American civilian manned spacecraft "Crew Dragon" returns to Earth

American civilian manned spacecraft "Crew Dragon" returns to Earth 5:34 on August 3

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As the first spacecraft developed by a private company, the "Crew Dragon", which succeeded in sending astronauts to the International Space Station for the first time, returned to Earth on the 3rd of Japan time, after about 2 months. From September, NASA plans to send four Japanese astronauts, Soichi Noguchi and others, to the space station on the same type of spacecraft.

The US private company "Space X" was developed by the NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the "Crew Dragon" was launched as a test flight and was launched in May. It is the first time in nine years for the United States to be a private company spacecraft. Was the first to successfully deliver two astronauts to the International Space Station.

After staying at the space station for about two months, the two astronauts boarded the spacecraft again on the 2nd of Japan time and headed for the earth.

The spacecraft left its orbit at about 3:00 am on the 3rd and made a final engine injection to plunge into the Earth's atmosphere, then opened a parachute in the sky and dropped while decelerating. It landed on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico off Florida at 3 o'clock.

Then, when they were recovered by a ship in Space X, which was waiting at sea, and when safety was confirmed, two aviators appeared from the hatch.

In NASA and Space X, after examining the returned spacecraft in detail and confirming that there was no problem in function, after the same type of spacecraft that will be the first unit in operation after September, Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi and others Four people will be sent to the space station.

Soichi Noguchi cheers locally

Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi is planning to board a special American spacecraft crew dragon's return to the screen, and a special venue will be set up in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, which is related to Noguchi. I watched over.

Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi is supposed to board the first operational aircraft, which will be the next launch of the American private spacecraft, Crew Dragon, and Chigasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, which is associated with Mr. Noguchi. A special venue was set up in the lobby of the city hall, and the screen of the crew dragon returning was projected on the screen.

In front of the screen, about 50 people including Mr. Noguchi's father, local elementary school children and their parents gathered after taking measures against the infection of the new corona, and the crew dragon safely landed off the coast of Florida in the United States. , Applause aroused with a loud cheer.

A boy in the 5th grade of elementary school said, "I was surprised to see the watercraft landing for the first time. In the future, becoming an astronaut was one of my goals."

In addition, Mr. Noguchi's father Mikio (85) said, “I was relieved to land safely without knowing what would happen in space. Next time is my son's turn, but I want him to play a good role.” I was hoping for the next flight.

Soichi Noguchi will board the crew dragon after late September.

"Crew Dragon" symbolizes commercial use of space

Crew Dragon is a private spaceship developed by the American private company, Space X.

It is a plan to provide NASA with a service to transport astronauts to the International Space Station, and is a symbol of the commercial use of space by the United States.

It has also been the first time in nine years for the United States to operate its own manned spacecraft since the retirement of the Space Shuttle, and it is also an important spacecraft for the United States to regain its initiative in space development.

The crew dragon is about 8 meters long and consists of a "capsule" on which astronauts board and a "trunk" equipped with equipment.

As a result of the streamlined design and excellent habitability and operability, astronauts wear space suits that are completely different from the conventional ones and push the touch panel with their fingers to operate the spacecraft.

On the return trip, the part of the capsule on which the astronaut was riding is supposed to return, and the special carbon material used for the capsule protects the capsule from the heat when entering the atmosphere, and then opens the parachute and arrives at the sea. Water

It will be Apollo's first landing on the sea and returning.

This flight was Crew Dragon's first manned test flight, which was launched in May this year, docked at the International Space Station, and stayed there for about two months.

It is supposed to enter the operation stage from the next launch, and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi will board the first aircraft and it will be held after the end of September, and the second aircraft will be Akihiko Hoshide. I am planning to board.

Aiming to reclaim US space development initiative

By promoting the commercial use of space, the United States aims to revitalize the economy, reduce the cost of space development, and regain the initiative for space development in the world.

The space shuttle, which supported the manned space development in the United States, was retired due to the cost soaring to one billion yen to 100 billion yen per launch due to the accident.

Therefore, NASA launched a plan called "Commercial Crew Program", and finally selected two private companies, "Space X" and "Boeing", and promoted development while competing.

Among them, overwhelming expectations of many people, "Space X", which rapidly improved its technological capabilities, succeeded in developing a spacecraft first and grew into an important space-related company.

It is said that the cost of launching "Crew Dragon" per aviator is suppressed to about 5.8 billion yen, and the space travel business is expected to expand in earnest in the future.

As a result, NASA will be able to focus on deeper space development such as the moon and Mars called deep space, and it is a strategy to regain the initiative of space development in the world.

For the general public, it is expected that this flight will be a turning point where space will become more familiar, as space travel will become full-scale.