to launch May 22, Dragon will be powered by SpaceX’s previous-generation engine, the Draco. The Draco thrusters generate 90 lbs of thrust and Dragon will use 18 of them to provide the craft with its exceptional in-orbit manoeuverability.
But SpaceX are hoping that future missions will powered by eight SuperDraco thrusters and be capable of carrying up to seven astronauts.
The SuperDraco can generate an impressive 15,000 lbs of thrust (120,000 lbs altogether) – not enough to take off from Earth – but enough to allow the craft to navigate to Mars, land, take off again and then return to Earth and perform a powered landing. For comparison, the Apollo Lunar Module’s ascent engine created 3,500 lbs of thrust.
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