Brenda Marie Rivers
SpaceX has completed the 13th test for its parachute system designed to support the Crew Dragon spacecraft’s landing operations, Tech Crunch reported Monday.
The company tested a group of Mark 3 parachutes, which included a non-functioning unit to assess the system’s capacity to conduct a safe landing despite partial failure.
The parachutes are made of an SRI International-developed polymer called Zylon, which is intended to have three times the strength of regular nylon.
SpaceX is slated to conduct a ground-based abort test of Crew Dragon ahead of in-flight engine assessments before the end of the year.
