SpaceX Looks At November Launch For Crewed Dragon Mission
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Application For Special Temporary Authority (FCC)
“This application uses information from previous grant 0068-EX-ST-2019. This STA is necessary for Dragon2 capsule telemetry, tracking, and command, for the upcoming SpaceX Commercial Crew vehicle demonstration mission to the International Space Station. The launch and re-entry licensing authority is the FAA. Launch is also to be coordinated with the Eastern Range. On-orbit rendezvous with the ISS is to be coordinated with the NASA.
Requested Period of Operation
Operation Start Date: 11/01/2019
Operation End Date: 05/01/2020”
The new FPIP says Nov 15.
It looks like Starliner and Space X may both do their first crewed flights to the ISS in November. It will be interesting.
Have we seen any information on the cause for the destruction of the 1st Crewed Dragon vehicle? It would seem they have ID’d the cause if they are making specific plans for the follow on flight. Or maybe just getting in the queue for approvals on the basis it will be solved.
Being a private company, SpaceX is not under any obligation to tell “us” what went wrong and the fix. They only have to tell NASA and the FAA. I have a feeling that when they have a new capsule ready for launch, then they will publicize what happened and how they fixed it. Don’t forget, they still have to do a MaxQ abort flight test.
They are much better off being private. The Feds only know how to check the box and slow things down to a crawl.
Is this definitely for a crewed mission?
I wonder if this is an indication if they identified and found a fix for the test anomaly.
I think it means they have a schedule for resolving the anomaly. And probably not one that’s totally “aspirational.” Someone’s saying he has reason to believe a launch is possible by November 1, and enough confidence to start making reservations based on that. But that could just be a good theory about the problem, with more work required to confirm it.
Assuming the parachute issues are resolved.
Interesting analysis of the FPIP (Flight Planning Integration Panel) schedule here. Lots of dates for visiting vehicles.