According to NASA's contract with Boeing and SpaceX, NASA astronauts are supposed to perform the first test flights in these companies' spacecraft
NASA has chosen four of its veteran astronauts to help the commercial companies Boeing and SpaceX launch the first manned spaceships since the end of the shuttle era in 2011. The four will participate in the planning of the construction of the spaceships, and will launch them on test flights where the launches, the ability to maneuver in space and docking at the space station and, of course, a safe landing will be tested. .
The four, Robert Behnken, Eric Boa, Douglas Hurley and Sunita Williams will fly the first Boeing and SpaceX spacecraft to the International Space Station.
"I am happy to announce that four American space pioneers have been selected to be the first astronauts to train for flight in the first commercial spacecraft. It is part of our ambitious plan to return and launch humans from US soil, create American jobs and advance the goal of launching humans further into the solar system," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. "These respected, veteran astronauts are eager to establish a new trajectory that will lead to a landing on Mars."
"Today, NASA announced that it has selected four veteran astronauts to be the first to fly into space on commercial spacecraft," said John Holdern, Assistant to President Obama for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology. "This choice allows NASA to move forward with the training of astronauts, bringing the president's goal of sending astronauts to Mars closer in the XNUMXs."
The astronauts will closely examine the designs of Boeing's CST-100 and SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft and how they operate. Brian Kelly, director of flight operations at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, said the four have dedicated their careers to advancing the field of aeronautics and advancing manned space exploration. The selection of astronauts who will fly aboard the test flights of the next generation spacecraft to the space station ensures that the crews will be prepared and trained for their missions."
NASA's contracts with the commercial launch providers require at least one manned flight to be performed by a NASA astronaut to learn the capabilities of the launch, orbit maneuvering and docking at the space station, as well as to verify that all systems function as planned and land safely.
To meet this requirement, the companies must also provide the necessary training for the crew to operate their spacecraft. NASA is involved in what is going on in the companies and examines their training programs.
"We are pleased to have such an experienced group of astronauts working with Boeing and SpaceX's commercial launch program and will eventually fly the companies' flight test missions," said NASA Commercial Program Manager Kathy Luders. "The selection of these astronauts is an important step forward and is consistent with past approaches to involve the astronauts in the design and development of new systems."
Once the test program is successfully completed and the systems are approved by NASA, the companies will launch between two and six crew replacement missions to the space station. Four NASA crew members will participate in each such mission and they will also carry cargo that requires a compressed environment weighing at least 100 kg.
"Congratulations to Bob, Eric, Doug and Sunita and welcome to the Commercial Spacecraft team," said John Albon, vice president and general manager of Boeing's Space Division. "We look forward to working with such a skilled and experienced group of NASA astronauts to move forward with the first launch in 2017."
"Congratulations to Bob, Doug, Eric and Sunita for being selected to be the first group of astronauts to perform flight training as part of NASA's commercial manned launch program," said Gavin Shotwell, SpaceX's president and chief operating officer. "We look forward to working closely with them to be ready for the first manned missions to the space station on the manned Dragon spacecraft. The manned space flights are the reason for the establishment of SpaceX.”
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Opponent: I thought at first that it was a malfunction in an innovative rocket engine, but it turns out, according to telemetry, that the co-pilot pulled a lever that changes the configuration of the wings for the landing phase (similar to lowering shelves in an airplane, apparently). He did not act according to the flight plan, and it was forbidden to pull the handle, probably due to too much speed or because the pilot was still working or because of the angle of attack of the vehicle. Pulling the lever caused the vehicle to disintegrate immediately.
Ok, I just remembered the case in question (the "white knight" right?) but what was the test pilot's stupid action?
what did he do ?
Herzl, can you elaborate?
As far as I remember the last crashes were of unmanned vehicles that were meant to bring supplies to the space station.
I wouldn't go
Probably a reaction to the crash of the space plane that happened due to the stupid action of a "test pilot" who was all an aviation enthusiast with little experience. He was killed and the other pilot was seriously injured.