Tag: CCP

  • Boeing’s CST-100 part of NASA’s intertwined forward path

    Boeing’s CST-100 part of NASA’s intertwined forward path

    Boeing Vice President John Elbon believes the CST-100 spacecraft is part of an intertwined forward path for NASA, centralized around the International Space Station. Boeing is currently working towards launching American astronauts to the orbital outpost on its CST-100 capsule, in tandem with developing the Space Launch System (SLS) that will allow for a return…

  • SpaceX preparing for the crewed Dragon abort tests

    SpaceX preparing for the crewed Dragon abort tests

    SpaceX has revealed more details into its upcoming drive to bring the crewed version of its Dragon spacecraft on line, in its bid to return a domestic crew transportation system to the United States. Near term milestones include two abort tests, ahead of launching a crew on the Dragon V2, following what SpaceX estimates will…

  • NASA approves SpaceX path towards crewed Dragon debut

    NASA approves SpaceX path towards crewed Dragon debut

    NASA has approved SpaceX’s first Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) milestone. Known as the Certification Baseline Review, the milestone covers SpaceX’s plans for the design, manufacture, integration, launch and recovery of the crewed Dragon – through to her test flight – with the goal of achieving certification to launch NASA astronauts to the International Space…

  • Dream Chaser shows her fight – SNC protest CCtCap decision

    Dream Chaser shows her fight – SNC protest CCtCap decision

    Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has confirmed it will protest NASA’s Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contract award decision. While the protest is ongoing, the spaceplane will continue her pursuit of international partners, while a bid on the next round of commercial cargo contacts will provide additional near-term focus. Dream Chaser: SNC’s talented workforce have made…

  • Dream Chaser misses out on CCtCAP – Dragon and CST-100 win through

    Dream Chaser misses out on CCtCAP – Dragon and CST-100 win through

    Just weeks ago, it was widely believed both SpaceX’s Dragon V2 and SNC’s Dream Chaser spacecraft were likely to progress into the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) phase of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. On Tuesday, NASA announced Boeing’s CST-100 was the winner of billions of dollars alongside the SpaceX spacecraft. CCtCAP: The three main Commercial Crew…

  • Dragon V2 will initially rely on parachute landings

    Dragon V2 will initially rely on parachute landings

    SpaceX’s Commercial Crew contender, the Dragon V2, will initially return to terra firma under parachutes, assisted by a SuperDraco soft touchdown firing, according to Dragon V2 Program Lead Dr. Garrett Reisman. Eventually, the impressive spacecraft will employ pinpoint propulsive landings, once the technology has been matured via the DragonFly test program. Dragon V2: SpaceX’s crew version of…

  • CCtCap: NASA won’t abandon Commercial Crew loser

    CCtCap: NASA won’t abandon Commercial Crew loser

    As NASA closes in on the next major milestone of its Commercial Crew Program (CCP), the Agency has noted its desire to continue the “sharing of knowledge” with any partner that loses out on continued NASA funding. The first NASA crew to ride on a US commercial vehicle is expected to occur in December, 2017 –…

  • SpaceX’s Reisman ready for the next giant leap with Dragon V2

    Dragon V2 Program Lead Dr. Garrett Reisman believes SpaceX’s new crew vehicle is a “giant leap forward” in safety and technology. The new vehicle – unveiled last Thursday – is the leading contender to win the right to launch NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), a viable advance on the current mode of…

  • SpaceX lifts the lid on the Dragon V2 crew spacecraft

    SpaceX lifts the lid on the Dragon V2 crew spacecraft

    SpaceX head Elon Musk has unveiled the latest version of his Dragon spacecraft via a highly anticipated event at the SpaceX factory in California. Known as Dragon V2, the spacecraft is the crewed version of the ship that recently returned from its fourth trip to the International Space Station (ISS). This latest Dragon is the…

  • Dream Chaser passes Wind Tunnel tests for CCiCap Milestone

    Dream Chaser passes Wind Tunnel tests for CCiCap Milestone

    As the US battles to regain its domestic crew launch capability, companies across the nation are making great progress on the vehicles that are in competition to achieve that goal. Monday saw the confirmation Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has passed Milestone 8 in the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) process, a success that relates to Wind Tunnel…