SpaceX has completed a series of tests of the parachute deployment and splashdown systems in its Dragon capsule. In the final test, a helicopter lifted Dragon to altitude off the California coast and releaseed it. The drop test seemed to be a success.
Dragon is to begin carrying cargo to ISS under contract to NASA after the shuttle is retired. It will also bring garbage back from ISS. Later, SpaceX has plans to turn Dragon into a human-rated spacecraft that would ferry up to seven astronauts between Earth and low Earth orbit. NASA is looking for just such a commercial American craft to compete with Russia's Soyuz in the early post-shuttle era. SpaceX also plans to add a rocket package to Dragon at some point that would allow it to come down on land as well as into water.
Dragon's first spaceflight, atop its Falcon 9 launcher, is scheduled for next year.
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