SpaceX Dragon

SpaceX Hosts Preliminary Training for NASA ISS Astronauts in Preparation for Dragon Spacecraft Rendezvous and Station Berthing

Space Exploration Technologies recently conducted its first Dragon spacecraft operations training for a group of NASA astronauts and personnel at its corporate headquarters in Hawthorne, CA. The October training focused on how the crew will interface with the Dragon spacecraft while it is approaching and berthed to the International Space Station (ISS). Three of the participating astronauts — Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Shannon Walker and Douglas Wheelock — will be on board the ISS when Dragon makes its first visit under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.
The astronauts were briefed on vehicle ingress and egress, habitability of the spacecraft, payload handling and commanding through SpaceX's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Communication Unit. The training was a key step in SpaceX's progress towards providing NASA an alternative for cargo transport to and from the ISS when the Space Shuttle retires.
"This was the first time the NASA astronauts who will interact with Dragon during its early missions were actually inside a Dragon flight vehicle," said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO, SpaceX. "SpaceX was honored to host the ISS crew for this preliminary training exercise, and we look forward to serving NASA further under the COTS program and CRS contracts."
Also in attendance were NASA astronauts Marsha Ivins and Megan McArthur, as well as other key NASA personnel from the NASA Astronaut Office and Mission Operations Directorates.
Under the COTS program, SpaceX will execute three flights of the Dragon spacecraft. Dragon will pass in close proximity to, and berth with, the ISS as part of the second and third COTS missions, respectively. Upon completion of these demonstration flights, SpaceX will begin to fulfill the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract for 12 cargo flights between 2010 and 2015 and represents a guaranteed minimum of 20,000 kg to be carried to the ISS.
For more information about the Falcon family of vehicles and the Dragon spacecraft, please visit www.SpaceX.com

SpaceX demonstrates cargo transfer to space station

Space Exploration Technologies (better known as SpaceX) recently conducted a three-day demonstration of cargo loading and unloading procedures for its Dragon spacecraft, which NASA has contracted to haul cargo to the International Space Station starting this year, the company announced Thursday.

A SpaceX engineer installs a Single Cargo Transfer Bag into a storage compartment aboard the Dragon spacecraft. (SpaceX photo)

The tests, at the company's Hawthorne, Calif., headquarters, covered a range of procedures using an actual flight Dragon spacecraft and actual NASA cargo modules, in a variety of standard sizes, including powered modules providing temperature control for sensitive items such as medical and biological samples.
"We look forward to the day when the first of many Dragons arrive at the ISS delivering actual cargo in support of continued ISS operations," John Couluris, SpaceX director of mission operations, said in a news release.
Under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program, SpaceX is scheduled to perform three Dragon demonstration flights to the space station before starting resupply missions. Its contract calls for at least 12 cargo flights between 2010 and 2015 with a guaranteed minimum of 20,000 kilograms to be carried to the station.
The Dragon uses a SpaceX Falcon 9 two-stage rocket, which can lift approximately 11 tons to low Earth orbit and more than 4.5 tons to geosynchronous transfer orbit.

Beochien a écrit:Tout va tourner autour de la fiabilité du "Réemploi" et au budget de remise à niveau ... après une récupération à priori en mer ...
Ce n'est pas gratos non plus, côté devis de poids et de la charge utile (Quand elle tend vers le max !)
A suivre !

Paul a écrit:Sans rien enlever à Blue Origin, le projet de Space X est beaucoup plus ambitieux. Et la fusée plus grosse aussi.