Recent parachute test issues for SpaceX's Dragon program—as well as Boeing's Starliner—will likely delay the launch of the 1st commercial crew missions to the International Space Station
Representatives for Boeing and SpaceX did not immediately respond to e-mails asking for comment. A NASA spokesperson gave this statement on behalf of the agency:"Boeing and SpaceX are making tremendous progress for their respective parachute design and test campaigns. Each company is extremely engaged, and we learn new things with each test that informs how we move forward in the design of the parachutes and execute each test series.
NASA relies on Russian Soyuz spacecraft to deliver its crews to the International Space Station, a situation that has been in place ever since the space shuttle retired in 2011.The commercial crew program has been in development for more than a decade, since NASA planned to retire the aging space shuttle. Starting in 2011, when the shuttle program ceased, NASA has used Russian Soyuz spacecraft to ferry its astronauts to the International Space Station.
Palmer noted that delays are commonplace in human spaceflight programs, which often requires using innovative technology to a high degree of safety to ferry crews."Space is difficult; to suffer delays due to problems in testing is as old as spaceflight itself," he said. NASA also is considering purchasing more Soyuz seats for its astronauts to account for schedule-push backs, Palmer added, which comes with some geopolitical issues.
"In the sense of national prestige, the commercial crew program is bringing manned launches back to the United States," Palmer said."Dependency on a foreign power to launch astronauts into space since the retirement of the space shuttle is, for many, unpleasing. Purchasing more Soyuz seats only lengthens reliance on Russia.
In short," he added,"from a scientific and performance perspective, these delays only slightly affect the commercial crew program. From a geopolitical perspective, the United States might have to depend on Russia longer than previously anticipated."
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