Orbital didn't combine any of their COTS test flights. They had one test flight without Cygnus which was added as a result of the extra funding NASA received in the stimilus package and one test flight for Cygnus.
Quote from: yg1968 on 08/29/2017 07:01 pmOrbital didn't combine any of their COTS test flights. They had one test flight without Cygnus which was added as a result of the extra funding NASA received in the stimilus package and one test flight for Cygnus.We know what actually happened. Do we actually know that the original plan for Cygnus was to have only one test flight going straight to the ISS, potentially putting the ISS at risk with an unproven spacecraft? If that was so, then perhaps that played into the decision by NASA to allow Dragon test flights two and three to be combined.
I'm wondering if SpaceX is planning on a few propulsive landing flights onto their drone ships using the Dragon 2? This would be a good way to demonstrate the capability, but I'm not sure NASA would go along with it on any cargo flights. Unless the cargoes being returned are relatively low value. (Unlikely, but possible).
Or for that matter, why F9 needs 7 launches in its final configuration before launching crew while SLS Block 1B needs none at all?
Quote from: Jim on 08/29/2017 02:51 pmAgain, another unwarranted snipe and insubstantial statement.Can you explain to me why Dragon needs 4 parachutes while Orion uses only 3 of the same size?
Again, another unwarranted snipe and insubstantial statement.
No. The Dragon v2 no longer has landing legs, and therefore cannot make a landing attempt.
Quote from: guckyfan on 08/29/2017 03:34 pmQuote from: Jim on 08/29/2017 02:51 pmAgain, another unwarranted snipe and insubstantial statement.Can you explain to me why Dragon needs 4 parachutes while Orion uses only 3 of the same size?Ask Spacex why they are using 4.Ask the Orion program why they are using 3.Each has no bearing on the other.NASA has no input on Spacex design decisions