Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) SpaceX and Boeing Developments

[Nikxice]

Well this happened.

Happily, it had nothing to do with the Dragon or the parachutes. The oscillations were threatening to cause the helicopter to crash. So they dropped the capsule for safety reasons.
Parabolicarc.com on Twitter

Wonder if SpaceX will eventually share more info about this Crew Dragon "test article". Most of the previous chute test videos they've shared appear to be aerodynamic boilerplate spacecraft. There's also a couple of clips that show tests performed with angular, almost box shaped type craft. Overall, it looks like only a minor hiccup as SpaceX nears completion of chute testing.

Other than the possibility of COVID-19 creating a launch delay, SpaceX and NASA also want more to learn more about the Merlin engine failure on Starlink-5. A quote from the link below, "Musk said that a “thorough investigation” would be required before the rocket’s next launch."
NASA to participate in SpaceX engine anomaly investigation - SpaceNews.com

 

[Watts_Up]

I just noticed on the news:

SpaceX reports problem during Crew Dragon parachute test - SpaceNews.com​

 

[Cosmacelf]

I just noticed on the news:

SpaceX reports problem during Crew Dragon parachute test - SpaceNews.com​

It wasn’t a problem with the parachutes. The helicopter had to shut down the test early due to high winds. Once again, the headline is misleading.

And read upthread, like one entry. It’s been discussed already.

 

[ecarfan]

Once again, the headline is misleading.

I have seen so many flat out incorrect online headlines about that news.

 

[Nikxice]

I have seen so many flat out incorrect online headlines about that news.

For the time being there's probably good reason for SpaceX to hold off publishing any photos or video of this chute test. Would guess that rags like the Daily Mail would be tempted to publish even more shameful headlines.

SpaceX Crew Dragon Destroyed in Remote U.S. Desert
Test Article Impacted Ground at Terminal Velocity

 

[ecarfan]

NASA and SpaceX add some retro flair to the Falcon 9 rocket flying the first crewed Dragon launch – TechCrunch

I assume the credit for this photo should be SpaceX, the article doesn’t show a photo credit. I think it’s pretty cool that the booster now shows the 70’s era NASA logo. I hope the other side of the booster shows the SpaceX logo!

 

[Nikxice]

The "worm" on the F9 booster looks good. Funny mention in the article because I never thought of the worm as retro. The "meatball" is considered to be the traditional NASA retro logo. When NASA first introduced the worm in the mid-70's it was scorned by employees and also some in the public. Today both logos are popular, the meatball is even quite "hip" on kids T-shirts.
https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2015/08/the-saga-of-nasas-short-lived-lost-logo/
Side story. My dad worked 40 years in CT as an engineer for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. One day in the early 80's I can remember him coming home from work absolutely livid. He wasn't alone. The company had decided to replace the company logo with a more space age design. A few years later it was a happy day at home when the company had finally caved, even hosting a special reveal to reintroduce the original Pratt & Whitney flying eagle logo, including the words at the bottom, Dependable Engines.

 

[mongo]

Boeing to refly uncrewed demo mission
Twitter

In October or November

 

[ecarfan]

Yep. As they should! https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/04/06/boeing-starliner-test-repeat/

 

[Nikxice]

“second Starliner vehicle at no cost to the taxpayer." It's great that Bailout Boeing is reminding everyone that they've got this covered. For accounting purposes, factoring the U.S. government is set to fork over billions of dollars to keep them from folding really needn't be a consideration.

 

[Grendal]

Official statement from Boeing:
MediaRoom - News Releases/Statements

 

[Nikxice]

Some remarkable news reported this evening from Michael Baylor on Twitter.

Michael Baylor
@nextspaceflight
SpaceX has been given NASA approval to fly flight-proven Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon vehicles during Commercial Crew flights starting with Post-Certification Mission 2, per a modification to SpaceX's contract with NASA.


Below is a link to the contract requirements. The document shows a signed date of May 15, 2020, so it looks like this deal was in the works well before the launch of DM-2. Modification 78 can be found in the last paragraph.
https://beta.sam.gov/awards/90121604+IDV

MOD 78: THE PURPOSE OF THIS BILATERAL MODIFICATION IS TO EXTEND THE DEMO-2 FLIGHT TEST FROM TWO WEEKS TO UP TO 119 DAYS AND ADD THE REQUIREMENT FOR 45TH OPERATIONS GROUP DETACHMENT 3 (DET-3) JOINT TEST TRAINING FOR PCM-1 THROUGH PCM-6 IN EXCHANGE FOR ALLOWING REUSE OF THE FALCON 9 LAUNCH VEHICLE AND CREW DRAGON SPACECRAFT BEGINNING WITH PCM-2.

 

[ecarfan]

SpaceX has been given NASA approval to fly flight-proven Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon vehicles during Commercial Crew flights starting with Post-Certification Mission 2,

Wow! That is a huge step for NASA. Good for them.

 

[Cosmacelf]

Some remarkable news reported this evening from Michael Baylor on Twitter.

Michael Baylor
@nextspaceflight
SpaceX has been given NASA approval to fly flight-proven Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon vehicles during Commercial Crew flights starting with Post-Certification Mission 2, per a modification to SpaceX's contract with NASA.


Below is a link to the contract requirements. The document shows a signed date of May 15, 2020, so it looks like this deal was in the works well before the launch of DM-2. Modification 78 can be found in the last paragraph.
https://beta.sam.gov/awards/90121604+IDV

MOD 78: THE PURPOSE OF THIS BILATERAL MODIFICATION IS TO EXTEND THE DEMO-2 FLIGHT TEST FROM TWO WEEKS TO UP TO 119 DAYS AND ADD THE REQUIREMENT FOR 45TH OPERATIONS GROUP DETACHMENT 3 (DET-3) JOINT TEST TRAINING FOR PCM-1 THROUGH PCM-6 IN EXCHANGE FOR ALLOWING REUSE OF THE FALCON 9 LAUNCH VEHICLE AND CREW DRAGON SPACECRAFT BEGINNING WITH PCM-2.

So it looks like a barter. Instead of SpaceX charging NASA more for a longer Demo 2 mission, they are allowing SpaceX to reuse boosters, at presumably a cost savings to SpaceX. Boeing would have just charged NASA an extra $100M or so.

 

[Grendal]

That is amazing yet unsurprising news. NASA has already allowed previously flown boosters for the cargo resupply missions. There have been over 30 successfully reflown boosters with only the one loss of engine anomaly on a fifth use booster. Even there, the payload made it to its expected orbit.

Here is a great video from Scott Manley on the history of Commercial Crew and how SpaceX came to succeed at resurrecting human crew launches in America.

 

[e-FTW]

This sends such a loud and clear message throughout the industry! The crazy re-flown boosters from SpaceX are allowed to fly humans.
Wow, and finally!

 

[duncan]

One (very good) argument is that "Pre Flown" boosters are actually "operationally proven" so they should be standard for human flights with "brand new" units being treated with more suspicion

 

[ecarfan]

One (very good) argument is that "Pre Flown" boosters are actually "operationally proven" so they should be standard for human flights with "brand new" units being treated with more suspicion

SpaceX has been making that argument for several years now. Gwynne regularly uses the phrase “flight proven” when discussing the advantages of F9 reusability. A whole new concept in aerospace, it’s finally becoming accepted.

 

[SO16]

SpaceX has been making that argument for several years now. Gwynne regularly uses the phrase “flight proven” when discussing the advantages of F9 reusability. A whole new concept in aerospace, it’s finally becoming accepted.

Elon was on camera in the recent natgeo special saying to Jim B. that their insurance rates are the lowest in the business because of reusability and being flight proven. That’s huge.

 

[Bobfitz1]

SpaceX has been making that argument for several years now. Gwynne regularly uses the phrase “flight proven” when discussing the advantages of F9 reusability. A whole new concept in aerospace, it’s finally becoming accepted.

I would expect the relaunch inspections to guarantee structural elements are 100% sound after previous launch(s) will be even more rigorous for manned launches. I still remember the one inflight RUD due to a sub standard strut.