Page 79 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017 Online Magazine

FEATURE SPACE X

With NASA’s commercial crew
program, which was literally
gasping for fuel due to budgetary
constraints not too long ago, is
back on track again
Space Center’s launch pad 39A this summer. feet across at its widest point, is designed to down costs. “SpaceX and Boeing own the
“We’ve got a lot to do by the end of this year, carry up to seven astronauts. “Its clamshell vehicles,” says Colloredo. “They are free to
but we’re looking good,” says Benjamin Reed, design allows for easy hardware installation,” use them for private paying passengers and
SpaceX Commercial Crew Program Director. says Danom Buck, Boeing Commercial Crew other missions.”
“We’re on track.” Manufacturing Engineering Manager. “Our goal is to inspire a whole generation
“The goal is to make life multi-planetary,” In a major milestone, the company of space travelers,” says Reed. “We want to
says Reed “Mars is just the first step in recently joined two halves of its prototype take people to space and bring them safe
achieving that goal. We are working on Starliner crew capsule at the Kennedy back home.”
reusability. Reusability is key to bringing Space Center. “It is truly exciting to be in this The contracts guarantee both the
about the real space age. It is important that position from where we were a few years ago,” companies at least one crewed test flight,
we make vehicles that are robust, reliable says Buck. with at least one astronaut abroad. Once
and reusable.” Even as the two companies work on certified, both Boeing and SpaceX will each
SpaceX got itself into the record books getting the spacecrafts ready, the astronauts get a maximum of six crewed missions to the
in 2012 when it became the first commercial selected by NASA to train for the missions - space station.
spacecraft to take cargo to the international Sunita Williams, Robert Behnken, Douglas If things had gone according to plan, the
space station and return it to earth. Dragon 2 Hurley and Eric Boe - continue to undergo two companies would be taking astronauts
is being developed to take both commercial training. “We have built in flexibility with the to the space station by now. NASA’s goal
cargo and crew to the ISS. crew,’ says Lisa Colloredo, Assistant Manager for an initial launch was 2015, but years of
Earlier last year, Boeing announced that of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. “At underfunding during the recession forced
it would delay the inaugural crewed flight some point, we will announce which crew and it to rearrange its goal. For five years since
of its CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle it is.” 2010, Congress cut about US$1 billion from
vehicle until February 2018. The initial plan The Commercial Crew Transportation former President Barack Obama’s request
was to have a test flight without crew in June Capability (CCtCap) contracts, which were for the program.
2017 and a crewed flight in October. signed in 2014, provide SpaceX and Boeing Pride is just one of the reasons why
The delay means that SpaceX will hog the freedom to look beyond NASA. With everyone at NASA and other space lovers are
the limelight, but Boeing authorities are not the number of people seeking their own willing the two companies along to their goal
losing sleep over that. CST-100 Starliner, space odyssey growing by the day, the two ; every ride on a Soyuz spacecraft to the ISS
which pays homage to the Apollo command companies look set to take advantage of leaves the United States poorer by US$75
module in its looks, is reusable for up to ten being the early birds in what is set to become million. The price could rise above US$80
missions, thus making it cost-effective and a while new industry. million if the country continues to depend on
one for the long haul. NASA believes such an arrangement Russia beyond 2018-2019.
The spacecraft, which measures 14.8 works for everyone involved as it will bring
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