Posted on 08/25/2024 7:50:58 PM PDT by blueplum
WASHINGTON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - SpaceX's attempt at the first ever private spacewalk next week will be a test of trailblazing equipment, including slim spacesuits and a cabin with no airlock, in one of the riskiest missions yet for Elon Musk's space company. A billionaire entrepreneur, a retired military fighter pilot and two SpaceX employees are poised to launch on Tuesday aboard a modified Crew Dragon craft, before embarking on a 20-minute spacewalk 434 miles (700 km) into space two days later....
Far outside the protective bubble of Earth's atmosphere, the electronics and shielding on Crew Dragon and spacesuits will be tested as they pass through parts of the Van Allen belt...
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Ping.
Godspeed.
Boeing should be taking lessons.
I don’t know who is behind his billions of research but they appear to be the most confident and capable since the early days.
Prayer for success is most sincere.
One little mistake and the hyenas will be all over Musk.
We need socialism to spread his genius engineers around so companies like Boeing are not so disadvantaged.
Amen...
Well, if it is up to me the engineers, scientists and programmers can smoke’em if they got ‘em.
...a test of trailblazing equipment, including slim spacesuits and a cabin with no airlock. ?
Meanwhile, NASA and Boeing cannot even get their capsule back down.
LOL !!! Having worked for a competitor of Boeing, do you realize how different the culture are ? The last 10 years before I retired was all about diversity - and yes, quotas were set aside for raises. The hardest working Asian employees got the lowest raises - because most would not complain.
Boeing is the biggest fail of this century.
They had built up so much.
Regarding planes, it's obvious that Boeing needs a competitor.
They shouldn't get involved in spaceflight. Time to cancel their contract.
Is one of them named Tom???...
Gemini didn’t have an airlock. Apollo didn’t have an airlock. Just means those inside the capsule have to suit up.
Boeing’s current “leadership team” would be far more inclined to take lessons from Bernie Madoff.
Thanks. 👍
The danger is if the hatch doesn’t seal again you are now trapped in your suits without cabin pressure. Airlocks have a valid purpose. The Dragon is the safest orbital vehicle humans have ever designed period full stop. If they cannot seal the hatch Dragon can do a deorbit burn and come directly in a ballistic entry it’s PICA heat shield can take that it’s 8+ Gs but the spacecraft is rated for it. While NASA won’t allow it the onbroad Super Drago engines have the delta V for a ground landing anywhere anytime land or sea it was originally designed to land well on land under power of its engines not parachutes. NASA being risk adverse said no way but the fuel ,thrust and capabilities are still there. I would go up in Dragon without hesitation and comeback on land under power not parachutes...engines burn or your dead. I would trust the best aeronautical engineers in the world. They have proven record of excellence.
I'm happy that they're moving forward but there sure is a lot of risk (without an escape) for the things they're about to do.
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