Posted on 10/25/2019 7:23:57 AM PDT by BenLurkin
The capsule, known as Crew Dragon, is SpaceX’s spacecraft to carry as many as seven people to the International Space Station and more. After a successful test flight to the space station and back in March – a mission known as Demo-1 – SpaceX performed a “static fire” of the capsule’s SuperDraco engines, which would be used only in the event of an emergency. A static fire is a term in the space industry for a specific type of test, where a rocket engine is strapped down to the ground and fired up, to simulate the motor during flight and show it operates smoothly.
But near the end of the April test there was an anomaly, creating an explosive chain reaction that resulted in the destruction of the Demo-1 capsule. After an investigation alongside the company’s government partners, SpaceX issued a full statement on its website detailing that it discovered a leaking component set off the anomaly.
With a new SuperDraco system on a new Crew Dragon capsule, SpaceX is set to conduct its next static fire on Nov. 2 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, people familiar with the plans told CNBC. While the specific date may change if there are any last moment delays, the test and its results will be closely watched by SpaceX, NASA and its astronauts, the U.S. Air Force, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The test is set to happen at the same place the April anomaly occurred...: SpaceX’s Landing Zone 1, or LZ-1. Like the previous test, a temporary test stand is being set up at LZ-1 for the capsule. As indicated by SpaceX’s name for the facility, the company typically uses LZ-1 to land the boosters of its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...
Here’s to a successful test and continued progress.
It’s been hard to follow Space-X deliverables. I thought they were supposed to deliver a crew to the ISS last Fall but that didn’t happen. Then Boeing is also doing something with the Commercial Crew program. Then there’s the whole Artemis program which is the new moon missions. NASA has something of a PR problem. Lots of stuff going on but nobody can figure out what it is.
Have they increased the capacity of the outhouse on the space station before they try to accommodate 7 more people aboard at one time?
Fingers in ears hope and pray and GO
Yep. A successful test indeed.
Must not have capsule explosion. Bad for the tourist trade.
I don’t believe that’s true, there are numerous web sites available, you can follow all that on Twitter as well. I find it very easy to keep up with Space News.
*ping*
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