photo credit: SpaceX's
Dragon v2 spacecraft
and Boeing's CST-100
(not pictured) will begin
to bring humans into
LEO in 2017. Image
credit: SpaceX
NASA has just
announced that Boeing
and SpaceX have been
selected to lead the
Commercial Crew
Program, founded in
2010. Boeing’s CST-100
and SpaceX’s Dragon V2
will be used to launch
humans into Low Earth
Orbit and to the
International Space
Station from Cape
Canaveral beginning in
2017. This will be the
first human spaceflight
launch on American soil
since the space shuttle
program retired in 2011.
Since the end of the
shuttle program,
American astronauts
headed to the ISS have
had to bum a ride from
Russia at a rate of $71
million per seat.
However, the desire to
be in charge of their
own launches has been
highlighted in recent
months due to strained
relations with Russia
over the invasion of
Ukraine. The United
States government put
sanctions on Russia and
severed most of its
ties back in April, except
for its dealings with the
ISS. In retaliation,
Russia has threatened
to stop providing
transportation for
American astronauts.
A key difference
between the space
shuttle program and
this new venture is
that the spacecraft will
be provided by
privately-owned
corporations, and the
government will be
contracting out those
services. This allows for
companies to compete
for contracts, driving
down the cost and
boosting innovative
designs.
SpaceX, headed up by
Tesla Motors CEO Elon
Musk, submitted a
design called the Dragon
V2.
It is a modified version
of the Dragon
spacecraft that SpaceX
has been using to bring
cargo to the ISS since
2010. A major feature
of the seven-seated
spacecraft is the ability
for controlled landings.
This means that in
addition to going to the
ISS, the spacecraft
could be used to bring
humans to the moon or
other worlds. The
advanced landing
system also means the
spacecraft can be
collected and reused
quickly. This cuts down
on wasted materials,
which subsequently
reduces the expense of
each launch. The Dragon
V2 will launch using
SpaceX's own Falcon 9
rocket.
Image 2 credit:
SpaceX
Boeing was the heavy
favorite going into
today’s announcement,
with its CST-100
spacecraft.
The body design is
unique as it does not
include any welded
junctions. This makes
the vessel lighter, more
structurally sound, and
easier to produce. Each
vessel, which seats
seven, can be used 10
times. Upon returning to
Earth, the spacecraft
will land using
parachutes and airbags.
Additionally, struts
within the seat will
provide added
cushioning, reducing the
stress of impact on the
astronauts. The
CST-100 will launch
using an Atlas V rocket,
produced by United
Launch Alliance. ULA is a
joint venture between
Boeing and Lockheed
Martin.
Image 3:
Boeing
NASA has been using
private companies to
bring cargo to the ISS
over the last few years.
The ability to contract
human transportation
to and from the ISS
frees NASA up to focus
on human ventures
deeper into space (such
as Mars). NASA’s Space
Launch System will
launch an unmanned
Orion spacecraft in
2017, with the goal of
the first manned
mission in 2021.
Source: [url=http://www.iflscience.com/space/human-spaceflight-launches-will-return-united-states]HERE[url]