More Delays For NASA Commercial Crew
Commercial Crew Flight Dates Delayed To 2018
“The next generation of American spacecraft and rockets that will launch astronauts to the International Space Station are nearing the final stages of development and evaluation. Targeted Flight Dates:
Boeing Orbital Flight Test: June 2018
Boeing Crew Flight Test: August 2018
SpaceX Demonstration Mission 1: November 2017
SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2: May 2018”
Pretty much as expected given what has happened to virtually every NASA mission since Apollo days. Remember also that NASA is now so risk-averse that I’d be surprised if anything flies with crew before 2020.
That is apart from Soyuz where NASA has no real influence and has no option if they want to continue to fly crews to the ISS. Russia will be happy with the extra currency.
Cheers
Not sure why this matters anymore; in our emerging Trumpian era, we will no doubt continue to buy Soyuz – that’s what would make Putin happy! I wonder how long it will take the Transition team at NASA to be told of their new marching orders.
So, assuming US-Russian ties remain at least amicable (e.g., Crimea or Syria or North Polar sea ownership), then there will probably be no more than 18 US flights to ISS from 2019 to 2024, when ISS will “probably” be deorbited. Then what? This time frame also assumes Euro-zone and therefore ESA remain tied-together and functional, because if any other country falls out, none will likely have excess funding for ISS. And given another 6 years of war and environmental migration, economies will be stretched to limits. Space will fall off the table. And this just covers events in 1/4 of the planet. A bigger problem being there well be over 8 billion on Earth by 2024 – think about it.