...keep your "posts are speculation" hat on. Should we have only updates? No, because the "updates" are MSM speculation articles like that hilarious one on IB Times or the "CLICK ME!" Futurism article. Do we have discussion where everyone has to post a very informed post? Impossible. But it's very important everyone states they are speculating to avoid people getting confused and their knickers in a twist.
NASA boss says 'no doubt' SpaceX explosion delays flight program..Eric M. Johnson Published: 6 hours agohttps://www.journalpioneer.com/news/world/nasa-boss-says-no-doubt-spacex-explosion-delays-flight-program-323465/
However it is unclear much of the delay is for SpaceX to actually correct the problem and how much is for NASA to decide it is comfortable with the corrective action.
Quote from: vulture4 on 06/18/2019 07:30 pmHowever it is unclear much of the delay is for SpaceX to actually correct the problem and how much is for NASA to decide it is comfortable with the corrective action.Also to determine what oversight caused the explosion in the first place, and whether there is a risk for similar oversights elsewhere on the vehicle that could cause similar issues.
Hopefully SpaceX has been able to move forward with some of the "many items" that remained between DM-1 and DM-2 prior to the test article explosion. This seems plausible given how much stuff there is in the capsule that isn't related to the engines/plumbing/whatever is implicated in the accident. It seems likely some of the delay due to this accident would have occurred anyway due to those other work items remaining.
Eric is usually well-informed:twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1145677058821021703QuoteHere are a couple of things I think I know about commercial crew this morning.1. NASA will do well to get Boeing's uncrewed test flight, and SpaceX's in-flight abort test done in 2019. Crewed flights are not entirely off the table, but unlikely.https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1145677592579715075Quote2. SpaceX has been working well with NASA after April's Crew Dragon explosion in Florida. Two sources confirm issue is not with Super Draco thrusters, and probably will cause a delay of months, rather than a year or more.
Here are a couple of things I think I know about commercial crew this morning.1. NASA will do well to get Boeing's uncrewed test flight, and SpaceX's in-flight abort test done in 2019. Crewed flights are not entirely off the table, but unlikely.
2. SpaceX has been working well with NASA after April's Crew Dragon explosion in Florida. Two sources confirm issue is not with Super Draco thrusters, and probably will cause a delay of months, rather than a year or more.
“Issue is not with the Super Draco thrusters” just means the engines themselves?
Fwiw the initial small, 2m diameter fireball was centered on a panel which covers a junction of fuel lines and valves rather than the propellant tanks or thrusters per se. Presumably at least some of these lines were abruptly pressurized at about the time of the explosion, just prior to the SD firing.
SpaceX suffered the loss of that Crew Dragon spacecraft in April during preparations for an in-flight abort test. Both the company and the agency faced criticism for the lack of openness in the ongoing investigation into that incident, and Bridenstine vowed that the process will work differently in the future.“That criticism largely comes from me as well,” he said, noting there was “no communication” from SpaceX immediately after the accident. “That can’t happen again.”Bridenstine said that a new process is now in place for communications in the event of another mishap. “Within a couple of hours, we’re going to do a press conference and get as much information out to the public as soon as possible.”
Bridenstine is still not too happy about the communication issue: https://spacenews.com/bridenstine-says-leadership-changes-linked-to-urgency-in-nasas-exploration-programs/QuoteSpaceX suffered the loss of that Crew Dragon spacecraft in April during preparations for an in-flight abort test. Both the company and the agency faced criticism for the lack of openness in the ongoing investigation into that incident, and Bridenstine vowed that the process will work differently in the future.“That criticism largely comes from me as well,” he said, noting there was “no communication” from SpaceX immediately after the accident. “That can’t happen again.”Bridenstine said that a new process is now in place for communications in the event of another mishap. “Within a couple of hours, we’re going to do a press conference and get as much information out to the public as soon as possible.”
Quote from: su27k on 07/13/2019 03:32 amBridenstine is still not too happy about the communication issue: https://spacenews.com/bridenstine-says-leadership-changes-linked-to-urgency-in-nasas-exploration-programs/QuoteSpaceX suffered the loss of that Crew Dragon spacecraft in April during preparations for an in-flight abort test. Both the company and the agency faced criticism for the lack of openness in the ongoing investigation into that incident, and Bridenstine vowed that the process will work differently in the future.“That criticism largely comes from me as well,” he said, noting there was “no communication” from SpaceX immediately after the accident. “That can’t happen again.”Bridenstine said that a new process is now in place for communications in the event of another mishap. “Within a couple of hours, we’re going to do a press conference and get as much information out to the public as soon as possible.”It seems Bridenstine means communication with the public. It's been previously reported there was lots of communication immediately between SpaceX and NASA. I'm a bit ambivalent about communication with the public for tests failures. Most folks in the public don't seem to have a proper appreciation for the role of failure in tests.
