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The inaugural flight of Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, will be uncrewed and is designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew.
For all of the latest updates, visit the Commercial Crew Program blog HERE.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry as companies develop and operate a new generation of spacecraft and launch systems capable of carrying crews to low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station. Commercial transportation to and from the station will provide expanded utility, additional research time and broader opportunities for discovery on the orbiting laboratory.
The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight. As commercial companies focus on providing human transportation services to and from low-Earth orbit, NASA is freed up to focus on building spacecraft and rockets for deep space missions.
The Commercial Crew Program represents a revolutionary approach to government and commercial collaborations for the advancement of space exploration. To learn more, click
HERE.
NASA's Prior Approach for Obtaining Crew Transportation Systems:
Since the Mercury program in the early 1960s, NASA has used an almost identical operating model to achieve it's goals of human spaceflight. This includes the Space Shuttle program and the American portions of the International Space Station. NASA would identify a need for a crew transportation system and then the agency's engineers and specialists would oversee every development aspect of the spacecraft, support systems, and operations plans. A commercial, aerospace contractor would be chosen to build the system, ensuring that it meets the specifications spelled out by NASA. Personnel from NASA would be heavily involved and oversee the processing, testing, launching and operation of the crew system to ensure safety and reliability. All of the hardware and infrastructure would be owned by NASA.
Commercial Crew's Approach for Obtaining Crew Transportation Systems:
NASA identified a need for a crew transportation system and a broad set of requirements that would be necessary to ensure crew safety. In the case of commercial crew, the need centered around a safe, reliable, and cost-effective means of getting humans to low-Earth orbit, including the International Space Station, and return safely to Earth. Interested companies are free to design in a way they think is best and are encouraged to apply their most efficient and effective manufacturing and business operating techniques. The companies own and operate their hardware and infrastructure. NASA's engineers and aerospace specialists work closely with the commercial companies, allowing for substantial insight into the development process and offering up expertise and available resources.
The Commercial Crew Program is the first time this model has been implemented.
For more, click HERE.
Images below link to the astronaut's official bio
To download this video click
HERE.
In January, 2019, NASA announced that astronaut Mike Fincke would replace Eric Boe for Boeing's Crew Flight Test.
Behind every triumph of space exploration are thousands of men and women, focused, determined, and committed to success. The Commercial Crew Program is no different.
For more information on some of the amazing men and women who made Commercial Crew possible, click HERE.
Kathy Lueders
Commercial Crew Program, Program Manager
John F. Kennedy Space Center
Click HERE for more on Lueders.
Steve Stich
Commercial Crew Program, Deputy Program Manager
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
Click HERE for more on Stich.
Leanne Caret
Chief Executive Officer
Boeing Defense, Space and Security
Click HERE for more on Caret.
John Mulholland
Vice President and Program Manager for Commercial Programs
Boeing Space Exploration
Click HERE for more on Mulholland.
Chris Ferguson, Boeing Astronaut
Commercial Crew Program, Deputy Program Manager
John F. Kennedy Space Center
Click HERE for more on Ferguson.
Benjamin “Benji” Reed is the Director of Crew Mission Management at SpaceX. In this role he is helping spearhead the company’s development and certification efforts for the Crew Transportation System, including the Dragon spacecraft, Falcon 9 rocket, ground systems, and operations. Prior to this position Benji was a Mission Manager for Dragon cargo missions to the International Space Station, including the CRS-3 mission which carried the first science payloads in the Dragon trunk. Over the past 20 years, he has been a leader in various commercial aerospace and NASA programs, including hardware development serving the Hubble Space Telescope, ISS, and planetary science missions. He spent many years as the co-owner of a software and internet development firm and has also been a teacher.
A native of Boulder, Colorado, Benjamin graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in Mathematics, working at the Center for Astrophysics and Space Astronomy on programs including the Far Ultraviolet Spectrographic Explorer and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. He lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife and three children.
As President and COO of SpaceX, Gwynne Shotwell is responsible for day-to-day operations and managing all customer and strategic relations to support company growth. She joined SpaceX in 2002 as Vice President of Business Development and built the Falcon vehicle family manifest to more than 100 launches, representing more than $10 billion in business. Shotwell is a member of the SpaceX Board of Directors.
Prior to joining SpaceX, Shotwell spent more than 10 years at the Aerospace Corporation, holding positions in Space Systems Engineering, Technology and Project Management. She was promoted to the role of Chief Engineer of an MLV-class satellite program, managed a landmark study for the Federal Aviation Administration on commercial space transportation, and completed an extensive analysis of space policy for NASA’s future investment in space transportation.
In addition to being named the 2018 Satellite Executive of the Year, Shotwell was awarded the AIAA Goddard Astronautics Awards as well as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Ralph Coats Roe Medal. Fortune Magazine placed Shotwell at #42 on their list of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders in 2018 and Forbes named her #70 on their list of Power Women in 2017. In 2014, Shotwell was appointed to the United States Export Import Bank's Advisory Committee and the Federal Aviation Administration’s Management Advisory Council. Shotwell was elected to the honorable grade of Fellow with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Through leadership in both corporate and external science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs, Shotwell has helped raise over $1.4 million for STEM programs reaching thousands of students nationwide.
Shotwell received, with honors, her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern University in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mathematics, and serves on their Board. She has authored dozens of papers on a variety of space related subjects.
Nine U.S. astronauts are working with Boeing or SpaceX for specific mission training. The crew are working side-by-side with Boeing and SpaceX to understand the new spacecraft and launch systems, the spacesuits, and refining how they’re going to operate in space.
The astronauts also are preparing to live and work aboard the space station where they could stay for up to six months. The astronauts go through significant preparation for space station missions, including learning how to conduct spacewalks, maintain the space station and perform a myriad of research investigations covering all scientific disciplines.
The astronauts have participated in many nominal and off-nominal mission simulations, studying every aspect of their spacecraft, as well as launch, in-orbit and landing procedures. This intense work ensures they are prepared for any situation that may arise during their mission.
Images below link to the image as found on flickr.
NASA invests about $50 million for Commercial Crew Development Round 1 (CCDev1) to stimulate efforts within the private sector to aid in the development and demonstration of safe, reliable and cost-effective crew transportation capabilities. Companies include:
• Blue Origin
• Boeing
• Paragon Space Development Corporation
• Sierra Nevada Corporation
• United Launch Alliance
NASA continues development partnerships with industry through Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) by awarding nearly $270 million to four companies, and providing expertise to an additional three companies to further development and demonstration of safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation capabilities. The agency's funded agreements are with:
• Blue Origin
• Boeing
• Sierra Nevada Corporation
• SpaceX
The agency's unfunded agreements are with:
• Alliant Techsystems Inc.
• Excalibur Almaz Inc.
• United Launch Alliance
Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) continues the development of three fully integrated systems in August 2012. The Space Act Agreements call for industry partners to develop crew transportation capabilities and to perform tests to verify, validate and mature integrated designs. Companies include:
• Boeing
• Sierra Nevada Corporation
• SpaceX
Kick off of the Certification Products Contracts (CPC), the first of a two-phase certification plan. The three U.S. companies work with NASA to develop data products to implement the agency's flight safety and performance requirements. This includes implementation across all aspects of the space system, including the spacecraft, launch vehicle, and ground and mission operations. NASA awards a total of about $30 million under the CPC contracts. Companies include:
• Boeing
• Sierra Nevada Corporation
• SpaceX
Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) the second of a two-phase certification plan for commercially built and operated integrated crew transportation systems begins. Through its certification efforts, NASA will ensure the selected commercial transportation systems meet the agency’s safety and performance requirements for transporting NASA crew to the International Space Station. NASA awards a total of $6.8 billion under CCtCap contracts. Companies include:
• Boeing
• SpaceX
NASA names four astronauts as Commercial Crew Cadre to work with Boeing and SpaceX as the companies refine their spacecraft systems. The crew provides invaluable user experience feedback to help shape their hardware and systems to ensure they are ready for flight. Astronauts include:
• Bob Behnken
• Eric Boe
• Doug Hurley
• Suni Williams
• Boeing and SpaceX design and manufacture hardware for testing to ensure their spacecraft can handle the harsh environment of space.
• The International Docking Adapter, or IDA, is installed on the International Space Station. Two IDAs will ultimately serve as the docking point for Boeing's CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX's Crew Dragon.
• Boeing and SpaceX continue development and testing to prepare for emergency situations and ensure human safety.
• Boeing and SpaceX unveil brand new spacesuits to be worn by crews while on board each company's spacecraft.
• Testing ramps up and nears completion for Boeing and SpaceX as they prepare their hardware, systems, flight crews and ground support teams for launch.
• NASA assigns nine astronauts to crew Boeing and SpaceX's test flights and first operational missions on Starliner and Crew Dragon.
Flight Test Schedule:
• SpaceX Demo-1 (March 2019)
• Boeing Orbital Test Flight (NET April 2019)
• Boeing Pad Abort Test (Between OFT and CFT)
• SpaceX In-Flight Abort Test (Between Demo-1 and Demo-2)
• SpaceX Demo-2 (July 2019)
• Boeing Crew Flight Test (NET August 2019)
At the successful conclusion of crewed test flights for both Boeing and SpaceX, NASA will certify the companies' systems and operational missions will begin with the flight of Starliner-1 and Crew Dragon-1.
NASA, Boeing, and SpaceX, with the help of contractors throughout America, are on the cusp of something amazing. Men and women at locations across the country have dedicated countless hours to the Commercial Crew Program to achieve a common goal: restore our nation’s ability to launch humans to the International Space Station from U.S. soil.
This government-private industry partnership has significant economic benefits, with more than 1,000 suppliers employing workers in all 50 states to support commercial crew spacecraft systems. Great minds are applying their most efficient and innovative approaches to launch astronauts back into low-Earth orbit on American-made spacecraft and rockets.
Crew safety remains NASA’s primary responsibility and priority for all human spaceflight programs. Since the beginning of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, safety has been built into the agency’s requirements, a direct result of NASA’s extensive experience in human spaceflight systems development and operations.
NASA and its commercial partners, Boeing and SpaceX, have developed systems that prioritize crew safety and survival, including launch pad emergency escape and egress systems. When commercial crew launches astronauts on test flights, both companies will have completed an uncrewed flight test to the International Space Station and demonstrated their ability to safely fly astronauts away from an emergency situation.
These commercial systems are required to meet NASA’s safety and performance requirements to be certified to transport NASA and international partner astronauts to the space station.
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