Hubble glitch renews talk about private servicing mission

By DocM
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Grand Master

DocM

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A feasibility study for a Crew Dragon Hubble servicing mission went to the suits a few weeks ago.

A 'Polaris Hubble' mission would be after the upcoming Polaris Dawn mission, where SpaceX will test their new EVA (spacewalk) suits and take a ride into the Inner Van Allen belt, breaking Gemini 11s orbital altitude record. Their goal would be >1,400 km.

https://spacenews.com/hubble-glitch-renews-talk-about-private-servicing-mission/

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Hubble glitch renews talk about private servicing mission

WASHINGTON — A problem with the Hubble Space Telescope has renewed discussion about whether and how NASA might approve a private mission to reboost and potentially repair the spacecraft.

NASA announced Nov. 29 that Hubble was in a safe mode because of a problem with one of its three operational gyroscopes. [...]

>

Jared Isaacman, the billionaire backing the Polaris program of SpaceX private astronaut missions. “Put us in coach,” he posted on social media.

That was a reference to a study announced in September 2022 involving Isaacman, SpaceX and NASA to study the feasibility of a private mission to reboost and possibly repair Hubble using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. At the time Isaacman suggested that a Hubble mission could be the second of three planned Polaris missions.

>

 

 

Edited by DocM
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Grand Master

DocM

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On 03/12/2023 at 19:25, AnotherITguy said:

So, Doc, seeing as there is no more Space Shuttle, the Buran never really took off, and the dream chaser really is not set for Satellite rendezvous. How would a private mission play out?

 

One possibility would be a robotic mission, probably launched by Northrop Grumman, and quite possibly much more expensive. The SpaceX mission would be at little to no cost to NASA.

SpaceX/Polaris,

The first thing is financial. This is very much mitigated by the fact that Falcon 9 boosters and Crew Dragon are reusable. They aren't even landing the booster from crew flights on the barge anymore, they are returning to the landing pads. This puts the nominal cost of a flight at propellant, refurbishment costs and range fees. 

SpaceX and Jared Isaacman (Shift4 Payments) are  funding Polaris as a development program.

Isaacman's first flight as mission Commander was Inspiration4, the fundraiser for St Jude's. He also flies fighter Jets. 

The first Polaris flight will be Polaris Dawn, which will attempt to break Gemini 11s orbital altitude record by going up 1400km into the inner Van Allen belt. Coming back to 500 km, they will test SpaceX's new EVA suits by doing spacewalks. The new suits will also serve as flight suits. Isaacman will fly with two SpaceXers involved in crew training, and a civilian. Very much a development mission.

With the EVA suits and spacewalking a proven addition to Crew Dragon's menu they would be ready for the next step. Most observers believe this would be the Hubble mission.

Most of the accounts that I've heard indicate that a docking adapter would be in Dragon's trunk, and this would attach to a fitting on Hubble. Spacewalkers would exit Dragon and replace the gyroscopes. That completed, everyone gets in their seats and Crew Dragon uses its breaking/re-entry thrusters (in the nose of the vehicle, under the nose cone) to do the reboost burn. Unused propellant aboard for launch escape would provide the DeltaV.

The third Polaris flight will be a full-up crew mission of Starship. 

 

Edited by DocM
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anthdci

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On 04/12/2023 at 03:26, DocM said:

of the accounts that I've heard indicate that a docking adapter would be in Dragon's trunk, and this would attach to a fitting on Hubble. Spacewalkers would exit Dragon and replace the gyroscopes. That completed, everyone gets in their seats and Crew Dragon uses its breaking/re-entry thrusters (in the nose of the vehicle, under the nose cone) to do the reboost burn. Unused propellant aboard for launch escape would provide the DeltaV.

The third Polaris flight will be a full-up crew mission of Starship. 

 

Would that not depressurise the capsule using the escape hatch to get out or am I missing something?

Grand Master

DocM

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On 07/12/2023 at 09:45, anthdci said:

Would that not depressurise the capsule using the escape hatch to get out or am I missing something?

 

Everyone suits up for a spacewalk. Not a problem because all their new suits are spacewalk capable. If someone has a problem help is not far away.

Dragon has two hatches; a side hatch which is used for loading cargo and passengers on the pad and unloading after landing, and the nose hatch which includes the docking adapter and is covered by a nose cone - which flips open once in orbit.

The nose hatch can also be replaced by a clear  observation cupola, used during the Inspiration4 charity mission for St Jude's. They got quite a view

Spacewalkers would exit the nose hatch. Their umbilicals would be plugged into adapters at each seat. The opposite end attaches to a suit adapter on the side of the right thigh. 

The new EVA suit would be used during launch, re-entry, and during spacewalks. The plan is to evolve it to a suit for use on the surface of the Moon and Mars. The Polaris Dawn astronauts are training with it now.

Observation cupola

The white thing the medical officer is unrolling is a protective cover for the hatch seal.

 

Render of spacewalker

220214-polaris4-630x512.jpg.93ff0179ca0cbb74c2b19fb4a649a769.jpg

Edited by DocM
Mentor

anthdci

Posted
Posted
On 07/12/2023 at 19:08, DocM said:

 

Everyone suits up for a spacewalk. Not a problem because all their new suits are spacewalk capable. If someone has a problem help is not far away.

Dragon has two hatches; a side hatch which is used for loading cargo and passengers on the pad and unloading after landing, and the nose hatch which includes the docking adapter and is covered by a nose cone - which flips open once in orbit.

The nose hatch can also be replaced by a clear  observation cupola, used during the Inspiration4 charity mission for St Jude's. They got quite a view

Spacewalkers would exit the nose hatch. Their umbilicals would be plugged into adapters at each seat. The opposite end attaches to a suit adapter on the side of the right thigh. 

The new EVA suit would be used during launch, re-entry, and during spacewalks. The plan is to evolve it to a suit for use on the surface of the Moon and Mars. The Polaris Dawn astronauts are training with it now.

Observation cupola

The white thing the medical officer is unrolling is a protective cover for the hatch seal.

 

Render of spacewalker

220214-polaris4-630x512.jpg.93ff0179ca0cbb74c2b19fb4a649a769.jpg

so is dragon capable of being depressurised, the hatch then opening, obviously with everyone suited up, and the be re-pressured before re-entry, or would it be left de-pressurised. 

Grand Master

DocM

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On 08/12/2023 at 07:16, anthdci said:

so is dragon capable of being depressurised, the hatch then opening, obviously with everyone suited up, and the be re-pressured before re-entry, or would it be left de-pressurised. 

 

That's the plan, and it's evolving other capabilities. Enhanced radiation shielding because Polaris Dawn will be going to the inner Van Allen belt. Targeting 1400 km up, breaking Gemini 11s orbital altitude record.

They will also be testing new communications hardware. Normally they communicate through NASA’s TDRS satellite network, but they will be testing spacecraft links to SpaceX's Starlink network. If it works, they could leverage Starlink satellites in orbit above the Moon or Mars.

 

Edited by DocM

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