NASA assigns commercial space craft crews
The agency assigned nine astronauts to crew the first test flight and mission of both Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
NASA (Washington, DC, US) introduced on Aug 3. the first US astronauts who will fly on American-made, commercial spacecraft to and from the International Space Station – an endeavor that will return astronaut launches to US soil for the first time since the space shuttle’s retirement in 2011.
“This accomplished group of American astronauts, flying on new spacecraft developed by our commercial partners Boeing [Chicago, IL, US] and SpaceX [Hawthorne, CA, US], will launch a new era of human spaceflight,” says NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine.
The agency assigned nine astronauts to crew the first test flight and mission of both Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. NASA has worked closely with the companies throughout design, development and testing to ensure the systems meet NASA’s safety and performance requirements.
The new spaceflight capability provided by Boeing and SpaceX will allow NASA to maintain a crew of seven astronauts on the International Space Station, thereby maximizing scientific research and also aiding in understanding and mitigating the challenges of long-duration spaceflight.
Related Content
-
On the radar: Reusable launch vehicles, hypersonics make space more accessible
CFRP has become key to targeting efforts in reusing components like rocket stages, as well as the development of reusable hypersonic testbeds and spaceplanes, for increasing space commercialization.
-
Expanding high-temperature composites in India and the U.S.
Azista USA offers polymers and processes for carbon/carbon and other CMC, including novel hot-melt phenolic and phthalonitrile prepregs for faster cycle times, alternative solutions.
-
Rocket Lab begins installation of large AFP machine for rocket production
The 99-ton AFP machine, custom-designed and built by Electroimpact, is claimed to be the largest of its kind, expecting to save around 150,000 manufacturing hours in the Neutron rocket’s production process.