OP
OP
That amazing drone footage in full:
https://instagram.fatl1-1.fna.fbcdn...323_730213230435829_6099661207445176320_n.mp4
https://instagram.fatl1-1.fna.fbcdn...323_730213230435829_6099661207445176320_n.mp4
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SpaceX |OT| Reusable Rockets - To Mars!
- Thread starter Crispy75
- Start date
Crew Dragon is coming... and it looks so elegant and sci-fi.
The first Crew Dragon Capsule, built for the uncrewed demo launch, has been completed and is about to visit NASA's environmental testing facility for acceptance testing. Hoping to see a launch in August/September!
We are approaching the era of SpaceX astronauts! (Or better NASA astronauts riding SpaceX rockets and capsules, at least for now)
It's triple redundant (there are three independent screens that can replicate the same functions, one isn't visible in the photo) and vital commands have dedicated physical buttons underneath the screens that aren't shown in that mockup.
Plus it's cool.
You can be sure SpaceX and NASA know what they're doing ;)
Plus it's cool.
You can be sure SpaceX and NASA know what they're doing ;)
OP
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Without. Currently scheduled for August, but all rumours point to a slip.
Hopefully it doesn't slip too far. I can't wait to see it in action.
Just a reminder that:
which means they plan on having it at the cape in early August, and the fact they're shipping it to Plum Brook now suggests they're on schedule.
The DM-1 capsule has been scheduled to ship to Plum Brook at the end of May for quite some time (I think at least 2-3 months), so the hardware isn't holding them back.
which means they plan on having it at the cape in early August, and the fact they're shipping it to Plum Brook now suggests they're on schedule.
The DM-1 capsule has been scheduled to ship to Plum Brook at the end of May for quite some time (I think at least 2-3 months), so the hardware isn't holding them back.
The biggest issue SpaceX has right now with NASA is the fueling procedures. Old Guard is very uncomfortable with the Fuel at last minute approach that SpaceX has done in order to keep the fuel super cold and condensed for maximum fuel. As the Astronauts will be onboard during fueling its a safety risk potentially.
OP
OP
Sounds backwards to me. When the astronauts are on board, they are as safe as can be, wearing their suits, protected by the capsule, and ready to blast off on the launch escape system at the first hint of danger. Then you only start the "dangerous" fueling procedure when they're nice and safe. The other way round, you turn the rocket into a potential bomb and *then* tippy-toe up to it whispering "shhh" and get ready to duck and cover when the shockwave comes.
By the sounds of it, NASA are coming around to the "load and go" approach.
OP
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Expandable block 4 first stage, first block 5 second stage to run at full performance.
Falcon Heavy has been certified by Air Force, first launch set for September 2020
https://arstechnica.com/science/201...alcon-heavy-orders-satellite-launch-for-2020/
https://arstechnica.com/science/201...alcon-heavy-orders-satellite-launch-for-2020/
Good news for the Falcon heavy on the Government side of things. The Crew Dragon Capsule was also brought out to Testing facilities in Ohio for Thermal Vacuum chamber testing yesterday. Seems like things are progressing pretty well for SpaceX. First Crewed flight is scheduled for Jan 17 2019 as well now
Real crew? How many unpiloted test flights are they expecting before that - seems close
As far as what's known right now they are shooting for Uncrewed test flight in September to LEO and a midflight abort test sometime this year as well then the manned crew mission in Jan will be NASA and limited to 2 Astronauts only.
Still seems quite fast. Some stones in the 2 people in the capsule if it's only had 2 unmanned flights and 3 total for the Heavy.
Its a pretty fast schedule but Boeing is pretty much on the same pace and is doing its launch early next year as well. Deal with Russia expires next year so they need these guys ready. Obviously if something goes wrong it will throw a wrench in things.
OP
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Capsule won't be on the Heavy, but the Block 5 Falcon 9, which should have had 8 (IIRC) flights by then.
The US went from nothing to the moon and back with 3 different spacecraft in 12 years. Mercury started in 1958 with Alan Shepard becoming the first American in space in 1961, and of course the first lunar landing in 1969.
Companies like SpaceX are operating on a small percentage of the budget for the program that got the US to the Moon. They also don't have the weight of the entire US government behind them.
Total cost of the Apollo, Mercury and Gemini programs is something like $200 billion in today's money.
SpaceX's first decade of operation had a total budget of $1 billion, and as of last year they were still well under $1 billion annually. So call it $5 billion total.
It's an almost totally incomparable situation.
Ahh in that case, substantially less likely to have a problem.
Thanks for the history lesson? I'm more than well aware of what has gone before thanks.
DBT85 said:
The Crew Dragon has been in development since 2010. They performed a successful pad abort test in May of 2015. They performed a hovering test in November of 2015. This September will be the first mission without a crew to the ISS, and then the planned crew test next January. So that's 8 years of development, just under 3 years testing with fuel in the capsule. And the Crew Dragon uses lessons learned from the original Dragon, which has been conducting missions since 2012 (design started on that in 2004). So Crew Dragon will have had around 7 years or so of design and testing before people go up in it.
Compared to the rapid pace of the early US manned space program, I don't think that's all that fast. That was my point. I don't think the snark was warranted.
Then perhaps post the above, rather than what you posted. An informative useful reply rather than "look dumdum they did all this" which is what your first reply read like.
My apologies for being terse; a personal attack was not my intent.
The reason the Space Shuttle isn't flying anymore is because 2 of them exploded in flight. I don't think it's unreasonable to demand higher standards for the next crewed space launch vehicle.
NASA had an acceptable loss rate of 1 in 80 for the Space Shuttle. They are demanding a 1 in 270 rate for Commercial Crew. The Space Shuttle took 10 years to develop and fly (and even then almost never made it back after it's first flight). So for there to be any kind of criticism for either Boeing or SpaceX given NASA demands is a little harsh IMO.
No problem. I figured some people would want to watch, and it's a night launch which are always better.