SpaceX is a space transportation company that has launched 13 astronaut missions, all launching from Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It is the only launch pad that supports astronaut launches. So SpaceX has long wanted to upgrade its SLC-40 launch pad at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. To be able to send astronauts as well. At the time, it was reported that it was in the final stages of certification as a second launch pad for astronauts and could accommodate a larger number of astronauts on flights.
SpaceX's ambitions are getting closer to reality because…a reportLast November, SpaceX workers installed a walkway arm for astronauts to enter the launch tower. This is important infrastructure to help astronauts board the Crew Dragon spacecraft, and a new emergency exit system was recently installed on the launch pad. So that the astronauts can quickly escape when something unusual happens.
Recently, Kiko Dontchev, Vice President of Space Launch Operations, posted on Practice the same method for practicing how to use an emergency exit door on an airplane. It can slide off the slide in just a few steps. He also confirmed that this system will allow a larger number of passengers to enter the tower and the spaceship (100 people on board the spacecraft).
Last February, Bill Gerstenmaier, SpaceX's vice president of aviation construction and reliability, said in a conference call: The SLC-40 launch pad will be used first for payload missions before moving on to transporting astronauts. Both cargo and astronaut missions will use different versions of the Dragon spacecraft, and it is believed that it will begin carrying cargo on the CRS-30 mission, and now SpaceX is about to launch a CRS-30 mission departing SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral. Air Force Station on Friday at 3:55 AM (Thailand time).
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