Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
After flying the Space Shuttle, Russia’s Soyuz and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi gave a short verdict: “The Dragon is the best.” He was describing his experience aboard the spacecraft—not announcing that Dragon was objectively safer or superior for every mission.
What Noguchi said—and why his view mattered
Noguchi made the comparison during a news conference aboard the International Space Station on November 19, 2020, shortly after arriving on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Resilience. He had flown the Shuttle Discovery on STS-114 in 2005, Soyuz TMA-17 in 2009, and Dragon on Crew-1, launched November 15, 2020. At the time, he was described as the third person to fly all three systems—a historical distinction, not a current count. The Washington Post reported his comparison, including his colorful description of Dragon as seeming to “really want[] to go to space.”
That is a rare perspective: one astronaut had just experienced three generations and types of crewed spacecraft. But it remains a personal assessment of a ride and working environment. Noguchi did not publish a statistical safety study, engineering scorecard or cost comparison.
Recommended Free Tools
Why Crew-1 was a milestone
Crew-1 carried NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, along with Noguchi, to the ISS. It was the first operational crew-rotation mission using NASA-certified Crew Dragon and Falcon 9. The mission followed Demo-2, the crewed test flight that launched in May 2020. NASA described Crew-1 as the start of regular commercial crew rotations to the station. NASA’s mission announcement gives the launch and crew details; its certification announcement explains the system’s operational status.
#1 Best Overall
- Extremely exquisite F9 manned dragon spacecraft rocket model (For collection or display, not a toy! Children should not buy it)
- This model is a highly simulated SpaceX Falcon 9 Crew Dragon rocket model. Its three first-level rockets are made of precision aluminum alloy tubes, and the rest of the rocket materials are made of high-quality imported resin-with extremely excellent laser forming capabilities and long-lasting Preservation
- The proportional model:1:233
- Actual height: 27cm+ 2cm.This ratio is the best choice for desktop placement
- Note: This model is purely handmade and is only purchased as a handmade artwork; this model has a high degree of authenticity and is only used for collection and display. It is not a children's toy model. Parents are not recommended to buy for children. Please be cautious. Purchase so as not to cause unnecessary trouble to your shopping
It also marked the return of routine U.S.-based crewed orbital launches after the Shuttle retired in 2011. That context made an astronaut’s first impressions of a new American spacecraft especially newsworthy—but did not make the spacecraft a direct replacement for everything the Shuttle did.
What could make Dragon feel better?
Dragon is a capsule built for crew transport to low Earth orbit, with a contemporary digital cabin and automated operations. NASA’s Commercial Crew press kit describes its crew controls and systems. Its interior temperature can be set between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, one small, concrete example of attention to the crew environment. These features help explain why Dragon might feel modern and approachable, but the available remarks do not establish which feature drove Noguchi’s preference.
Rank #2
- Name：Falcon 9 + Dragon Material:：Alloy+resin
- Size：Approximately 30x2cm (11.8*1 inch) Function： Static desktop display
- For collection or display, Not suitable for children to play with Handmade, there may be minor flaws
- Model is a highly Simulated SpaceX Falcon9 Dragon+F9 Starship Heavy Falcon Falcon 9 Biock 5 rocket model. The main body of the first-stage rocket is precision aluminum alloy tube, and the rest of the rocket materials are made of high-quality imported resin-with excellent laser forming ability and long-lasting preservation
Dragon also has an integrated launch-abort system: eight SuperDraco engines designed to move the crew capsule away from the rocket in an emergency, with abort capability from the pad through orbital insertion. That is a meaningful safety design feature, not proof of a better safety record. Soyuz also has a launch escape system; the designs and operating envelopes differ. The Shuttle, by contrast, did not have a capsule that could separate from its launch vehicle across the full ascent profile.
Dragon docks with the ISS using automated rendezvous and docking, though the crew can monitor and control aspects of the operation. It returns under parachutes for a splashdown. Cabin controls, automation, vibration and noise during launch, and the landing experience could all contribute to an astronaut’s overall impression. Without a more detailed statement from Noguchi, assigning his verdict to any one of them would be guesswork.
Rank #3
- 1/233 highly simulated model of the SpaceX Falcon 9 manned Dragon spacecraft rocket. --Not a toy！！
- First-stage super heavy-duty booster is made of precise aluminum alloy tubes.
- Rest of the rocket is made of high-quality imported resin .
- Extremely good laser shapeability& long-lasting shelf life
- Height：30CM + 2CM--Perfect addition to your home or office.
Three spacecraft, three different jobs
| Vehicle | What it was designed to do | What makes comparison tricky |
|---|---|---|
| Crew Dragon | A reusable capsule for transporting crews to and from the ISS, launched atop Falcon 9. It can carry up to seven people in its broader design, though Crew-1 carried four. | It is a focused crew taxi, not a replacement for the Shuttle’s full mission range. It returns by parachute and splashdown. |
| Space Shuttle | A winged, partially reusable orbiter launched with its main engines, an external tank and two solid rocket boosters. It carried large payloads, deployed and serviced satellites, supported spacewalks and landed on a runway as an unpowered glider. | It offered capabilities Dragon was not designed to match, but its launch and return architecture was much more complex. It was not simply an older crew capsule. |
| Soyuz | A compact capsule system, typically carrying three people, with a launch escape system and parachute-assisted landing. It became the ISS’s primary crew transporter after Shuttle retirement and before commercial crew service. | Its long operational history and established procedures are major strengths. It is not as spacious or presented with the same modern digital cabin as Dragon. |
The capsule-versus-orbiter distinction changes the whole flight. Dragon and Soyuz ride vertically in compact capsules and return under parachutes. The Shuttle launched with solid boosters and liquid-fueled main engines, then glided to a runway without engine power. A passenger might prefer one landing or launch sensation over another; that preference is not a universal measure of spacecraft quality.
“Best” depends on the question
- Best modern crew cabin and controls? Dragon is the newer system, with contemporary digital displays and an automated crew-transport design.
- Best long operational heritage in 2020? Soyuz had decades more crewed-flight experience than the newly operational Dragon. Heritage matters, but longevity alone does not prove lower risk per flight.
- Best for large payloads and satellite work? The Shuttle, with its cargo bay, robotic arm and servicing capabilities, did jobs Dragon was never built to do.
- Best launch escape architecture? Dragon and Soyuz both have crew escape systems; their capabilities are not identical. The Shuttle lacked an equivalent full-ascent capsule escape option.
- Safest overall? Noguchi’s comment cannot answer that. It would require a carefully defined comparison of risk per launch, mission or crew exposure, accounting for different eras, designs and operating histories.
Raw accident totals do not settle the safety question either. The Shuttle had two fatal accidents—Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003—across 135 missions. Soyuz has also had fatal accidents, including Soyuz 1 and Soyuz 11, alongside a much longer operational record. Comparing totals without accounting for how many missions flew and what risks are being measured can mislead. Crew Dragon had flown only a small number of crewed missions when Noguchi spoke, far too few for his preference to establish a comparative lifetime safety record.
Rank #4
- 1/233 Scale Precision Diecast Collectible Model Set.
- Includes：Dragon ROCKET MODEL + Strongback /Transpoter Erector .
- First-stage super heavy-duty booster is made of precise aluminum alloy tubes. Other parts constructed with High-quality imported laser-formed photosensitive resin-it rocket material.
- Extremely good laser shapeability & long-lasting shelf life.
- Height：32CM (core diameter is 24mm,rocket diameter is 9 meters ) Perfect addition to your home or office.
The fair reading of the headline
Noguchi’s quote supports a clear, interesting point: an astronaut with firsthand experience of all three preferred the Crew Dragon experience overall. It does not show that SpaceX is better in every engineering, safety or mission category. Dragon is a modern ISS crew transporter; Soyuz brought deep operational heritage and a compact design; the Shuttle offered payload and servicing capabilities outside Dragon’s remit. The headline is fair as a report of Noguchi’s opinion, but too broad if read as an objective ranking of the three spacecraft.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 1/233 Scale Precision Diecast Collectible Model Set.
- Includes：Dragon ROCKET MODEL + Strongback /Transpoter Erector .
- First-stage super heavy-duty booster is made of precise aluminum alloy tubes. Other parts constructed with High-quality imported laser-formed photosensitive resin-it rocket material.
- Extremely good laser shapeability & long-lasting shelf life.
- Height：32CM (core diameter is 24mm,rocket diameter is 9 meters ) Perfect addition to your home or office.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
