We’ve had quite a bit of news coming in from our friends at Hydro-Turf lately. Although this latest bit of info isn’t exactly focused on personal watercraft, it’s just too cool not to share: Because of the high durability against the harsh marine environment and applied pressures, Hydro-Turf matting (and quite a bit of it) was used to line the recovery cradle for the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
Not sure what we’re talking about? That’s OK, many still are. After the current American presidential administration effectively reduced the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) into a redundant surveillance outlet for data gathering, the task of exploring the outer reaches of our universe was unceremoniously handed over to the private sector.
Former PayPal creator and Tesla Automotive chairman Elon Musk sought to do what was only possible by seemingly limitless-funded government agencies: put a man in orbit. On May 25, 2012, SpaceX made history when its Dragon spacecraft became the first privately developed spacecraft in history to successfully attach to the International Space Station.
It took four days, from May 22 to May 26, for the Dragon to be launched via SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, to orbit the Earth as it traveled toward the International Space Station, and eventually berthed to the International Space Station. After spending six days attached to the ISS, the Dragon returned to Earth, carrying a load of cargo for NASA.
In the video below, you’ll notice the Hydro-Turf matting lining the cradle during recovery of the spacecraft at 2:10. Enjoy:
