Tag: CCP

  • US Spacewalkers Feustel and Arnold complete EVA double

    US Spacewalkers Feustel and Arnold complete EVA double

    Expedition 55 Flight Engineers Drew Feustel and Ricky Arnold stepped outside of the International Space Station for the second of two related EVAs, completing the primary objectives of upgrading cooling system hardware and installing new and updated communications equipment for future dockings of commercial crew spacecraft. The first spacewalk (EVA-50) was completed last month ahead…

  • Atlas V flies through DCR ahead of Starliner debut

    Atlas V flies through DCR ahead of Starliner debut

    United Launch Alliance (ULA) has completed the Design Certification Review (DCR) for the Atlas V upcoming role in launching Starliner spacecraft later this year. Starliner is set to conduct a maiden flight into space during an uncrewed test flight (Orbital Flight Test – OFT-1) as early as August. Part of the tag team effort with SpaceX’s…

  • Boeing Starliner trio preparing for test flights

    Boeing Starliner trio preparing for test flights

    Boeing is progressing through various stages of assembling the first three CST-100 Starliner spacecraft – the latter of which will launch a NASA crew on a test flight to the International Space Station (ISS). A number of major milestones are upcoming, including a Design Certification Review (DCR) for trips to the orbital outpost. Starliner: Part…

  • Dream Chaser through critical landing test, prepares for orbital flights

    With Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser spaceplane through a successful and critical Approach and Landing Test milestone, the company is now shifting gears to focus on the all-important first orbital flight of Dream Chaser No Earlier Than 2020.  That orbital flight will be part of Sierra Nevada Corporation’s fulfillment of NASA’s CRS2 Commercial Resupply Services…

  • SNC Dream Chaser returns to captive carry testing

    SNC Dream Chaser returns to captive carry testing

    The third transportation vehicle for NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services 2 contracts for resupply efforts of the International Space Station has passed a major test milestone at Edwards Air Force Base, California.  Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser mini-spaceplane conducted the first of a series of Captive Carry flight tests suspended underneath a 234-UT lifting commercial helicopter.…

  • SNC Dream Chaser returns to captive carry testing

    SNC Dream Chaser returns to captive carry testing

    The third transportation vehicle for NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services 2 contracts for resupply efforts of the International Space Station has passed a major test milestone at Edwards Air Force Base, California.  Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser mini-spaceplane conducted the first of a series of Captive Carry flight tests suspended underneath a 234-UT lifting commercial helicopter.…

  • ASAP still has concerns over Commercial Crew LOC risks

    ASAP still has concerns over Commercial Crew LOC risks

    NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) still has a number of concerns over crew safety numbers for the Commercial Crew Program (CCP), notably the guideline Loss of Crew (LOC) metric, based on the threat of MicroMeteoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) damage and crew recovery from the ocean after an abort. The plan acknowledged both SpaceX and Boeing…

  • ASAP still has concerns over Commercial Crew LOC risks

    ASAP still has concerns over Commercial Crew LOC risks

    NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) still has a number of concerns over crew safety numbers for the Commercial Crew Program (CCP), notably the guideline Loss of Crew (LOC) metric, based on the threat of MicroMeteoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) damage and crew recovery from the ocean after an abort. The plan acknowledged both SpaceX and Boeing…

  • SpaceX and Boeing in home stretch for Commercial Crew readiness

    With just one year to go until the scheduled completion of all uncrewed and crewed test flights for SpaceX and Boeing’s commercial crew transportation services, the NASA Advisory Council recently held a routine review of the technical, hardware, software, and training progress the two companies are making toward the goal of returning the capability to…

  • On Atlantis’ anniversary, USA’s future space fleet closing in on maiden flights

    The long-awaited return of American astronauts launching on US spacecraft, a capability last seen when Atlantis closed out the Shuttle Program in 2011, is set to return next year. Along with new crew transporters, the Space Shuttles’ legacy will be honored by the return of a lifting body vehicle, as Dream Chaser makes progress towards…