---
title: "Here’s What We Know About SpaceX’s Crewed Dragon Spacecraft"
description: "SpaceX recently welcomed journalists to get a rare inside look at its new Dragon spacecraft. Here's what will soon transport lucky astronauts to the ISS."
date: "2018-08-14"
modified: "2018-08-14"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/spacex-crewed-dragon-spacecraft"
categories:
  - "Space"
  - "SpaceX"
tags:
  - "astronaut"
  - "dragon"
  - "elon musk"
  - "international space station"
  - "iss"
  - "NASA"
  - "Space travel"
  - "SpaceX"
---

# Here’s What We Know About SpaceX’s Crewed Dragon Spacecraft

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/GettyImages-1016277942.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="https://www.gettyimages.ca/license/1016277942" target="\_blank"\>David McNew/Getty Images\</a\>\</em\>*

A lucky group of journalists just got a first glimpse at the future of space travel. SpaceX welcomed them to its headquarters in Hawthorne, California to show off their latest version of its crewed Dragon capsule, which is slated to head to the International Space Station as early as February 2019.

It was a surprisingly detailed look at what the future of commercial spaceflight could look like. Members of the media could climb aboard a full-scale mock-up of the SpaceX Dragon capsule, get up and personal with SpaceX's mascot... er, dummy wearing the company's spacesuit, and even have a look at the launch software while sitting inside a simulator. Here's are the big takeaways.

## The Astronauts

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/GettyImages-1016263746-1200x800.jpg>)
*Image Credit: [David McNew/Getty Images](<https://www.gettyimages.ca/license/1016263746>)*

Four astronauts that [NASA recently announced](<https://futurism.com/nasa-crew-announces-first-commercial-astronauts>) would make the first journeys in the craft also attended the event, addressing the media and posing for photographs.

"Being able to fly a first flight as a test pilot is a once in a generational type of opportunity," Doug Hurley, future SpaceX Dragon astronaut and Space Shuttle veteran, [told the crowd](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufR-CAWKEA0>). "But we've got a lot of work left to do."

## The Suit

Specs of the suit are still a bit murky, but you can take Elon Musk's word: "it definitely works. You can just jump in a vacuum chamber with it, and it's fine," he [said at a press conference](<https://expeditedtranscripts.com/full-transcript-news-conference-spacex-falcon-heavy-test-flight/>) back in February. [According to *Business Insider*](<https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-crew-dragon-capsule-what-its-like-inside-2018-8#journalists-also-got-a-close-up-view-of-the-pressurized-flight-spacesuit-that-astronauts-will-wear-inside-the-crew-dragon-its-undeniably-sleek-11>), the suit is made from a specially developed fire retardant fabric.

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/GettyImages-1016277190-1200x917.jpg>)
*Image Credit: [ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images](<https://www.gettyimages.ca/license/1016277190>)*

It won't, however, be very useful for actual space walks, because it [really hampers wearers' movement](<https://www.livescience.com/61705-starman-spacex-spacesuit.html>) when it's fully pressurized. Instead, the suit would provide a safety backup in the event of equipment failure or sudden depressurization, so they'd have to wear them the whole time they're in transit to the ISS. The suit also won't protect astronauts if they're exposed to extreme temperatures or radiation outside space vehicles.

## The Dragon Capsule

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/GettyImages-1016310332-1200x800.jpg>)
*Image Credit: [David McNew/Getty Images](<https://www.gettyimages.ca/license/1016310332>)*

The interior of the mock-up is surprisingly roomy. There are four race-car-style bucket seats for the astronauts to sit. There's room for three cargo pallets under the seats. A massive screen above the seats acts as the control panel. And there's a modestly curtained-off toilet, in case launching into space makes you feel a bit queasy.

According to [SpaceX's website](<https://www.spacex.com/dragon>), the Dragon spacecraft can launch with six metric tonnes (13,288 pounds) on board. It can stay in orbit for up to two years, and can be reused to fly up to the International Space Station up to ten times. Seven life-support systems and a powered launch abort system ([tested in 2015](<https://www.space.com/29329-spacex-tests-dragon-launch-abort-system.html>)) keep the crew safe.

![David McNew/Getty Images](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/GettyImages-1016277744-1200x800.jpg>)
*Image Credit: [David McNew/Getty Images](<https://www.gettyimages.ca/license/1016277744>)*

Here's what the real spacecraft looks like — still under construction inside a clean room.

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/GettyImages-1016310512-1200x800.jpg>)
*Image Credit: [David McNew/Getty Images](<https://www.gettyimages.ca/license/1016310512>)*

Cramped Soyuz shuttles are so 50 years ago. Launches are about to get a lot more comfy for astronauts heading to the ISS. And according to reports of the software SpaceX showed off during the event, it will be a breeze to pilot the Dragon, too.

SpaceX has shown what the future of spaceflight could look like — and we hope that the average person (that is, [if they can afford it](<https://futurism.com/first-luxury-hotel-space>)) can check it out for themselves.

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)