Commercial
STS-133: SpaceX’s DragonEye set for late installation on Discovery
The DragonEye (DE) relative navigation sensor – set to ride with Discovery on STS-133 – will be installed two weeks later than planned, following a laser rod failure during testing. Discovery – currently enjoying a smooth processing flow – will be conducting the second test for the sensor during her arrival at the International Space Station (ISS) in November.
STS-133 Processing Latest:
Discovery is in trouble-free flow, with all of her recent processing “highlights” now at a conclusion.
They include the re-installation of her three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) – following an issue with a turbo pump on Main Engine 1 (ME-1), and the re-installation of her Right Orbital Maneuvering System (ROMS) pod.
LIVE: SpaceX ready to attempt maiden launch of Falcon 9
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle is scheduled to make its maiden flight on Friday, carrying a prototype Dragon spacecraft into orbit. Launch is scheduled to occur from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station during a four hour window, which opens at 11:00am Eastern. SpaceX are currently targeting a new T-0 at 11:20am Eastern due to RED weather on the range – refer to live updates.
Launch Overview:
The payload for this launch is the Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit, which is a prototype Dragon spacecraft similar to the boilerplate Apollo spacecraft launched on Saturn I rockets in the mid 1960s. It was originally built as a ground test article, but was converted to a flight test article late last year.
Its main objective is to allow the aerodynamics and performance of the rocket, whilst carrying a Dragon spacecraft, to be evaluated prior to the first launch of an operational Dragon spacecraft.
Teal predict over 2,200 payloads to be launched over next 20 years
The Teal Group – a defense and aerospace consulting firm that provides intelligence to government and industry – estimates 2,229 space payloads will be launched to Earth, Lunar and deep space trajectories from 2010-2029. The Virginia-based group is also predicting a bright future for SpaceX’s Dragon, and Orbital’s Cygnus capsules, as they prepare to come on line to resupply the International Space Station (ISS).
Teal Estimate:
The Teal Group Corp revised its Worldwide Mission Model of future space payloads upwards from its previous prediction by 10 percent, a figure that includes additional GEO (geostationary) communication satellites, nanosatellites and picosatellites.
“Our payload count for the next 20 years is nearly 10 percent higher than it was a year ago,” said Marco Caceres, lead analyst for Teal Group’s World Space Systems Briefing which features the Mission Model. “In our previous study, we identified 2,033 payloads worldwide.
SpaceX announce successful activation of Dragon’s CUCU onboard ISS
Following its arrival onboard shuttle Atlantis during STS-129, the CRS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) – a key element for the upcoming demonstration of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule – has passed a series of tests on the International Space Station (ISS), allowing the commercial company to confirm its successful activation.
Atlantis and ISS aid Dragon’s future:
The Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Communication Unit rode in the middeck stowage locker on Atlantis during STS-129 late in 2009, before being handed over to ISS crewmembers ahead of the demonstration flights.
The new system will allow ISS crewmembers to monitor and command approaching or departing Dragon spacecraft during cargo delivery missions to the orbiting laboratory.
CxP PDR successful, with exclusions – Strict Commercial requirements
As the Constellation Program (CxP) splutters along, ahead of its “proposed” cancellation, managers have successfully concluded its Preliminary Design Review (PDR), although several major elements – such as cost and schedule – were omitted from the review due to the “new direction”. Meanwhile, NASA managers preparing a draft document to prospective commercial crew providers, listing 31 high level requirements.
Constellation PDR:
The entire Constellation Program remains in limbo, as the FY2011 budget proposal undergoes a Congressional battle to – at the very least – refine specific goals and timelines.
Orion removed from NASA control – MOD positioning for commercial role
NASA managers are pushing through the shutdown of the Constellation Program (CxP) at a pace, with a series of memos showing all the Ares test flights have already been cancelled, along Orion ‘defunded’ and returned to the sole control of contractor Lockheed Martin. Meanwhile, MOD director Paul Hill has written to NASA administrator Charlie Bolden, requesting the Agency promotes MOD to the commercial sector.
Orion, Dragon and PDRing into Transition:
The surprise loss in the Constellation cull was Orion, when it was hoped the vehicle would survive the expected death of the Ares Program by transferring its role to another launch vehicle, such as an EELV (Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle).
Lawmakers produce Bill to extend shuttle to 2015, utilize CxP, advance HLV
Senator Kay Hutchison – in conjunction with Representatives Suzanne Kosmas and Bill Posey – has produced a 37 page Bill that proposes major refinements to NASA’s FY2011 proposal, and NASA’s forward plan. The Bill is centered around a shuttle extension to 2015, in support of fully utilizing the International Space Station (ISS), along with saving elements of Constellation – such as Orion and a Heavy Lift Launcher (HLV).
Shuttle Extension:
Efforts to reverse the 2010 retirement date of the shuttle fleet have been ongoing for a few years, without being realized – partly due to a lack of support from successive NASA administrators.
Former NASA boss Mike Griffin even worked directly against extension – mainly via protection of the Ares I launch vehicle’s budget – often citing safety concerns which had no basis in post Return To Flight reality.
NASA’s future direction – extra shuttle flights and commerical launcher touted
MOD Director Paul Hill has hinted that there’s a “remote” chance NASA may add one or more shuttle flights, in addition to “under evaluation” STS-135. Mr Hill’s comments came during an address to his team – relating to the upcoming White House decision on NASA’s Human Space Flight program - in which he noted his awareness of discussions relating to a commercial crew launch vehicle for ISS missions.
Mr Hill Address:
The former flight director has made several addresses over the past year, mainly relating to the job losses that will hit the space program – not least with the United Space Alliance (USA) contractor workforce within the Mission Operations Directorate (MOD).
STS-129 ready to support Dragon communication demo with ISS
When STS-129 launches next week, Atlantis will have one eye on the future, as she carries the CRS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU), a key element for the upcoming demonstration of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, ahead of its debut arrival at the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010.
STS-129’s Dragon Payload:
The Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Communication Unit will be riding in a middeck stowage locker on Atlantis, before being handed over to ISS crewmembers for the 2010 demonstration flights – although SpaceX’s schedule is deemed fluid.
Developed by SpaceX, in collaboration with NASA, the unit allows for communication between the ISS, Dragon and ground-based mission control. The system also allows the ISS crew to monitor an approaching or departing capsule.
ULA claim gap reducing solution via EELV exploration master plan
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) have created an expansive plan to utilize the Atlas and Delta Launch Vehicle families to provide the United States with an architecture that both reduces the gap and provides greater flexibility – when compared to NASA’s current Ares-based plans. ULA’s plans range from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) access, to the ability to cater for NASA’s most ambitious lunar base plan.
Background/Human Rating:
Several papers (see bottom of article for download link) - due to be presented at an upcoming American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)/Space 2009 conference – outline ULA’s ambitious plans to not only provide US manned access to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), but also create an exploration plan, one which includes fuel depots and lunar landing craft.
Addressing several key items that resulted in the EELV family missing out as the preferred architecture during the creation of the ESAS (Exploration Systems Architecture Study), the papers claim the EELV systems hold compliance to Human Rating requirements defined by NASA Standard, boosted by a flight rate that quickly builds sufficient history to rely on flight demonstrated reliability.
“NASA embraced these designs by selecting the Atlas V and Delta IV to launch the crewed Orbital Space Plan (OSP) due to their robust, flexible designs, the reliability (calculated and demonstrated) and the confidence in these launch vehicles resulting from their evolutionary development approach, which minimized the historical first flight risk,” opens one of the papers.
“These systems offer the key to significantly reducing the Gap in US Human Spaceflight by providing flight proven launch systems the offer the benefits of early Initial Launch Capability (ILC), lowest nonrecurring and recurring costs, and demonstrated reliability that meets or exceeds NASA Loss of Mission requirements.
