Video Caption: Go Atlas! Go Starliner! Watch the latest episode when we learn about the Emergency Detection System – unique technology developed for the Atlas V Starliner designed to protect the crew and monitor the health of the rocket.
Tag: commercial crew
NASA Opens Up International Space Station to Private Astronauts
WASHINGTON, DC (NASA PR) — As part of NASA’s mission to stimulate a low-Earth orbit (LEO) economy, NASA is enabling up to two short-duration private astronaut missions per year to the International Space Station beginning as early as 2020.
Atlas V for Starliner Flight Arrives at Cape Canaveral
#Starliner Commercial Crew astronauts, your rocket has arrived. The ULA Atlas V that will carry @Astro_Ferg, @AstroDuke, & @AstroIronMike to the International Space Station is now on Florida’s space coast and will soon be on its way to the launch pad. pic.twitter.com/91dXewANJM
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) June 6, 2019
Boeing Progresses Toward First Flight Test of Starliner Crew Vehicle
On Tuesday, Program Manager Kathy Lueders gave an update on the status of the Commercial Crew Program to the Human Exploration and Operations Committee of the NASA Advisory Council.
Boeing and SpaceX have continued to make major progress. SpaceX flew an uncrewed flight test to the International Space Station (ISS) in March.
The company’s plan to fly astronauts on a second Crew Dragon flight test this summer has been scrambled by the explosion of a capsule on the test stand in April. Lueders said Elon Musk’s company is aiming to fly the mission by the end of the year. That schedule is dependent upon finding the cause of the explosion.
Boeing continues to target August for an uncrewed flight test of its Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). A test flight with crew would follow at the end of the year. Between the two flights, the company will conduct a test of the emergency abort system.
Boeing is continuing with parachute tests, which are near completion. The company also announced this week that it had successfully conducted a service module hot fire test.
Boeing has made progress in assembling the Orbital Flight Test (OFT) spacecraft.
The company also completed environmental qualification tests on its second spacecraft.
Processing of the Crew Flight Test vehicle is progressing.
Work on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V booster and Centaur upper stage is also progressing.
Operations activities are also ongoing.
Lueders: SpaceX Aiming for Dragon Crewed Flight Test by End of Year
On Tuesday, Program Manager Kathy Lueders gave an update on the status of the Commercial Crew Program to the Human Exploration and Operations Committee of the NASA Advisory Council.
She said that SpaceX is working to launch the Crew Dragon spacecraft with astronauts aboard to the International Space Station (ISS) by the end of the year.
This would be the second flight test of the vehicle following a successful flight test to the station without a crew in March.
Lueders cautioned the schedule is dependent upon SpaceX and NASA closing out an investigation into the April 20 explosion of the Crew Dragon that visited the station.
That capsule exploded as it was being prepared for a test of the crew escape system.
In addition to understanding why the explosion took place, SpaceX must complete an in-flight abort flight and parachute tests. Both are crucial to the safety of the Crew Dragon vehicle.
SpaceX is making progress on its operations status in preparation for crewed flights to the station.
Atlas V to Lift Starliner with Astronauts Departs Factory for Launch Site
DECATUR, Ala. (NASA PR) — The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket that will launch Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner on the Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission to the International Space Station for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program emerged on Thursday from the production factory in Decatur, Alabama for transport in a giant cargo ship to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
The rocket, known as AV-082, will launch Starliner and its crew of NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Nicole Mann, and Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson to the station following the spacecraft’s maiden voyage, the uncrewed Orbital Flight Test targeted for August.
From the manufacturing facility in Decatur, Alabama, the Atlas V booster stage and Dual Engine Centaur upper stage were moved down the road for loading into the Mariner vessel docked nearby. The 312-foot-long ship is purpose-built to navigate both shallow waters of rivers and ocean travel to reach ULA’s launch sites. It has been making the trek from Decatur to Cape Canaveral since 2001.
Once at Cape Canaveral, the Atlas V will begin integrated operations and processing for the CFT launch.
NASA selected Boeing and SpaceX to transport crew to the space station from the United States, returning the nation’s human spaceflight launch capability. These integrated spacecraft, rockets and associated systems will carry up to four astronauts on NASA missions.
Regular commercial transportation using Boeing’s Starliner and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft to and from the station will enable expanded station use and additional research time aboard the orbiting laboratory. Research on the space station helps address the challenges of moving humanity forward to the Moon and Mars as we learn how to keep astronauts healthy during long-duration space travel and demonstrate technologies for human and robotic exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.
Boeing Completes Starliner Hot Fire Test
WHITE SANDS, NM (NASA PR) — Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner propulsion system was put to the test on Thursday at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico in support of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Teams ran multiple tests on Starliner’s in-space maneuvering system and the spacecraft’s launch abort system, which are key elements on the path to restore America’s capability to fly astronauts to the International Space Station on American rockets and spacecraft from U.S. soil.
The test used a flight-like Starliner service module with a full propulsion system comprising of fuel and helium tanks, reaction control system and orbital maneuvering and attitude control thrusters, launch abort engines and all necessary fuel lines and avionics.
Check out our brand new #Starliner propulsion test footage. This successful test paves the way for our first uncrewed flight this summer and is an important next step for @Commercial_Crew astronauts to fly later this year. pic.twitter.com/FZxS0BwGlw
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) May 28, 2019
During the test:
- 19 thrusters fired to simulate in-space maneuvers.
- 12 thrusters fired to simulate a high-altitude abort.
- 22 propulsion elements, including the launch abort engines, fired to simulate a low-altitude abort.
Boeing’s Starliner will launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The company will complete a Starliner pad abort test and uncrewed flight test, called Orbital Flight Test, to the station ahead of the first flight test with a crew onboard. As commercial crew providers, Boeing and SpaceX, begin to make regular flights to the space station, NASA will continue to advance its mission to go beyond low-Earth orbit and establish a human presence on the Moon with the ultimate goal of sending astronauts to Mars.
Investigation into Crew Dragon Explosion Continues
WASHINGTON (NASA PR) — NASA continues to work closely with SpaceX as they lead the accident investigation into the April 20 Crew Dragon static fire anomaly at Landing Zone 1 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Teams have completed work to ensure the site is safe and are focusing on the root cause analysis, which will determine the impact to commercial crew flights tests.
SpaceX had several Crew Dragon vehicles in production, and plans to shift the spacecraft assignments forward. The spacecraft originally assigned to Demo-2, the first flight test with a crew onboard, now will be used for the company’s in-flight abort test and the first operational mission spacecraft will be used for Demo-2.
The Crew Dragon static fire was designed as a health check of the spacecraft’s Draco systems and to demonstrate integrated system SuperDraco performance. During the static fire, SpaceX successfully completed a firing of 12 service section Dracos with the anomaly occurring during the activation of the SuperDraco system. Over the course of development, SpaceX has tested the SuperDraco thrusters hundreds of times.
Following the test, NASA and SpaceX immediately executed mishap plans established by the agency and company. SpaceX fully cleared the test site and followed all safety protocols. Early efforts focused on making the site safe, collecting data and developing a timeline of the anomaly, which did not result in any injuries. NASA assisted with the site inspection including the operation of drones and onsite vehicles.
NASA and SpaceX remain committed to the safety of our astronaut and ground crews and will proceed with flight tests when ready.
Boeing Starliner Passes Key Test, Paves Way for Flight to Space Station
#Starliner’s integrated propulsion system hot fire test was a success. This paves the way for both the capsule’s pad abort test and upcoming flights to @Space_Station later this year. pic.twitter.com/aUjoDRg5vq
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) May 24, 2019
Boeing Releases Video of Successful Starliner Parachute Test
Check out this behind-the-scenes footage of #Starliner’s latest parachute test. It’s part of our path to qualify the entire landing system to fly @NASA_Astronauts. pic.twitter.com/rO5a6XLiLu
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) May 10, 2019
Divers Practice Emergency Rescue of Boeing Starliner Capsule
WATCH: Emergency water rescue simulation with a @Boeing #Starliner replica at @PortCanaveral. @usairforce divers familiarize themselves with the spacecraft in the event astronauts need rescued during future @Commercial_Crew missions @news6wkmg @BoeingSpace @45thSpaceWing pic.twitter.com/nMMQARHa6R
— James Sparvero (@News6James) April 23, 2019
GAO Letter Outlines NASA’s Open Priority Recommendations
by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor
NASA has not implemented nearly one third of the recommendations for improvements that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) made to it four years earlier, the government watchdog agency said.
“In November 2018, we reported that on a government-wide basis, 77 percent of our recommendations made 4 years ago were implemented,” GAO said in an April 12 letter to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.
“NASA’s recommendation implementation rate was 70 percent. As of February 2019, NASA had 51 open recommendations. Fully implementing these open recommendations could significantly improve NASA’s operations.” GAO added.
SpaceX Crew Dragon Suffers Problem During Test Firing
BREAKING: #SpaceX Crew Dragon suffered an anomaly during test fire today, according to 45th Space Wing. Smoke could be seen on the beaches.
“On April 20, an anomaly occurred at Cape Canaveral AFS during Dragon 2 static test fire. Anomaly was contained and no injuries.” pic.twitter.com/If5rdeGRXO
— Emre Kelly (@EmreKelly) April 20, 2019
In this photo taken from a Kennedy Space Center tour bus, an orange plume rises from a SpaceX Crew Dragon test vehicle after an accident during engine testing at Cape Canaveral (📷: @fsedano). FULL STORY: https://t.co/9RbqgB0jKo pic.twitter.com/RLfaIZeY8M
— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) April 21, 2019
SpaceX issued the following statement:
“Earlier today, SpaceX conducted a series of engine tests on a Crew Dragon test vehicle on our test stand at Landing Zone 1 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The initial tests completed successfully but the final test resulted in an anomaly on the test stand. Ensuring that our systems meet rigorous safety standards and detecting anomalies like this prior to flight are the main reasons why we test. Our teams are investigating and working closely with our NASA partners.”
Editor’s Note: My guess is they were running tests of the SuperDraco engines that will be used on the escape system. There is an in-flight abort test scheduled using the Crew Dragon capsule that just visited the space station. That is set to take place prior to the Crew Dragon flight with astronauts aboard scheduled for sometime in July.
It’s not clear what vehicle they were using today for the test.
Boeing Delays Starliner Flight Tests
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (NASA PR) — NASA and Boeing have agreed to extend the duration of the company’s first crewed flight test to the International Space Station after completing an in-depth technical assessment of the CST-100 Starliner systems. NASA found the long-duration flight to be technically feasible and in the best interest of the agency’s needs to ensure continued access and better utilization of the orbiting laboratory.
NASA to Update Schedule for Crew Dragon Test Soon
A Crew Dragon with two astronauts aboard will then conduct a flight test to the space station. The planning date for that flight is July.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (NASA PR) — NASA is working with SpaceX to return human spaceflight launches to American soil. The company completed an uncrewed flight test, known as Demo-1, to the space station in March.
SpaceX now is processing the same Crew Dragon spacececraft for an in-flight abort test. The company then will fly a test flight with a crew, known as Demo-2, to the station.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and SpaceX are expected to reevaluate its target test dates in the next couple weeks.
Editor’s Note: Current target test dates are June for the in-flight abort test and July for the crew test to the space station.