Friday, July 13, 2012

Crew capsule design review done

SpaceX has completed a design review of the crewed version of the Dragon spacecraft that in May successfully docked with the International Space Station. The concept baseline review presented NASA with the primary and secondary design elements of the Dragon capsule that will carry astronauts into low Earth orbit, including the ISS. SpaceX is one of several companies working to develop crew transportation capabilities under the Commercial Crew Development Round 2 agreement with NASA's Commercial Crew Program. While NASA works with private companies, the agency is developing the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System for deep space missions. (Source: NASA, 07/12/12) Gulf Coast note: Stennis Space Center, Miss., tests rocket engines for NASA's SLS program, as well as engines for commercial companies; Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans builds the Orion crew vehicle and will build the core of the SLS.