{"id":38118,"date":"2019-02-15T23:40:21","date_gmt":"2019-02-15T15:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/nasa-set-to-purchase-more-soyuz-seats-to-ensure-uninterrupted-access-to-the-iss\/"},"modified":"2019-02-15T23:40:21","modified_gmt":"2019-02-15T15:40:21","slug":"nasa-set-to-purchase-more-soyuz-seats-to-ensure-uninterrupted-access-to-the-iss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/nasa-set-to-purchase-more-soyuz-seats-to-ensure-uninterrupted-access-to-the-iss\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA set to purchase more Soyuz seats to ensure uninterrupted access to the ISS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite the scheduled return of US domestic crew launch capability this year, NASA is set to purchase more rides on the Russian Soyuz through 2020. The agency is adhering to a recommendation from its Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) after concerns were raised about the lack of a back-up option covering the potential delays that could be suffered during a challenging test flight phase for Dragon 2 and Starliner.<\/p>\n

The United States has been using the Soyuz vehicle as a means of transporting its astronauts since the retirement of the Space Shuttle fleet in 2011. However, NASA\u2019s reliance on the Soyuz vehicle as a back-up option has historical precedent, including its vital transportation role during the grounding of the Shuttle fleet following the loss of Columbia in 2003.<\/p>\n

The long gap between the conclusion of STS-135 and the launch of Americans on the second Dragon 2 flight \u2013 odds on favorite to \u201cCapture the Flag\u201d left on the ISS by Atlantis\u2019 crew \u2013 is expected to end this summer.<\/p>\n

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The flag left at the ISS from the crew of STS-135, to be \u201ccaptured\u201d by the first commercial crew \u2013 via NASA<\/p>\n

However, this will depend on the outcome of several major milestones, not least the initial uncrewed test flight for both commercial crew providers.<\/p>\n

SpaceX\u2019s Dragon 2 and Boeing\u2019s Starliner vehicles are both contracted to return domestic crew launch capability to the United States, with SpaceX\u2019s new vehicle first up with the DM-1 launch currently targetting NET (No Earlier Than) March 2.<\/p>\n

A key \u201cAgency level\u201d Flight Readiness Review (FRR) is scheduled for next week, a milestone that will either allow SpaceX to press on with the published launch target or call for \u201cAction Items\u201d to be corrected before flying \u2013 an element where the FRR can result in a launch slip and potentially a second review, called a Delta FRR, to sign off on remedial work.<\/p>\n

Starliner\u2019s schedule is far more fluid, with its uncrewed test flight (OFT-1 \u2013 Orbital Flight Test -1) loosely scheduled for the April\/May timeframe, while the CFT-1 (Crew Flight Test -1) has a placeholder in August, but may occur much later. NASA hinted at the more fluid schedule for Starliner by placing more emphasis on the \u201cNET\u201d nature of its dates, compared to Dragon 2\u2019s firmer schedule.<\/p>\n

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Dragon 2 and Starliner set to make maiden flights to the ISS this year \u2013 via Nathan Koga for NSF\/L2<\/p>\n

Both vehicles also have to successfully pass another abort test flight milestone, with SpaceX set for an in-flight abort test in June while Starliner needs to achieve a successful pad abort test in NET May, which will involve a system that has been recently revamped following a major issue during testing last year that placed additional strain on its schedule.<\/p>\n

Even if all milestones pass with flying colors, natural schedule stretch is almost inevitable. As such, NASA risks a period of time where no US astronauts are being transported to the ISS, resulting in this week\u2019s action to press forward with recommendations that call for the purchase of at least two more seats on the Soyuz.<\/p>\n

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\u201cPast experience has shown the difficulties associated with achieving first flights on time in the final year of development. Typically, problems will be discovered during these test flights. The consequences of no US crew on ISS warrant protection by acquiring additional seats. The absence of U.S. crewmembers at any point would diminish ISS operations to an inoperable state,\u201d noted a procurement document published on February 13.<\/p>\n

\u201cNASA is considering contracting with the State Space Corporation \u201cRoscosmos\u201d for these services on a sole source basis for two (2) Soyuz seats and associated services to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft vehicle. This transportation would be for one crewmember in the Fall of 2019 and one crewmember in the Spring of 2020.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n