NASA Commercial Crew (CCtCap) test milestones

Russian Dragonrider

Boeing tosses Starliner OFT-2's service module.

Due to the continuing soap opera that is Boeing's Starliner, SpaceX picks up 3 Commercial Crew missions; 

Crew 7, Crew 8, and Crew 9

Contract value increases to  $3,490,872,904

Contract term extended through March 31, 2028

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-awards-spacex-additional-crew-flights-to-space-station

On 02/03/2022 at 07:37, DocM said:

Due to the continuing soap opera that is Boeing's Starliner,

 

Hey Doc, I havent seen any news about Boeing's Starliner recently, last I can find is from Mid January where they are replacing the service module.

Have you seen any newer news or an ETA?

On 01/03/2022 at 17:58, IsItPluggedIn said:

 

Hey Doc, I havent seen any news about Boeing's Starliner recently, last I can find is from Mid January where they are replacing the service module.

Have you seen any newer news or an ETA?

There is absolutely nothing firm about the Starliner schedule. They have an aspirational timeframe of this spring/summer for OFT-2, but everything else is up in the air because they still haven't found a firm root cause for the valves sticking. Lots of fairies and crossed fingers, but...

Please uncertainties are probably why SpaceX got three more missions.

Upcoming rapid-fire Crew Dragon launches

March 30: Axiom 1 to ISS, a commercial ~10-day stay. The first of a series of prep missions before the Axiom Station assembly begins at ISS. Vehicle: C206 Endurance

April 15: NASA Crew 4 crew rotation to ISS. New Crew Dragon vehicle, C2xx which the crew will name.

Current & upcoming events. Dates subject to weather, etc.

April 8: Axiom Space Ax-1 launched (Crew Dragon Endeavour)

April 10: NASA Crew 3 returns to Earth. (Crew Dragon Endurance, launched Nov. 11 2021)

April 18: Axiom Space Ax-1 returns to Earth

April 21: NASA Crew 4 launches (Crew Dragon Freedom)

May 20: (planned)  Boeing Orbital Flight Test 2 (Starliner  OFT-2, Spacecraft-2)

Busy-busy...

And another shoe drops in the wake of another Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight Test delay...

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/31/nasa-awards-spacex-1point4-billion-in-contracts-for-5-more-astronaut-missions.html

Quote

 

NASA taps SpaceX for 5 more astronaut missions worth $1.4 billion

 

KEY POINTS

 

• NASA on Wednesday announced it has awarded five more astronauts missions to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

 

• The extra flights, which are worth $1.4 billion to the company, bring the total to 14 crew missions to date.

>

 

On 31/08/2022 at 21:49, DocM said:

And another shoe drops in the wake of another Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight Test delay...

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/31/nasa-awards-spacex-1point4-billion-in-contracts-for-5-more-astronaut-missions.html

 

 

How many more shoes do they have?

On 01/09/2022 at 12:07, bguy_1986 said:

How many more shoes do they have?

As many as their lobbyists can buy. 

Crew-5 update, and they'll be upgrading LC-40 for Crew  Dragon. Tower, Crew arm, new or modified transporter/erector etc.

Patch

Gee, no one saw this coming 🙄

https://spacenews.com/first-starliner-crewed-flight-further-delayed/

Quote

 

First Starliner crewed flight further delayed

WASHINGTON — NASA has delayed the first flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle with astronauts on board, a slip that will push back the spacecraft’s first operational mission into 2024.

NASA said Nov. 3 that the Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission, with agency astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams on board, was now scheduled for April 2023. The mission was previously planned for February.

NASA said the new date avoids a conflict with the SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station, which is currently scheduled for launch in mid-February.

>

 

Another Crew Dragon will be hatched. Uses have scaled from 5 to 15.

On 05/11/2022 at 13:35, shockz said:

 

Cape Canaveral Space Force Base pad LC-40 Dragon launches by Q3 2023.

Interesting that Dragon has redundant cooling loops in case of an impact/failure, but Soyuz & Progress clearly don't.

Another Starliner delay

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/nasa-delays-boeing-starliners-debut-crewed-voyage-2023-03-23/

Quote

 

NASA delays Boeing Starliner's debut crewed voyage

WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) - Boeing's first mission carrying astronauts to space aboard its Starliner capsule has been delayed until at least the summer, a NASA official said on Thursday, as people familiar with the matter said last-minute tests and technical debates nixed a plan for an April launch.

Previously planned for late April, the Starliner mission is now slated to launch after a private astronaut mission scheduled for May [...] (Note: Axiom Ax-2)

>

Deliberations about mission-critical lithium ion batteries and the low chance they overheat while the spacecraft is docked to the station also took more time than expected, Stich said.

>

Boeing also is weighing battery redesigns and a plan to add shielding in case one overheats, Stich said. SpaceX, which has already flown seven crewed missions for NASA since 2020, redesigned its spacecraft's batteries at one point, he said.

"Of course, they have the luxury of having a lot of battery expertise at Tesla(TSLA.O)," Stich said, referring to the electric carmaker Musk leads.

 

There goes the Starliner Crewed Flight Test for this year...

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/06/01/boeing-further-delays-first-starliner-astronaut-mission-for-nasa.html

Quote

 

Boeing indefinitely delays Starliner astronaut mission for NASA after discovering more issues

KEY POINTS

• Boeing is further delaying the first crewed launch of its Starliner spacecraft after discovering additional issues with the capsule.

• The Starliner crew flight test was most recently scheduled for July 21 and was due to carry a pair of NASA astronauts to the International Space Station.

• Boeing VP Mark Nappi noted the discussion to delay the launch went to "the top levels of Boeing," with CEO Dave Calhoun involved.

>

The company has been developing its Starliner spacecraft under NASA's Commercial Crew Program, having won nearly $5 billion in contracts to build the capsule. [...]

As a result of those delays, and of the fixed-cost nature of its NASA contract, Boeing has accrued $833 million in losses over more than two years on the Starliner program.

Nappi on Thursday emphasized Boeing is "still committed" to finishing work on the capsule and flying for NASA.