NASA announced that it will purchase three additional flights for its astronauts to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon vehicle.
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The announcement, posted on the space agency's website late Friday afternoon, follows a "request for information" issued by NASA in October, asking for the additional transportation to maintain "uninterrupted" U.S. access to the space station.
The post contained the following rationale for choosing SpaceX to provide these three crewed flights, while the other potential provider, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, was not selected.
"After a thorough review of short-term certified capabilities and responses from U.S. industry, NASA's assessment is that the SpaceX crew transport system is the only one certified to meet NASA's safety requirements for transporting crew to the space station and maintaining the commitment to its international partners in the required timeframe," the agency said.
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It's not entirely clear why NASA needed a "thorough" review of near-term capabilities. SpaceX first demonstrated the safe flight of humans in the Crew Dragon in mid-2020 and has since launched three operational crewed missions for NASA, with three more scheduled by spring 2023.
In contrast, Boeing has yet to safely complete an uncrewed demonstration test. After a December 2019 test flight plagued by software issues, Boeing’s attempt to conduct a second uncrewed demonstration this summer was postponed due to leaking oxidizer valves. Not surprisingly, this “Orbital Flight Test-2” mission is unlikely to take place before mid-2022.
“NASA commends Boeing for its ongoing investigation into the oxidizer isolation valve issue discovered prior to the scheduled uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 mission to the International Space Station in August, prioritizing safety over schedule while working to resolve this challenge,” said Phil. McAlister, NASA’s commercial spaceflight administrator, in a statement.
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After this test flight, Boeing should fly a demonstration mission with people, which will likely take place no earlier than 2023. If this test goes well, Boeing could then begin flying operational missions, carrying NASA and international astronauts to the space station for a six-month stay.
As NASA wants to conduct crewed missions every six months and has no guarantee that Boeing will be ready by 2023, it took the step of extending its contract with SpaceX.
NASA still plans to alternate Crew Dragon and Starliner flights when the vehicles are both operational.
Source of information: arstechnica.com
