5th seat on the Dragon during a crew rotation

[vp.]

Is it possible to install a 5th seat on the Dragon spacecraft for an astronaut to do a short mission during the crew rotation?
Of course, he would have to transfer his seat on the descending Dragon.
This has been done in the past with the Soyuz.

[spacenut]

Dragon was initially designed to hold 6 crew.  For some reason NASA wanted to take out the back two seats and use it for additional cargo.  It could be done if NASA wanted to do it. 

[rpapo]

Dragon was initially designed to hold 6 crew.  For some reason NASA wanted to take out the back two seats and use it for additional cargo.  It could be done if NASA wanted to do it.

Seven.

[MattMason]

Is it possible to install a 5th seat on the Dragon spacecraft for an astronaut to do a short mission during the crew rotation?
Of course, he would have to transfer his seat on the descending Dragon.
This has been done in the past with the Soyuz.

It's possible, but not asked for by NASA. And it seems unlikely to ever happen.

The original Crew Dragon had seven seats. But in development of the vehicle for Commercial Crew, NASA was concerned about acceleration and deceleration forces. They asked SpaceX to redesign the vehicle for only 4 seats.

Also, rather than the crew spacecraft console rotating downward to the crew as was in the prototype, the seats themselves would rotate upward to a smaller control console so that the astronaut's backs are more parallel to the direction of flight for launch, abort and landing forces. This change also supported additional cargo up/downmass for the vehicle.

With development of the immense Starship and its potential of supporting dozens of people for later missions, especially the Artemis' Lunar Starship variant, it's not likely that the four Crew Dragons will be modified significantly. Any changes might require to recertify them for NASA's needs as the vehicle's primary customer.

SpaceX is not building any additional Crew Dragons than the four (Endeavour, Resilience, Endurance and Freedom) since they are sufficiently reusable and refurbished after flight for any needs by NASA or others. (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-ends-crew-dragon-production-starship-future/)

More about this decision in this article, from SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell: https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/12/07/after-redesigns-the-finish-line-is-in-sight-for-spacexs-crew-dragon/

[darkenfast]

Is it possible to install a 5th seat on the Dragon spacecraft for an astronaut to do a short mission during the crew rotation?
Of course, he would have to transfer his seat on the descending Dragon.
This has been done in the past with the Soyuz.

It's possible, but not asked for by NASA. And it seems unlikely to ever happen.

The original Crew Dragon had seven seats. But in development of the vehicle for Commercial Crew, NASA was concerned about acceleration and deceleration forces. They asked SpaceX to redesign the vehicle for only 4 seats.

Also, rather than the crew spacecraft console rotating downward to the crew as was in the prototype, the seats themselves would rotate upward to a smaller control console so that the astronaut's backs are more parallel to the direction of flight for launch, abort and landing forces. This change also supported additional cargo up/downmass for the vehicle.

With development of the immense Starship and its potential of supporting dozens of people for later missions, especially the Artemis' Lunar Starship variant, it's not likely that the four Crew Dragons will be modified significantly. Any changes might require to recertify them for NASA's needs as the vehicle's primary customer.

SpaceX is not building any additional Crew Dragons than the four (Endeavour, Resilience, Endurance and Freedom) since they are sufficiently reusable and refurbished after flight for any needs by NASA or others. (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-ends-crew-dragon-production-starship-future/)

More about this decision in this article, from SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell: https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/12/07/after-redesigns-the-finish-line-is-in-sight-for-spacexs-crew-dragon/

Almost right. The seats are in the "up" optimum position for the g-forces of lift-off and re-entry. The seats rotate down to the lower setting to better withstand the brief g-force of splashdown. Dragon hits the water at an angle, with the head end of the crew at the now lower end of the "tilt". I haven't seen specific data, but I assume (yeah I know), that this might be an issue in extreme conditions and with long-stay crew returning to Earth. NASA wanted the change, I believe. Anyway, when the seats four were in the lower position, it made space for the lower three seats a bit problematic. Since NASA was more interested in normally flying four crew at a time accompanied by some baggage and cargo, this is how it all shook out.

[DanClemmensen]

I suspect that it is impossible, or at least very difficult, to reconfigure for more than four seats. If it were possible, AX-1 would surely have flown with more seats.

[AC in NC]

If it were possible, AX-1 would surely have flown with more seats.

If it were possible, surely there are other considerations besides AX-1's hypothesized desire to fly with more seats?

[steveleach]

The Dragon spacecraft is capable of carrying up to 7 passengers to and from Earth orbit, and beyond.

https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/dragon/

[kevinof]

I get the feeling that the original 7 seat idea was really wishful thinking - it can do it but would you really want to?. Even with 4 the space appears limited and any more might push the ergonomics a little too much.

[Luc]

Seems the seven seat version has vastly more space per passenger than Soyuz, Mercury, or Gemini…

[DanClemmensen]

Seems the seven seat version has vastly more space per passenger than Soyuz, Mercury, or Gemini…

SpacX seems to think that the 7-seat version is no longer possible:
    https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/12/07/after-redesigns-the-finish-line-is-in-sight-for-spacexs-crew-dragon/

A requirement change from NASA also contributed to delays, Shotwell said.

After SpaceX had already designed the interior layout of the Crew Dragon spacecraft, NASA decided to change the specification for the angle of the ship’s seats due to concerns about the g-forces crew members might experience during splashdown.

The change meant SpaceX had to do away with the company’s original seven-seat design for the Crew Dragon.

“With this change and the angle of the seats, we could not get seven anymore,” Shotwell said. “So now we only have four seats. That was kind of a big change for us.”

[Jimmy Murdok]

Seems the seven seat version has vastly more space per passenger than Soyuz, Mercury, or Gemini…

The Soyuz has an orbital module which put it head to head with Dragon. It allows for a lunch table and bathroom privacy. On the other side it has an aged design.
Here in the Apolo-Soyuz preparations and Shannon Walker.

 

https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/details-photo/nasa-astronaut-shannon-walker-expedition-24-flight-engineer-is-pictured-in-the-orbital-module-of-the-soyuz-tma-19-spacecraft-while-docked-to-the-zvezda/GXC-JMH-JF-124109/1