Dock a SpaceX Spacecraft to the ISS in This Amazing Simulator – Futurism

Posted: May 14, 2020 at 5:19 pm

Elon Musk-led space company SpaceX has launched a browser-based simulator that allows you to take over the controls of a Crew Dragon spacecraft and dock it to the International Space Station.

To give it a shot, click here.

Fair warning, its not easy maintaining a good trajectory. But NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine apparently nailed it on his first try using SpaceXs full-scale docking simulator last year, he claimed in a tweet.

The controls in the browser simulator arent far off from the real Crew Dragon, according to SpaceX. The company says the game uses the controls of the actual interface in a notice displayed before starting the simulation.

In reality, Crew Dragon capsules are capable of autonomous docking as demonstrated during the companys successful uncrewed test flight last year but astronauts are able to take over manual control at any point if necessary.

The game debuted mere weeks before SpaceX is planning to launch the first crewed Crew Dragon mission to the International Space Station.

The flying task is very unique: To come close to the space station and fly in proximity, then slowly come into contact, is maybe a little bit different from what you would see for flying a space shuttle or an aircraft, NASA astronaut Bob Behnken told TechCrunch last week, referring to the Crew Dragons futuristic interface.

Of course, you know, growing up as a pilot my whole career, having a certain way to control the vehicle, this is certainly different, Behnken added.

Alongside fellow astronaut Dough Hurley, Behnken will be on board the Dragon capsule during the first crewed test flight later this month.

READ MORE: SpaceX simulator shows you what its actually like to dock Crew Dragon with the Space Station [TechCrunch]

More on Crew Dragon: SPACEX IS OFFICIALLY SENDING ASTRONAUTS TO SPACE NEXT MONTH

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Dock a SpaceX Spacecraft to the ISS in This Amazing Simulator - Futurism

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