Does the recent post from SpaceX about structural tests tell us anything new about where they are in completing the next milestones?
Are you sure, I was under the impression that SpaceX had completed all of its CCiCap milestones (as of Decemeber 2015) except for the in-flight abort test (which is scheduled for 2017).
McAlister: the crewed test flights Boeing and SpaceX will fly will dock to the ISS for an unspecified period, likely “some number of weeks”.
McAlister: Commercial Crew Program will manage transport services after vehicles certified; modeled after Launch Services Program.
McAlister calls schedules for Boeing and SpaceX “optimistic but achievable.”
McAlister: not concerned about a continuing resolution to start the fiscal year, since program asking for slightly less in ’17 vs ’16.
What I am hearing regarding NASA's commercial crew program: There is a "decent" chance a single, crewed mission will fly in 2018.
@SciGuySpace so you are implying that no crewed flights will take place during 2017?
@aaronraimist Yes.
@sclayworth NASA loses a lot of face with Congress if they acknowledge the delays.
@SciGuySpace meaning what exactly? The first commercial crew flight? Or test flights?
@spacecom test flights with crew
Interesting series of tweets by Eric Berger re schedule for first commercial crew flight. I think this is a bit more than a random internet rumour given Eric's credentials:<snip>
Boeing already has the first uncrewed test flight at dec-17 so it is no surprise they wont fly crewed before 2018.
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 08/12/2016 12:46 pmInteresting series of tweets by Eric Berger re schedule for first commercial crew flight. I think this is a bit more than a random internet rumour given Eric's credentials:<snip>Yes, I read those too.According to the latest public FPIP SpaceX DM-1 uncrewed is scheduled for 12/05-17 (DD/MM-YY) and DM-2 crewed for 22/08-17. Dragon in-flight abort is going to happen between these two flights. So if anything shows up in either DM-1 or the inflight abort test the end of august date for DM-2 looks like a slip. Even is there isnt, just analyzing the data could force a slip.So slipping DM-2 to start 2018 is very plausible given both Eric Bergers statements and the FPIP plan.Boeing already has the first uncrewed test flight at dec-17 so it is no surprise they wont fly crewed before 2018. Link to FPIP thread: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=29401.msg1564439#newLink to CCP Major partner milestones http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=35717.msg1563499#msg1563499
But this is just rumor and opinion, not news. Could be someone who already doesn't think SpaceX will meet their schedule now learning that Boeing is having even bigger problems.Could easily end up being right (delays are the rule in this industry), but this isn't news, it's rumor.BTW, it's odd to me how the "serious" experts still give Boeing the benefit of the doubt on these sorts of things.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 08/12/2016 08:01 pmBut this is just rumor and opinion, not news. Could be someone who already doesn't think SpaceX will meet their schedule now learning that Boeing is having even bigger problems.Could easily end up being right (delays are the rule in this industry), but this isn't news, it's rumor.BTW, it's odd to me how the "serious" experts still give Boeing the benefit of the doubt on these sorts of things.Yes, I agree. We had heard of Boeing's acoustic problems on L2 before they announced them. If there were issues with SpaceX, we would hear about them too. For SpaceX, the only issue that we have heard about so far (at the latest NAC meeting) is NASA getting confortable with the densified propellant. But that's an issue that will solve itself through more flight history. We have heard that schedules have been optimitic but that's usually the case for most programs.
Is the issue with Nasa and densified propellant related to the late loading of the prop and they don't want their people sitting on top during fueling?Quote from: yg1968 on 08/15/2016 03:02 pmQuote from: Robotbeat on 08/12/2016 08:01 pmBut this is just rumor and opinion, not news. Could be someone who already doesn't think SpaceX will meet their schedule now learning that Boeing is having even bigger problems.Could easily end up being right (delays are the rule in this industry), but this isn't news, it's rumor.BTW, it's odd to me how the "serious" experts still give Boeing the benefit of the doubt on these sorts of things.Yes, I agree. We had heard of Boeing's acoustic problems on L2 before they announced them. If there were issues with SpaceX, we would hear about them too. For SpaceX, the only issue that we have heard about so far (at the latest NAC meeting) is NASA getting confortable with the densified propellant. But that's an issue that will solve itself through more flight history. We have heard that schedules have been optimitic but that's usually the case for most programs.
Is the issue with Nasa and densified propellant related to the late loading of the prop and they don't want their people sitting on top during fueling?
Quote from: kevinof on 08/15/2016 03:30 pmIs the issue with Nasa and densified propellant related to the late loading of the prop and they don't want their people sitting on top during fueling?The point is that with regards to flying crew on rockets NASA doesn't like to change the way they have done things for the past four+ decades. Most, if not all, of their experience is with the crew getting aboard a fully fueled vehicle. And then comes SpaceX proposing to do it the other way around. Given how risk adverse NASA in general, and the astronaut office and ASAP in particular are, it is no surprise they feel uncomfortable with this new approach to things.
