Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 10/09/2017 04:32 pmYes and no. There are 6 months to fix the capsule. The parts sent up on a later mission. If the capsule cannot be repaired a replacement can be sent to the spacestation.Considering that the probability of sustaining an MMOD strike is directly proportional to the time on orbit, it's more to the point that it's FAR more likely to sustain a strike while docked than during the relatively brief time between launch and docking. Unless an approach inspection is going to reveal something that would rule out docking, it doesn't seem to add a lot of value.
Yes and no. There are 6 months to fix the capsule. The parts sent up on a later mission. If the capsule cannot be repaired a replacement can be sent to the spacestation.
I'm also struggling to think of any component that could be repaired on orbit in that timeframe. Unlike station, the commercial crew vehicles are not being designed with on-orbit (EVA or EVR) repair in mind.
The docking port could have been damaged. That may prevent docking.
A few more anti-satellite missile tests and the capsules may have to fly though a debris cloud.
An inspection of the outside of the capsule a couple of days before departure may be reassuring. Keeping the strike detection avionics and loss of pressure detectors operating whilst docked may be useful.
The Space Shuttles were not designed for on-orbit repair but a method of patching holes in the skin of Shuttles was devised. A similar patch may work with the airframe/skin and windows of capsules.
A strike on a capsule could damage one or more of the external solar panels, radiators, aerials, sensors, rocket nozzles, side of the docking port, windows or airframe. The aerials can probably be replaced.
SpaceX and Boeing Milestones from NAC yestesday. Taken from Eric Bergers twitter feed.Full presentations from yesterday and today should be uploaded at below address within a few days: https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/nac-heoc
Shotwell: still planning to carry out commercial crew test flights (uncrewed and crewed) in 2018.
Also set for 2018 is the debut of SpaceX’s crewed Dragon spacecraft, set for an uncrewed demonstration mission to the International Space Station in the second half of the year, to be followed by a two-week crewed mission (likely in early 2019 per current ISS planning schedules).
From this Spaceflight101.com article:QuoteAlso set for 2018 is the debut of SpaceX’s crewed Dragon spacecraft, set for an uncrewed demonstration mission to the International Space Station in the second half of the year, to be followed by a two-week crewed mission (likely in early 2019 per current ISS planning schedules).Any word on the reasons the slip?
CCDev lastest schedule:Boeing Orbital Flight Test (uncrewed): August 2018Boeing Crew Flight Test (crewed): November 2018SpaceX Demonstration Mission 1 (uncrewed): April 2018SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 (crewed): August 2018ISS schedule:Boeing Orbital Flight Test (uncrewed): NET August 2018Boeing Crew Flight Test (crewed): Q1 2019SpaceX Demonstration Mission 1 (uncrewed): second half of 2018SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 (crewed): early 2019Boe-CFT slip to 2019 was expected: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/11/boeing-starliner-trio-test-flights/
Subcommittee on Space Hearing - An Update on NASA Commercial Crew Systems DevelopmentDate: Wednesday, January 17, 2018 - 10:00amLocation: 2318 Rayburn House Office BuildingWitnesses:Mr. William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator, Human Exploration and Operations Directorate, NASAMr. John Mulholland, vice president and program manager, Commercial Programs, Boeing Space ExplorationDr. Hans Koenigsmann, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceXMs. Cristina Chaplain, director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, U.S. Government Accountability OfficeDr. Patricia Sanders, chair, NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Target Test Flight DatesThe next generation of American spacecraft and rockets that will launch astronauts to the International Space Station are nearing the final stages of development and evaluation. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program will return human spaceflight launches to U.S. soil, providing reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit on systems that meet our safety and mission requirements. To meet NASA’s requirements, the commercial providers must demonstrate that their systems are ready to begin regular flights to the space station. Two of those demonstrations are uncrewed flight tests, known as Orbital Flight Test for Boeing, and Demonstration Mission 1 for SpaceX. After the uncrewed flight tests, both companies will execute a flight test with crew prior to being certified by NASA for crew rotation missions. The following schedule reflects the most recent publicly releasable dates for both providers.Targeted Test Flight Dates:Boeing Orbital Flight Test (uncrewed): August 2018Boeing Crew Flight Test (crewed): November 2018SpaceX Demonstration Mission 1 (uncrewed): August 2018SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 (crewed): December 2018Author Anna HeineyPosted on January 11, 2018
That's quite disappointing, of course, but the real question is what's the reason for the huge SpaceX delay and why they're now lagging behind Boing. I mean, everybody expected that SpaceX will be the first to conduct test flights.Could it still be rocket/prop loading concerns?
can SpaceX (if ready earlier) tell NASA they are ready and ask to go sooner?
Quote from: Lar on 01/11/2018 08:51 pmcan SpaceX (if ready earlier) tell NASA they are ready and ask to go sooner?Pretty sure that the power dynamic here (and it's far from technical, very political) assumes that NASA tells SpaceX when they are ready to go. SpaceX can probably request some sort of review, but I doubt they have an ability to assert that they are "ready" with any real consequences.
SpaceX still has plenty of work to do getting both Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 certified for human flight.
Targeted Test Flight Dates:Boeing Orbital Flight Test (uncrewed): August 2018Boeing Crew Flight Test (crewed): November 2018SpaceX Demonstration Mission 1 (uncrewed): August 2018SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 (crewed): December 2018
The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), an advisory committee that reports to NASA and Congress, has issued its 2017 annual report examining NASA's safety performance over the past year and highlighting accomplishments, issues and concerns to agency and government officials. The report, released Thursday, is based on the panel's 2017 fact-finding and quarterly public meetings; "insight" visits and meetings; direct observations of NASA operations and decision-making processes; discussions with NASA management, employees and contractors; and the panel members' own experience.“It is clear to the panel that NASA is at a critical juncture in human spaceflight development and that this is a time to retain focus on program details; to maintain a sense of urgency while not giving in to schedule pressure and to continue with program plans without neglecting, shortchanging, or deleting program content essential to safety and mission assurance,” said ASAP Chair Patricia Sanders.The 2017 report highlights activities of the past year, and includes assessments of the agency’s:Exploration Systems DevelopmentCommercial Crew ProgramDeep space explorationInternational Space Station operationsAeronautics missions and air operations, andEnterprise protectionThe report reiterates the need for constancy of purpose as NASA is on the verge of realizing the results of years of work and extensive resource investment.Congress established the panel in 1968 to provide advice and make recommendations to the NASA administrator on safety matters after the 1967 Apollo 1 fire that claimed the lives of three American astronauts.For more information about the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, and to view the 2017 report, visit:http://oiir.hq.nasa.gov/asap