MV Astronomy Club

Launch America by carol higgins

It has been fifty-nine years since Alan Shepard became America’s first astronaut launched into space. Since then, we’ve built larger rockets, developed advanced spacecraft to protect crews from the harsh conditions beyond our planet’s atmosphere, sent twelve astronauts to the surface of the Moon, and helped build the International Space Station (ISS), which has been in operation since November 2000. In 2010, a new era of human spaceflight opened when NASA announced a novel approach to creating the next generation of transportation options to carry astronauts to and from the ISS – the Commercial Crew Program (CCP).

Starting in 1981, four Space Shuttles were the primary vehicle for U.S. astronauts. When plans to retire the fleet were announced by President Bush in 2004, NASA began work on new exploration missions. Funding eventually became a problem, and debates about the direction of the space program continued. But the shuttle retirement plans were underway, and the shuttle Atlantis made the final flight on July 8, 2011, and landed July 21 of that year. Since then, American astronauts have depended on Russia and their 3-person Soyuz spacecraft for transportation. The Commercial Crew Program was created to end our reliance on others.

CCP is unique in the history of the agency. Previously specifications for rockets and crew-capable spacecraft were created, with contracts awarded to vendors who developed and built the systems under supervision by agency staff. NASA retained ownership of the resulting systems. In the CCP partnership, NASA defines safety and

operational requirements for crew transportation services, but leaves the design, development, and testing responsibilities to the companies who submit a plan to meet the requirements. When a company is awarded a CCP contract they retain ownership of their systems and NASA becomes a customer for launch services.

Between 2010 and 2013, companies submitted proposals to NASA. Some were Hanny’s Voorwerp. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, W. Keel, Galaxy Zoo Team granted funding to develop and test their designs. In 2014, NASA announced the two finalists to be awarded Commercial Crew transportation contracts: Boeing and SpaceX Crew Dragon launch May 30, 2020 SpaceX. Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Over the next four years, four NASA astronauts worked with the two companies on the design and interfaces of their innocraft from reaching the ISS. Starliner did vative spacecraft: Boeing’s Starliner, and safely return, touching down at a planned SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. Extensive hardsite in White Sands, New Mexico. A thorware and software tests were performed, ough investigation discovered software and and ground and mission control teams hardware issues, which Boeing is addresstrained and reviewed procedures. Last year, ing. A second test flight is being planned for several significant flight milestones were later this year. achieved. The most exciting event so far is the

The first occurred on March 2, 2019. SpaceX Crew Dragon launch of NASA SpaceX launched a Crew Dragon spaceastronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley craft on a demonstration flight to the ISS on May 30, 2020, from Kennedy Space to test all spacecraft systems. No astronauts Center. They arrived at ISS nineteen hours were on board, but sensors monitored enlater, and are still onboard the station helpvironmental conditions and spacecraft pering with research and spacewalks! So far, formance during the mission including the Crew Dragon has performed very well, and automatic docking process. Crew Dragon the astronauts will likely return to Earth splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean on sometime in early August. If all goes well, March 8 and was retrieved by a SpaceX rethe next Crew Dragon will launch in the fall covery ship. The test was a great success. and carry four NASA astronauts for a long

Next was the Boeing Starliner’s first unduration mission. For the latest news, visit crewed demonstration flight, launched Dehttps://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/ . cember 20, 2019. Some problems occurred Wishing you clear skies and good shortly after lift-off, preventing the spacehealth! •

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