SpaceX and NASA have set a new target date for the first flight test of the Crew Dragon: 2 Mar. It was assumed that the capsule will fly atop a Falcon 9 rocket will reach the ISS for the first time January 7, but the partners have since postponed the launch twice. None of them gave explanations for delays — in the end, it’s quite common in rocket launches, but Florida Today offered a possible explanation: perhaps the first test flight of the capsule was shifted to the 35-day shutdown of the U.S. government.
When the fly Crew Dragon?
Crew Dragon will be sent to ISS for two weeks, to show that can safely deliver astronauts to the station. Of course, the capsule will carry passengers-the people until, as a demonstration flight meant to test the equipment capsule, the validation data and training land managers and mission leaders. In April, Boeing plans to launch a similar test flight for its crew capsule CST-100 Cockpit.
Targeting March 2 for Crew Dragon’s first flight to the @Space_Station https://t.co/oJRtDhV3aL pic.twitter.com/lLw1FJHLvI
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) 6 Feb 2019
If all goes well and the flight is successful, SpaceX will conduct the first manned mission capsule in July 2019, a month later than originally planned. NASA hopes to get certificates and Cockpit Crew Dragon to carry astronauts to the ISS at the end of this year. When this happens, the Agency will be able to finally bring a manned mission on American soil, and cease to rely on the Russian Soyuz.
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