NASA Finally Schedules Test of SpaceX Spacecraft Designed for Astronauts - 11/22/18
The first flight test of an unpiloted SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft has been scheduled for January, NASA announced yesterday. The test marks an important milestone for the United States, which hasn’t been able to independently deliver astronauts to space since 2011 when the Space Shuttle program was retired.
Mark your calendar, folks—the uncrewed test flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, called Demo-1, has been scheduled for January 7, 2019 at 11:57 pm ET. A Falcon 9 rocket will launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and carry the capsule to the International Space Station. The space agency will carefully monitor the performance of the rocket, Crew Dragon, ground system operations, and the docking procedure.
“Following the test flights, NASA will review the performance data and resolve issues as necessary to certify the systems for operational missions,” wrote the space agency in a release. However, “as with all human spaceflight development, learning from each test and adjusting as necessary to reduce risk to the crew may override planning dates,” NASA added.
Should all go well, and NASA declares the Crew Dragon capsule fit for human occupants, a second test, called Demo-2, will happen—fingers crossed—in June. The Demo-2 test will once again utilize a Falcon 9 rocket, but this time two NASA astronauts—Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley—will be delivered to the ISS, reports Spaceflight Now.
Prior to Demo-2, however, NASA intends to conduct an in-flight abort test, during which time the abort system of an unpiloted Crew Dragon will be engaged, jettisoning the capsule from the top of a Falcon 9 shortly after launch, according to Space News.
But we’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves; the abort test and Demo-2 will only happen if the Demo-1 test is deemed a success by NASA.
https://gizmodo.com/nasa-finally-schedules-test-of-spacex-spacecraft-design-1830611559