When Will the Us Launch Astronauts Again
NASA astronauts get dorsum to the future with capsule launch
It's back to the future as NASA astronauts launch again from the U.S. — aboard a retro-style "Right Stuff' capsule
Greatcoat CANAVERAL, Fla. -- It's back to the future as NASA astronauts launch again from the U.South. — aboard a retro-style "Correct Stuff" capsule.
Brand no error: This is non your male parent's — or grandfather'southward — capsule.
SpaceX'due south Dragon coiffure capsule outshines NASA's former Apollo spacecraft in virtually every fashion. The Dragon'south make clean lines and minimalist interior, with touchscreens instead of a mess of switches and knobs, brand even the space shuttles seem yesteryear.
This fresh take on a vintage expect will be on full brandish Midweek when SpaceX plans to launch NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station — a first for a private company.
It will exist the beginning astronaut launch from Florida since Atlantis airtight out the infinite shuttle program in 2011, and the first American-made capsule to carry people into orbit since the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket — with the crew sheathing atop — volition soar from the same pad used for both of those before missions.
Russia's workhorse Soyuz capsules, still in use after a half-century plus, have kept NASA astronauts flying to the space station. While reliable, the Soyuz looks dated compared with the snappy Dragon.
"We desire it to non only be as prophylactic and reliable as you'd expect from the about advanced spacecraft in the world ... we also want it to look astonishing and expect cute," said Benji Reed, a SpaceX mission director.
SpaceX and Boeing, NASA's other commercial coiffure provider, opted for capsules from the start.
Another early competitor, Sierra Nevada Corp., proposed a small space aeroplane for astronauts, but did not make the last cutting. NASA has since hired the visitor to haul space station supplies aboard its mini shuttle starting as soon as adjacent year.
In that location was no need for another flying auto like the shuttle, which was built to haul hefty satellites and space station parts, said retired NASA managing director Steve Payne.
"What we're trying to do now is just taxi service up and downwards, and you don't need the huge semi anymore. You lot can employ a sedan," Payne told The Associated Press.
"Yep, wings are dainty. They give you more options as to where to country and a little more control," said Payne, a old Navy fighter pilot. "But they're not admittedly necessary. And since nosotros're trying to make this inexpensive and reusable and as simple every bit we tin make information technology so that it's cost effective, capsules work."
SpaceX based its crew sheathing on its long-running reusable cargo capsule, also named Dragon and ending space station missions with old-fashioned splashdowns.
The two astronauts were deeply involved in the new capsule's development over the past five years. In true test flying fashion, they offered suggestions and tweaked here and there, to do good non just themselves simply future crews.
"Our goal through this entire process is to not turn the spacecraft into Bob and Doug'south splendid machine, with a agglomeration of things that only Doug likes or but Bob likes," Behnken said.
Although the full automated Dragon has four seats lined up in a row, only the middle 2 will be occupied for this especially risky test flight. A test dummy soloed on concluding twelvemonth's Dragon crew capsule debut.
This Dragon now has a name, courtesy of its crew. Hurley and Behnken promise to reveal it on launch solar day, one of many traditions they're setting into motion as NASA's commercial crew plan finally takes wing.
The practice hearkens back to NASA's early on days: Project Mercury's John Glenn became the first American to circumvolve the Earth aboard Friendship 7; Gemini 3′s Gus Grissom and John Young sailed into orbit aboard Molly Brown; and Apollo 11′s Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins flew to the moon aboard Columbia.
"We accept to salve some suspense for the mission itself," Behnken said. "We've got something for you to look forward to on launch day."
———
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives back up from the Howard Hughes Medical Constitute's Department of Scientific discipline Didactics. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
kowalskireatect1992.blogspot.com
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/nasa-astronauts-back-future-capsule-launch-70865850
0 Response to "When Will the Us Launch Astronauts Again"
Post a Comment