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Oldfart1939

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Registered: 2016-11-26

Posts: 2,379

SpaceX announces first scheduled manned Dragon 2 flight!

I just received a Reddit post wherein SpaceX announced 17 January 2019 as the date for launch of a manned Dragon 2 spacecraft. No other details were given, but undoubtedly more information is forthcoming. Will add information as available.

At the same time, SpaceX announced the Falcon Heavy launch scheduled for the Arabsat in the December 2018 to January 2019 timeframe.

http://spacenews.com/arabsat-falcon-hea … timeframe/

Last edited by Oldfart1939 (2018-06-02 11:31:31)

SpaceNut

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From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 28,838

Re: SpaceX announces first scheduled manned Dragon 2 flight!

Heavy launch capability is just what man will need for the use of the manned Dragon 2 for sure.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_2

Soon to be able to take an automated test flight towards the ISS just like the first article did for the original Dragon for cargo. There is no meantion in article but as to if it will have no docking capability as the original comes to a stop for the arm to grab and dock with the station as wiki indicates. This does not bod well for a dual dragon flight around the moon without this feature for the capsules.

First manned flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft postponed until 2018

With all safety tests behind space x dragons' 2 nearly complete its Nasa that must be dragging the heals on first flight....

louis

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From: UK

Registered: 2008-03-24

Posts: 7,208

Re: SpaceX announces first scheduled manned Dragon 2 flight!

Great news.  Dragon 2 will inform the BFR life support. 

I just received a Reddit post wherein SpaceX announced 17 January 2019 as the date for launch of a manned Dragon 2 spacecraft. No other details were given, but undoubtedly more information is forthcoming. Will add information as available.

At the same time, SpaceX announced the Falcon Heavy launch scheduled for the Arabsat in the December 2018 to January 2019 timeframe.

http://spacenews.com/arabsat-falcon-hea … timeframe/

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Let's Go to Mars...Google on: Fast Track to Mars blogspot.com

Oldfart1939

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Registered: 2016-11-26

Posts: 2,379

Re: SpaceX announces first scheduled manned Dragon 2 flight!

No other details were given; just the launch date. No mention of whether or not they will go to ISS and dock, or is just an orbital test flight.
It's my understanding that there will be 2 other Dragon 2 flights, one of which will be an unmanned in launch at maxQ abort, and another unmanned first flight test. NASA needs to stop dragging their heels, and get the ball rolling.

kbd512

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Registered: 2015-01-02

Posts: 7,426

Re: SpaceX announces first scheduled manned Dragon 2 flight!

Oldfart1939,

Flight tests of a brand new aerospace vehicle system is not equivalent to "dragging your heels".  The first test is to determine if Dragon 2 functions as expected under nominal flight conditions.  The second test is to confirm that the abort system works as intended.  The third test does risk lives, but only the three lives of the crew aboard ISS, rather than an additional two crew members aboard Dragon 2.  It's very conservative, but conservatism is the best way to avoid killing people needlessly.  If the in-flight abort sequence results in the destruction of the capsule, then nobody dies and the problem can still be fixed.

Oldfart1939

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Registered: 2016-11-26

Posts: 2,379

Re: SpaceX announces first scheduled manned Dragon 2 flight!

kbd512-

I'm not referring to the scheduled missions; just to the reluctance of NASA to allow use of retropropulsive landings. instead of insistence on parachute recovery. I'm onboard with the test flight program; just with the reluctance to explore new technology which was unavailable earlier. I'm essentially carping about intellectual "heel dragging." If the Air Force had been this conservative, we'd still be flying biplanes. Time marches on and technology arises.

kbd512

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Registered: 2015-01-02

Posts: 7,426

Re: SpaceX announces first scheduled manned Dragon 2 flight!

Oldfart1939,

I get it, but I also want SpaceX to succeed.  A little extra caution so close to the finish line won't kill anyone.  The new system for capsule landing can still be tested, but parachutes and water landings are a good idea for backup.  Incidentally, the Chinese have hit upon an idea to contend with the lift problem for hypersonic vehicles using a biplane lifting body design.  It looks nothing like the WWI contraptions, but it does contend with a very real problem in a novel way.

louis

Member

From: UK

Registered: 2008-03-24

Posts: 7,208

Re: SpaceX announces first scheduled manned Dragon 2 flight!

Another successful launch bodes well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyViS7NADzw

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Let's Go to Mars...Google on: Fast Track to Mars blogspot.com

Oldfart1939

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Registered: 2016-11-26

Posts: 2,379

Re: SpaceX announces first scheduled manned Dragon 2 flight!

Louis-

I watched this live via the SpaceX website; went without any hiccup at all. Getting to be downright boring. (Tongue in cheek!)

I believe SpaceX is now using up the inventory of Block 4 vehicles when flown in an expendable mode.

tahanson43206

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Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 17,066

Re: SpaceX announces first scheduled manned Dragon 2 flight!

Here is a follow up to the first crewed SpaceX mission:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/spacex-found … 00240.html

The heat shield showed erosion in areas near where the shield was attached to the trunk (which was discarded before re-entry).  The weak areas have been reinforced for the four person flight coming up.

Overall, I get the impression this result is regarded as another "success" for the mission, in that it was a test mission.

(th)

Forrest White

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Registered: 2020-10-05

Posts: 6

Re: SpaceX announces first scheduled manned Dragon 2 flight!

They also plan a launch to ISS for Saturday, Oct. 31 supported by NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Soichi Noguchi.

SpaceNut

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From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 28,838

Re: SpaceX announces first scheduled manned Dragon 2 flight!

Wondering if that damage is due to the stack up assembly and not enough cushion to absorb launch compression on the area....