SpaceX Unveils Spacecraft to Ferry Astronauts

SpaceX, the California company that has been flying unmanned capsules to the International Space Station, has unveiled a spacecraft designed to ferry up to seven astronauts to low-Earth orbit and, according to SpaceX founder Elon Musk, the new Dragon V2 spacecraft will lower the cost of going to space. The futuristic, cone-headed craft, dubbed Dragon V2, features landing legs that pop out and a propulsion system designed to land almost anywhere "with the accuracy of a helicopter."

The technology would enable rapid reloading and reusability of the spacecraft, according to Musk. He noted that in the past, many rockets and space craft return to Earth in a fireball, rendering them unusable. "You can just reload, propel it and fly again," Musk said. "This is extremely important for revolutionizing access to space because as long as we continue to throw away rockets and space crafts, we will never truly have access to space. It'll always be incredibly expensive."

"If an aircraft is thrown away with each flight, nobody will be able to fly or very few (can)," he said. "The same is true with rockets and spacecraft." The capsule also features a bright, sleek interior with swing-up computer screens at the control station, a two-level seating system to accommodate up to seven astronauts and large windows for them to marvel at Earth's curvature. The cone-shaped cap can open to allow for the manned craft to dock at the Space Station on its own. The spacecraft also has more powerful engines, better heat shields, landing legs and backup parachutes to ensure a soft landing. In a NASA briefing with reporters last year, Musk said Dragon V2 would look futuristic like an "alien spaceship" and promised "it's going to be cool."

Since the shuttle fleet retired in 2011, NASA has depended on Russian rockets to transport astronauts to orbit and back, paying nearly $71 million per seat. That agreement is now considered in jeopardy because of the US reaction to the recent crises in Ukraine. NASA has said it wants U.S. companies to fill the void by 2017 and has doled out seed money to spur innovation. SpaceX — short for Space Exploration Technologies Corp. — has made four cargo runs to the giant orbiting outpost some 200 miles above Earth. Just last month, its Dragon capsule splashed into the Pacific, returning nearly 2 tons of science experiments and old equipment.

Thursday's event included a dramatic unveiling of the new spacecraft, which stands about 15 feet tall, with a rounded, cone-shaped top. At one point, Musk even went inside and sat in one of its four reclined seats. While such an undertaking likely has been in the works for some time, it comes at a pivotal time for the International Space Station and space travel.