At the conference in the Johnson Space center, which will be held on 3 August, space Agency NASA is going to announce the names of the first astronauts who will take part in a manned test launch of Boeing and SpaceX. In addition, the Agency plans to tell about the astronauts that will go into the first official space mission to the International space station on Board the ships Crew SpaceX Dragon and Boeing CST-100 Cockpit.
According to the latest data, unmanned test launches of the manned version of the spacecraft, the two companies want to hold in August this year. In turn, the first manned space launch Boeing is going to take place in November, and SpaceX in December. However, it is likely that the first manned test runs both companies can postpone at least for a few months.
The portal Space.com with reference to one of the members of the Advisory group on the safety of space flights of NASA (ASAP) reports that the American space Agency has not yet decided on more specific dates, the first manned flight Crew Dragon and CST-100 Cockpit, as everything will depend on the success and time of the first unmanned launches of these devices.
“There is not only great progress, but also a large amount of work that needs to be done for further development of the program. So at the moment we can only identify realistic time frames for at least unmanned test runs”, — quotes the edition of the Chairman ASAP Patricia Sanders.
Sanders also noted that to make any predictions about the first manned flight is too early.
“It all depends on what the outcomes will be demonstrated in the framework of the unmanned launches. Equally important will be to play and what technical difficulties will continue to be to this point. On this basis, to talk about a more specific time frame for the first manned launches we can not” — said the expert.
One of these technical difficulties is, for example, the “anomaly” noted in July this year by the Boeing company during the last test firing of the system abort, which is used in a spacecraft Cockpit. After the static fire test, which ended successfully (the engine started up and worked to the desired load level the specified amount of time), the company’s engineers noticed a leak of rocket fuel. It is likely that this anomaly can cause delay not only manned test launch, but also unmanned, scheduled according to the latest data for November. At the same time, Boeing did not specify how many actually may continue this delay.
“Discovered in the framework of the tests anomaly requires a thorough review. You need to find out how serious it is and would that affect the schedule of launches,” commented a member of the ASAP George Nield.
“Boeing asked for more time to carry out the necessary checks. They want to fully understand the problem. In this regard, it is quite possible some changes in the schedule of starts”.
SpaceX, in turn, is working on two unresolved technical issues associated with the spacecraft Crew Dragon and booster Falcon 9. Specifically at issue is the safety of the new gas pressure reservoir. It is made of composite material, designed to hold helium and is part of the fuel system booster. SpaceX had to change his design about two years ago because of the explosion. During the static start the rocket exploded on the launch pad and destroyed the payload as a communications satellite.
“There is still a lot of work. To do any conclusions while early. We are waiting for the results of the upcoming inspections and tests to determine the level of risk. Whether they are acceptable or not. If the risks are high, and then will work on their elimination, — said another member of the group ASAP David West.
Another contentious issue for SpaceX are some problems with the Merlin 1D engine used in the first and second stages of the Falcon 9 rocket. Test the first few manufactured engines showed the presence of “anomalies, potentially dangerous, and definitely unwanted,” said another representative ASAP Donald Mcerlean. On solving the above problems work together to SpaceX and NASA.
The parties have developed several solutions to the problem. Some allow you to resolve it quickly, others may require additional modifications of the engine.
“The level of risk associated with rapid solution of the problem, it seems quite suitable for carrying out at least an unmanned test run. But the decision on the manned launch will still be after,” said West.
The expert did not explain what exactly needs to be done to solve the problem, but said that any of the proposed options will lead to a positive result.
NASA will announce the first spacecraft SpaceX Crew Dragon and Boeing CST-100 Cockpit
Nikolai Khizhnyak