SpaceX Test Is Next Hurdle in Proving Readiness to Take Astronauts to Space

— -- SpaceX faces a crucial test this week when the private space company shows off the emergency capabilities of the Crew Dragon, a capsule that could one day ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

The launch pad abort test is scheduled for Wednesday at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The test represents the first big hurdle for SpaceX's crew vessel, which will have to show it is ready to meet NASA's safety standards.

While no humans will be on board the spacecraft, an emergency evacuation will be simulated on the launch pad, Eight SuperDraco engines will lift Dragon 5,000 feet above the launch pad, according to NASA, before it parachutes and falls into the Atlantic Ocean.

The spacecraft is expected to land a mile from shore and will be recovered at the end of the test, which NASA said should take around a minute and a half.

Being able to abort a launch and safely evacuate crew is a crucial milestone SpaceX will need to pass before the capsule begins transporting astronauts as early as 2017.

In the interim, NASA has been purchasing seats aboard the Russian Soyuz.

NASA last year awarded multi-billion dollar deals to Boeing and SpaceX for development of spacecraft to shuttle astronauts to and from space.