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  [Discuss] SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Falcon (Page 1)

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Author Topic:   [Discuss] SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Falcon
Robert Pearlman
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posted 08-03-2012 09:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Editor's note: In an effort to keep the topic SpaceX Crew Dragon (V2) crewed spacecraft focused on status updates, reader's feedback and opinions are directed to this thread.

Please use this topic to discuss Space Exploration Technologies' (SpaceX) development of its Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 04-29-2014 07:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Elon Musk announced on Twitter today (April 29) that the "cover will drop" on the crewed version of Dragon on May 29.
Actual flight design hardware of crew Dragon, not a mockup.
No other details were released.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 05-28-2014 06:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
CEO and Chief Designer Elon Musk will introduce SpaceX's new Dragon V2 spacecraft, a next generation spacecraft designed to carry astronauts into space, during an invite-only event at the company's Hawthorne facilities on Thursday (May 29) beginning at 7:00 p.m. PDT (0200 GMT May 30).

Robert Pearlman
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posted 05-29-2014 02:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You can watch and discuss tonight's Dragon V2 reveal here:

KSCartist
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posted 05-29-2014 09:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSCartist   Click Here to Email KSCartist     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
WOW, WOW, WOW!!

Elon Musk is a combination of Wernher von Braun and Max Faget. You want reusability? You got it. You want redundancy in systems? You got it! You want a cool American 21st Century spaceship? You got it!

Congratulations Space X!! Sorry Putin your monopoly is ending.

issman1
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posted 05-30-2014 03:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for issman1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Solar panels integrated into the trunk and propulsive land landings are the clever touch. Not to mention the interior of Dragon V2 — makes Soyuz look like a Lada compared to a Tesla.

alanh_7
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posted 05-30-2014 08:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for alanh_7   Click Here to Email alanh_7     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Very Impressive. One thing I did think about when I saw it had soft landing ability. I think I heard Mr. Musk say they could lose two engines on landing and still land safely. Not unlike the lunar module when landing on the moon, there is going to be a 'dead man's curve.' That point where loss of engine power could be catastrophic if they were to lose more than two engines. Something that would not occur with a parachute system.

It is a very impressive spacecraft.

Headshot
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posted 05-30-2014 09:26 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Headshot   Click Here to Email Headshot     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'll be impressed when I see it actually work. I've seen too many flashy show-and-tells in the past that have evaporated to get excited yet.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 05-30-2014 09:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The tests are scheduled to begin later this year.

SpaceX will fly two abort tests with the V2 and has introduced a vehicle called the DragonFly, that much like the Grasshopper did for tests of the Falcon 9 first stage's recovery, will allow the company to qualify the capsule's propulsive landing modes.

MarylandSpace
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posted 05-30-2014 12:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for MarylandSpace   Click Here to Email MarylandSpace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I heard Elon Musk speak at a Buzz Aldrin initiative at the Reagan Center in DC about six years ago with several cS friends. I thought "Wow."

Later I saw the Dragon V1 at SpaceX at Cocoa Beach, FL and knew Elon Musk meant business.

I give Dragon V2 an even bigger "WOW"!

Just wonder what it would be like to work with the incredible talent in his company.

mode1charlie
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posted 05-30-2014 03:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mode1charlie   Click Here to Email mode1charlie     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Impressive, indeed. Looking forward to the test launches.

One question. Anyone know why Dragon V2 has truncated sides along the Y axis?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 05-30-2014 03:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Not exactly sure what you are referring to by truncated sides, but perhaps you are seeing the fairings for the SuperDraco engines?

alanh_7
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posted 05-30-2014 03:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for alanh_7   Click Here to Email alanh_7     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Curious about the type of heat shield that will be used. Ablative? If so how will the heat shield be reusable?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 05-30-2014 03:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
To quote Elon Musk from last night's event:
It has an improved version of our PICA heat shield... It ablates less as it enters and we're able to get more flights.
To expand upon that, all versions of the Dragon have used a variant of NASA's Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) as a heat shield (SpaceX's is a proprietary variant, which it refers to as PICA-X). Dragon V2 features a third gen PICA-X, or PICA-X 3.

Musk has likened PICA-X 3 to a brake pad. It is wears down over repeated use but doesn't need to be replaced between every reentry.

mode1charlie
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posted 05-30-2014 06:12 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mode1charlie   Click Here to Email mode1charlie     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Not exactly sure what you are referring to by truncated sides, but perhaps you are seeing the fairings for the SuperDraco engines?

Ah - that's what it is. The photos I saw were taken in low light, so it wasn't obvious that there are fairings on the sides along the Y axis. Makes sense. Thanks, Robert.

GoesTo11
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posted 05-31-2014 07:12 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoesTo11   Click Here to Email GoesTo11     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Headshot:
I'll be impressed when I see it actually work. I've seen too many flashy show-and-tells in the past that have evaporated to get excited yet.
I'd say SpaceX are well past the "all show, no go" threshold.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 06-01-2014 02:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Spaceflight Now's Stephen Clark shot this video as he climbed into the Dragon V2:

Robert Pearlman
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posted 06-10-2014 12:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
SpaceX is hosting an invite-only event to preview its Dragon V2 crewed spacecraft at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. tonight (June 10).

For those in the DC-area, the capsule will be available for public viewing for one day only on Wednesday (June 11) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT.

The spacecraft will be located on Pennsylvania Avenue, directly outside of the Pulitzer Prize gallery at the Newseum. Visitors do not have to purchase a Newseum admission ticket to view Dragon 2; however they will be required to go through security screening.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 06-11-2014 10:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Marcia Smith with SpacePolicyOnline.com shares a few details about the Dragon V2 from last night's event at the Newseum.

About the first crew and first crewed flight:

Musk said tonight that SpaceX has no astronauts and the first crewed flight would be with NASA astronauts only. When asked when the first crewed flight would take place, therefore, Musk said that was NASA's call since it is the customer. He said little training is needed to fly aboard Dragon since it is entirely automated, including docking.
On the location of the first landing(s):
Unlike the cargo version of Dragon, which splashes down in the ocean, the Dragon V2 will return to land using parachutes and propulsive landing systems. The goal is to land at Cape Canaveral, FL, but Musk said initial landings may be at White Sands, NM until they are certain of the spacecraft's landing precision.

SkyMan1958
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posted 06-23-2016 03:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Does anyone know how many times the Dragon 2 is designed to be used/reused?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 06-23-2016 03:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
When it was first announced, Elon Musk said that the Crew Dragon was designed to be reused about 10 times before it would need significant work to be used again.

At the time though, the plan was to land Dragon propulsively, using its Super Draco thrusters, on land. SpaceX still intends to do that, but initially the crewed flights will be returning to the ocean (like the current cargo Dragons). That may add more work or limit the number of re-flights.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 03-29-2017 01:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA photo release (Credit: SpaceX)
Astronaut Bob Behnken emerges from a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in manufacturing at SpaceX's headquarters and factory in Hawthorne, California.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 07-19-2017 05:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Elon Musk, speaking today (July 19) at the International Space Station Research and Development conference in Washington, D.C., confirmed that SpaceX has canceled plans to propulsively land the Dragon 2 spacecraft.
That was a tough decision. The reason we decided not to pursue that heavily is that it would have taken a tremendous amount of effort to qualify that for safety for crew transport.
Crews returning from the International Space Station on Dragon will be recovered after a parachute-assisted ocean splashdown.

Aeropix
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posted 07-20-2017 12:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Aeropix   Click Here to Email Aeropix     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That's disappointing, though I am sure Mr. Musk will not give up on the vision of propulsive landings.

Maybe he can certify it for later flights? Or do a parachute assisted land-return like the Russians have been doing for 60 years? Certainly that should not be a huge engineering hurdle given SpaceX vision and drive to accomplish new things.

Hopefully we still can see something new and exciting for the American return to manned launches as the program matures. I guess it takes a lot of effort to tidy up the last details now they are in the home stretch.

SkyMan1958
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posted 07-20-2017 12:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
One major issue I see cropping up is what happens if there is an emergency?

The Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules were aided in their pickup by having the world's largest Navy essentially at their beck and call. For the Soviets/Russians, having the capsule land on land at least meant the crew was relatively safe once they landed, even if they have to land in the Amazon.

With the Dragon 2, if they don't land off of Southern California, where are the other pickup ships if the crew has to land in the middle of the Indian Ocean etc.?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 07-20-2017 01:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There will not be contingency ships staged for recovery; in the case of an unexpected off-course landing the crew will need to wait for ships to arrive.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 07-21-2017 09:36 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Further to the discussion about Dragon 2 recovery, from NASA:
SpaceX, NASA and Air Force personnel who will help astronauts out of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft returning from a mission to the International Space Station have begun practicing for that using a full-size model of the spacecraft.

In certain unusual recovery situations, SpaceX may need to work with the U.S. Air Force to send parajumpers to recover astronauts from the capsule in the water. Recently, the Recovery Trainer was lowered into the Indian River Lagoon near NASA's Kennedy Space Center so Air Force pararescue and others could learn techniques for getting aboard the spacecraft and rescuing the astronauts.

...the Recovery Trainer was built by SpaceX and subsequently modified by Kennedy’s Prototype Lab to SpaceX specifications. The same dimensions as the outside mold line of a Crew Dragon, it has indicators where thrusters will be and other markings on the exterior. Inside, the crew area matches that of the operational spacecraft and includes an instrument panel.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 01-05-2018 09:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA has provided an update on what's ahead for Dragon in 2018:
  • Spacecraft: SpaceX is making significant progress on the six Crew Dragon spacecraft that the company currently has in various stages of production and testing. SpaceX's structural qualification module has undergone extensive testing, which is scheduled to be complete in the first half of 2018. The company will continue ongoing hardware and software testing on its Environment Control and Life Support System, or ECLSS, module, through early 2018. The crew module that will be used to support SpaceX's upcoming Demonstration Mission 1 has had its critical onboard avionics powered up and has completed integration of the module's pressure section and service section's structural components with preparations ongoing for its flight in 2018. Progress continues on SpaceX's spacecraft for Demonstration Mission 2 and both of the company's initial crew rotation missions.

  • Spacesuit: SpaceX will continue ongoing qualification and validation testing on its advanced spacesuits next year, including NASA's four CCP flight test astronauts for a variety of the assessments, including suit-fit, reach and visibility assessments, and pressure tests. The company is in the process of manufacturing custom suits for each of the four astronauts, which will ensure a proper fit and comfortable ride to and from the International Space Station in the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

  • Merlin/SuperDraco Testing: 2018 will see continued, rigorous qualification testing of SpaceX's Block 5 M1D and MVacD engines at the company's engine development and testing facility in McGregor, Texas. These advanced engines are manufactured by SpaceX at their headquarters in Hawthorne, California, and will power Falcon 9's first and second stages respectively as they lift the Crew Dragon spacecraft into orbit to rendezvous with the International Space Station. SpaceX also will complete major integrated system testing of its Draco and 3-D-printed SuperDraco thrusters on the company's SuperModule test stand in 2018.

  • Demo-1 Flight Test: SpaceX is targeting the second quarter of 2018 for its first demonstration mission with Crew Dragon to and from the International Space Station. This uncrewed mission will launch from Pad 39A, serving as an important rehearsal for later missions carrying NASA astronauts. Using Crew Dragon's advanced autonomous rendezvous and docking capabilities, SpaceX will complete a full mission profile to test the crewed Block 5 Falcon 9, the Dragon Spacecraft, and associated ground systems including Mission Control in Hawthorne.

  • In-Flight Abort Test: SpaceX is slated to complete an important in-flight abort test using both Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon in the time between the company's two demonstration flights in 2018. Using Crew Dragon's powerful onboard SuperDraco thrusters, built at the company's headquarters in California and tested in Texas, SpaceX will demonstrate its capability to swiftly carry astronauts to safety in the unlikely event of an in-flight anomaly. The test will be conducted from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

  • Demo-2 Flight Test: SpaceX is progressing towards its first crewed mission under the Commercial Crew Program – Demo-2 – in the third quarter of 2018. This mission will see two NASA astronauts flying to and from the International Space Station in SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission will represent a major milestone in the return of crewed flights to the space station from American soil. This second demonstration mission will serve as a precursor to fully operational crew rotation missions under NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

  • Launch Complex 39A: Over the course of 2017, SpaceX reactivated Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, successfully launching a dozen missions from the historic pad. In 2018, SpaceX will continue upgrading LC-39A to support upcoming commercial crew missions, including the installation of their Crew Access Arm and white room on LC-39A's fixed service structure in the spring.

  • Parachutes: SpaceX completed the first round of qualification testing for Crew Dragon's parachute system in 2017. The second round of parachute system validation testing will be completed by mid-2018.

  • Recovery Trainer Testing: In preparation for the unlikely event of an unusual recovery situation, SpaceX has been working closely with NASA and the Department of Defense to practice to ensure safety throughout various contingency crew recovery scenarios. The company will complete an additional round of in-water rescue trainer exercises off the coast of Florida in 2018.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 04-06-2018 09:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The FAA has released its draft environmental assessment for issuing a reentry license to SpaceX for landing the Dragon spacecraft in the Gulf of Mexico.
The FAA is evaluating Space Exploration Technologies Corp.'s (SpaceX's) proposal to conduct landings of the Dragon spacecraft (Dragon) in the Gulf of Mexico, which would require the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation to issue a reentry license.

SpaceX has two versions of Dragon: Dragon-1 and Dragon-2. Dragon-1 is used for cargo missions to the International Space Station (ISS), and SpaceX intends that Dragon-2 will eventually be used to transport astronauts to the ISS. Under the Proposed Action, the FAA would issue a reentry license to SpaceX, which would authorize SpaceX to conduct up to six Dragon landing operations per year in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Each landing operation would include orbital reentry, splashdown, and recovery.

SpaceAholic
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posted 05-05-2018 10:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceAholic   Click Here to Email SpaceAholic     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA advisers say SpaceX rocket technology could put lives at risk.
When Elon Musk and his team at SpaceX were looking to make their Falcon 9 rocket even more powerful, they came up with a creative idea — keep the propellant at super-cold temperatures to shrink its size, allowing them to pack more of it into the tanks.

But the approach comes with a major risk, according to some safety experts. At those extreme temperatures, the propellant would need to be loaded just before takeoff — while astronauts are aboard. An accident, or a spark, during this maneuver, known as "load-and-go," could set off an explosion.

The proposal has raised alarms for members of Congress and NASA safety advisers as the agency and SpaceX prepare to launch humans into orbit as early as this year. One watchdog group labeled load-and-go a "potential safety risk." A NASA advisory group warned in a letter that the method was "contrary to booster safety criteria that has been in place for over 50 years."

oly
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posted 05-06-2018 03:41 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for oly   Click Here to Email oly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Load and go, strap astronauts in, arm the abort system to lift them away from the rocket as backup, load the fuel and go, versus, load, wait and go, where the fuel is loaded, then the crew and pad team drive out to the pad, ingress the capsule, closeout, wait for pad team to leave, arm the escape system, and go?

If all goes to plan I think load and go may be safer. If there is a scrub, the risk would maybe be the same once the extra fuel pressure is bled off.

328KF
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posted 05-06-2018 11:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 328KF   Click Here to Email 328KF     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This procedure has been a concern for some time now, and was highlighted when the Falcon 9 exploded on the pad during a fueling operation. Musk's claim that the abort system would have saved the crew in that situation is somewhat speculative.

SpaceX, at least publicly, seems to be sticking to the "load and go" procedure. Barring them working on some other method of getting the required performance out of their rocket, the approach appears to be convincing NASA to accept the additional risk and doing it their way.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall hearing the astronaut office point of view on this and their take on Musk's abort system claim.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 05-21-2018 08:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Members of a NASA safety panel said May 17 they believed that a SpaceX approach for fueling its Falcon 9 rockets known as "load-and-go" could be used for future commercial crew missions, reports SpaceNews.
[Brent] Jett said that ASAP received a report recently from the NASA Engineering and Safety Center than examined the issues with load-and-go, including some "hazard causes" not previously identified. That report "proved very valuable to the commercial crew program," he said.

"My sense is that, assuming there are adequate, verifiable controls identified and implemented for the credible hazard causes, and those which could potentially result in an emergency situation, or worse, loss of crew and vehicle, it appears that load-and-go is a viable option for the program to consider," he said.

Other ASAP members offered similar opinions. "It appears that, if all the appropriate steps are taken and it addresses the potential hazards, the risk of launching crew in the load-and-go configuration could be acceptable," said Patricia Saunders, chair of the panel.

Headshot
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posted 06-03-2018 05:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Headshot   Click Here to Email Headshot     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Has SpaceX released any diagrams of the cockpit displays the crew will see during a Crew Dragon mission?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 06-03-2018 11:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Other than this recent photo of Suni Williams, SpaceX has not revealed any details of the final interior layout of its Crew Dragon.

Headshot
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posted 06-04-2018 10:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Headshot   Click Here to Email Headshot     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What is that on Suni's left knee? Looks like some sort of tablet. I wonder if it is part of the spacesuit or some device to aid the simulation? I like the way her hand is positioned to block a clear view of the display.

Delta7
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posted 06-05-2018 06:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Delta7   Click Here to Email Delta7     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Probably a checklist.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 06-27-2018 10:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA Commercial Crew Program video
SpaceX recently completed another test of Crew Dragon's parachute system — verifying the system's ability to slow down for a safe landing in the unlikely event of a low-altitude abort.

SkyMan1958
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posted 09-10-2018 01:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
According to Forbes, it appears that SpaceX has given up on reusing manned Dragon 2 capsules.
[SpaceX] now says Crew Dragon, like the its cargo capsule, will land in the ocean, and therefore can only be used once to transport a crew. It can still be re-used for carrying cargo to low-earth orbit.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 09-13-2018 08:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
SpaceX's decision to forego propulsive Dragon landings came as a result of the company's decision to focus on developing its proposed Big Falcon Rocket (BFR). That choice led to SpaceX cancelling plans to send Dragon to Mars. The work to qualify propulsive landings for commercial crew only was then deemed not worth the effort.


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