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PROPULSION

SuperDraco (Dragon Abort)

ACTIVE
Launch AbortTYPE
SpaceXMANUFACTURER
65 (per engine)MASS (KG)
N/A (chemical)POWER (W)
8 engines in 4 pods (pod-level redundancy)REDUNDANCY
ABOUT SUPERDRACO (DRAGON ABORT)

The SuperDraco engine is a crew escape thruster built into the Dragon 2 capsule sidewalls, providing launch abort capability. Eight SuperDraco engines in four pods can accelerate the capsule away from a failing rocket in milliseconds. They were the first 3D-printed rocket engines to fly, fabricated from Inconel superalloy.

SPECIFICATIONS
CategoryPropulsion
SubcategoryLaunch Abort
ManufacturerSpaceX
Mass65 kg
Power0 W
Dimensions~0.5 m length per engine
Redundancy8 engines in 4 pods (pod-level redundancy)
StandardCrew-rated abort system
StatusActive
First UseMay 6, 2015
OPERATING PRINCIPLE
Pressure-fed hypergolic bipropellant (NTO/MMH) with 3D-printed Inconel combustion chamber; throttleable for abort and propulsive control
KEY SPECIFICATIONS
thrust_kn73 each
total_thrust_kn584
propellantNTO/MMH
abort_time_s< 2
MASS CONVERSIONS
Kilograms65.0 kg
Pounds143.3 lbs
VEHICLES USING SUPERDRACO (DRAGON ABORT) (1)
  • Dragon 2 Crew