NASA Commercial Crew (CCtCap) test milestones

[DocM]

Latest spin from Mulholland,

 

 

[Blue-Vision]

So a 50% bad/no go systemic fault. Nope, that's not a design flaw at all.

 

(So here's what happened, class. Turn to page 12 of your Fluid Dynamics books. ?)

 

Any open-loop system that will be doing resistive work which also contains a sublimate (<89% liquid-state) or stable (>90% liquid-state) fluid under pressure must be designed to account for any expelling shock that is exerted in that system if rapid decompression of that high-pressure fluid is anticipated to occur. If not, safeguards should either be a first order priority to eliminate unintended expelling shocks OR that system should immediately be converted to a closed loop to prevent leakage or explosive decompression that could result in destruction of equipment, facilities, and/or personnel.

 

In layman's terms: Boeing's Engineers (or the Suppliers) forgot that they were dealing with sublimate superfluids under extreme pressures. Their new RCS valves could NOT resist the pressures in the lines holding the hydrazine fuel, so those valves leaked that crap all over the place. Soon as they primed 'em it was all over. 50% systemic failure rate. The valves were moved out of their "install position" and into the "in-use/closed" position, but they couldn't cope with the pressure completely. The "surge pressure" (aka the expelling shock force) did it's deed. Sputtering like an overfilled coffee maker.

 

Everyone knows what the expelling shock force with fluids is. Ever used a garden hose with one of the "gun-style" attachments on the end, then sprayed the water? The sensation of the hose moving backwards is expelling shock force. "Surge pressure". That same force also makes the length of the hose appear to "jump".

 

Now do it at a Car Wash with one of THOSE hoses. Strong, isn't it? Those hoses jump way more. That's another example of expelling shock force.

 

NOW imagine internal valves trying to hold back a few hundred (or more) PSI. That's gonna be one hell of a jolt. RCS Valves need to be able to close the same way EVERY TIME to hold that back or things go very, very badly. Those fuel lines need to be able to take that PLUS the expelling shock force (and remember that sublimates can reliquify as they are expelled too, increasing their volume inside a space) ... you get the idea now.

 

Problem I have with it is that this is a basic thing with Fluid Dynamics. Those Engineers simply designed a [crappy] RCS Valve. Did they seriously forget basic Fluid Dynamics, or do they not CARE?!

 

Nope. I'm calling B.S. on that RIGHT now. There's NO way that simply changing the start position on those valves is going to solve this problem.

 

No forking WAY NASA should allow this to simply pass.

[DocM]

Leaked (?) ISS schedule shows both Crew Dragon and Starliner.

 

Uncrewed: December 2018
Crewed: May-June 2019

 

Thus preserving the illusion of a horse race.

 

Crews

 

Crew Dragon Operational Mission 1: Sunita Williams, Eric Boe

 

Starliner Crew Flight Test: Doug Hurley, Behnken, and Boeing test pilot Christopher Ferguson 

 

Note the first Crew Dragon with a crew is labeled OM-1 (Operational Mission 1) and not DM-2 (Demo Mission 2) (!!), while Starliner's mission is still CFT (Crewed Flight Test.) This sort-of indicates Crew Dragon will be certified first.

 

Turning a crewed test flight into an operational mission had been discussed several months ago, but it was to be Starliner and not Crew Dragon.

 

 

 

Edited August 2, 2018 by DocM

[Blue-Vision]

And please note, everyone, that the launch dates are set by the open berthing slots on the ISS, not necessarily when the craft are ready. 

[Beittil]

 

Target dates, for SpaceX slightly ahead of the previously released schedule. But of course likely to still slip into the respective months listed earlier.

 

Anyway, good to finally see SpaceX first again!

[DocM]

Better dates from NASA

 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2018/08/02/nasas-commercial-crew-program-target-test-flight-dates-3/

 

Targeted Test Flight Dates

 

Boeing OFT (uncrewed): late 2018/early 2019
Boeing CFT (crewed): mid-2019

 

SpaceX DM-1 (uncrewed): November 2018
SpaceX DM-2 (crewed): April 2019

 

Barring anything unforseen, it looks like SpaceX gets the US flag and Shuttle model trophies left by the last Shuttle crew for its first successor.

 

[Blue-Vision]

I expect Sunita Williams to be the Commander for the DM-1 flight. 

[Blue-Vision]

Ack, DM-2 flight. Sorry all, stress. The classload is getting to me.

[DocM]

Whoa....

 

While the dates above are posted at the top of the page, all Boeing Starliner mission info has been removed from NASA's 'Launches and Landings' list.

 

Nothing there but SpaceX Crew Dragon DM-1 & DM-2, ISS Expeditions and science launches.

 

https://www.nasa.gov/launchschedule/

[Blue-Vision]

Ruh-roh ... 

 

'whelp. I wouldn't be surprised if Starliner got canned and they're going all in with Orion JUST to give it an actual mission set.

 

Between the RCS Valves/plumbing problem, the Atlas V "black zones" issue (that still isn't sorted), the Abort Engines thing that'd likely detonate the upper stage of the Atlas upon use (and crush the capsule from below), and the lack of info from the Russians on the RD-180 data to get it human-rated ...

 

... Starliner's a "no-go".

 

Betcha.  

[DocM]

PCM = Post Certification Mission

 

Crew Dragon DM-2: Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken

 

Crew Dragon PCM-1: Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins

 

Starliner CFT: Eric Boe, Nicole Aunapu Mann, Chris Ferguson (Boeing test pilot)

 

Starliner PCM-1: Josh Cassada and Sunita "Suni"  Williams

 

 

 

 

Edited August 3, 2018 by DocM

[Blue-Vision]

Wow. Switched the crews all up. I wonder what else has been misinformation.

[DocM]

From the AMA

 

Quote

 

hristinaremter  USA:  is there a bathroom on the new commercial flights? dragon and starliner crew

NASA: For Dragon, yes. -Bob

 

 

Quote

 

rhoracio: big congratulations to you all!  Q: would you please explain does SpaceX'es helmet visor open?

NASA: The visor does open. We normally have it open on our way to the pad, but closed for launch and for entry. -Bob

 

NASA: Yes. There's two push buttons about where your chin is. They allow it to pop open whenever you need it to. - Doug

 

 

 

 

Edited August 4, 2018 by DocM

[DocM]

 

 

[DocM]

 

 

 

 

[DocM]

 

 

[DocM]

Everyday Astronaut has posted a bunch of SpaceX spacesuit close-ups.

 

https://everydayastronaut.com/up-close-and-personal-with-spacexs-space-suit/

 

Example

[Blue-Vision]

Friggin' gorgeous spacesuit. And talk about functional .... yeesh! Best spacesuit EVER.

[DocM]

CBS video has a nice shot of the glass cockpit control panel.

 

https://cbsloc.al/2KOwitn

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

Reporter crawled into Crew Dragon and shot some video, and a panorama.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 14, 2018 by DocM

[TrevorLahey]

 

So is the toilet the grey thing at the top that they stare at when they sit down?  I was thinking that was the top hatch?

[DocM]

At the very top is the International Docking Adapter & hatch, then lower is the toilet and privacy curtain.

 

Starliner has no toilet. 

[DocM]

Simulator, and a closeup. In the low center there's a T handle for manual SuperDraco aborts - pull & twist. On an arm rest is a keypad.

 

The suit's umbilical connects to a port on the right thigh. No tangle of plumbing.

 

 

[Blue-Vision]

That display though ... och, that's beautiful.