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SpaceX To Present Manned Dragon Capsule
camperdave (969942) writes "SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is set to unveil the Dragon V2 at a media event from Hawthorne, California, tonight at 7 pm. Pacific. The 'Dragon V2' is an upgraded, man rated version of the unmanned spaceship that has made several successful cargo trips to the International Space Station. The new craft will carry a mix of cargo and up to a seven crewmembers to the ISS. According to Musk, this is 'Actual flight design hardware of crew Dragon, not a mockup.' Following the space shuttle's forced retirement in 2011, US astronauts have been totally dependent on the Russian Soyuz capsules for ferry rides to orbit and back. The crisis in Ukraine, which has resulted in some U.S. economic sanctions imposed against Russia, also has the potential to threaten U.S. access to the ISS as the Russian government considers reciprocal sanctions of its own.
'Sounds like this might be a good time to unveil the new Dragon Mk 2 spaceship that @SpaceX has been working on with @NASA,' Musk tweeted. SpaceX is one of three commercial space companies competing for funding from NASA's Commercial Crew Transportation Capability program."
(You can watch the event as a webcast.)
I can't wait for SpaceX to take us to the moon.
Transport seven crew to the ISS? Well, I'm impressed!
NASA holding onto an out-moded Space Shuttle design, crimped the US's space efforts for decades.
Welcome to the Space X Dragon and someone finally with GUTS; Elon Musk.
Let's get this baby loaded, do a couple unmanned tests, including the crew escape system and lets roll.
I have to imagine if you're the Russian Space Agency this has to be very unwelcome news.
Yes Francis, the world has gone crazy.
The problem with most private commercial flight companies is that they usually end up serving exactly one customer: the U.S. Government. I don't think it's fair to characterize that as "private." The harsh fact is that, aside from satellite launches, there is pretty much no reason for any other entity to go into space
Believe it or not, the US Government (and other governments as well) are not the only people launching satellites or other spacecraft...
If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
Musk is actually a huge Obama supporter, and Obama has been seen talking to, giving praise to, and visiting with Elon Musk. SpaceX and Elon Musk have been a huge part of the Obama Space Strategy. Any anti-obama sentiment comes from the ending of Republican-politican-approved programs, such as the Space Shuttle through companies like ATK and Boeing.
Sig: I stole this sig.
It's hard to tell from the picture, but they looked lined up. What happens if a front seat rider spews during take off. I'd hate to be seated below.
The harsh fact is that, aside from satellite launches, there is pretty much no reason for any other entity to go into space.
Yeah, I guess that would explain why there has been at least one person in orbit every year since the last moon shot, and why the ISS has been continuously occupied for nearly 14 years.
As far as commercial flight goes, unlike the shuttle, anyone with the money can buy a launch from SpaceX. They're not restricted to government launches.
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
Looking at their upcoming launch manifest I see: NASA, Orbcomm, Asiasat, Space Systems, Loral, Thales Alenia Space, US Air Force, CONAE, NSPO, Spacecom, Bigelow Aerospace, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, SES, Iridium, and SATMEX.
The US government isn't even the customer for a majority of the launches through 2015. If you're specifically talking about manned missions you might have a better argument. But even then the Bigelow Aerospace launch is tantalizing hints of the future... even if it's only the future for the fabulously, ridiculously wealthy.
The 'Dragon V2' is an upgraded, man rated version of the unmanned spaceship that has made several successful cargo trips to the International Space Station.
The Dragon V2: Strong enough for a man, gyroscopically balanced for a woman!
Nasa talks like that. Musk knows his audience. http://history.nasa.gov/SP-420...
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
Sorry if this was already asked but I only occasionally visit this site and it seems like there are far fewer comments and insights here. Is there some sort of boycott going on over the new format?
Actually, my quibble isn't with the gender connotations of the statement, but with the verb tense of the statement. The V2 hasn't, as far as I know, actually received certification for manned space flight. Rather, it has been designed (and probably some testing complete) to be able to receive such a rating.
It hasn't been rated yet, just that it could be and is intended to be. In that sense, it is more accurate to call it "man ratable" (the subjunctive tense) rather than "man rated" (past tense).
Yeah, I guess that would explain why there has been at least one person in orbit every year since the last moon shot, and why the ISS has been continuously occupied for nearly 14 years.
Are you saying that a private company did all that, or you no read so good?
SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
Those are all either satellite launches or government/government-contractor launches.
I'll say it again. Aside from satellite launches, there is just no other reason for non-governmental entities to go into space right now.
Even so-called "space tourism" isn't really going into space, and certainly nowhere near LEO.
SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
NASA is helping SpaceX. Is Boeing a branch of the Federal Government? How is now different from before?
given the incidents in which Russia is posing like the Bad Old Days are back, we need at least two operating alternatives to their facilities.
if this is supposed to be a new economy, how come they still want my old fashioned money?
I'll say it again. Aside from satellite launches, there is just no other reason for non-governmental entities to go into space right now.
Well, duh. That's why SpaceX are working hard to slash the cost of launching things into orbit until other business opportunities make sense.
Actually, my quibble isn't with the gender connotations of the statement, but with the verb tense of the statement. The V2 hasn't, as far as I know, actually received certification for manned space flight.
Nor did the shuttle, as far as I'm aware. Certainly it couldn't meet NASA's current requirements for commercial crew (1 in 500 loss on ascent and 1 in 500 loss on descent, according to Wikipedia).
Chairs and cabin look like on Soyuz space ship.
Really? I'm the first person to mention this? Before you decide to mod me into oblivion yes, it's on topic. Go watch Machete Kills
back in the days "man-rated" meant the ICBM was modified to not shake the man apart in pogo oscillations and speed the capsule up to 17,500 mph.
mfwright@batnet.com
No, it is totally legitimate to say it is "private" even if the government is the only buyer (and their not –as others have pointed out.) – the profits flow to Musk & Company.
I think what you are trying to say is that it is not a free market – but that also is not true. For a free market to work all you need is multiple independent agents (publicly or privately owned) who can freely bid for the work. That is the bare minimum in order to have a free market is to have multiple producers or multiple consumers.
Of course the fewer agents involved the greater the chance of mischief will occur but that would be a different point – the efficiency of the market.
I'm saying there are plenty of other customers other than the US government, and plenty of reasons other than satellite launches that private space corporations can cater to. NASA is not the only game in town.
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
I've read that Musk contributes to both Republicans and Democrats (but more to Dems IIRC). Dude understands that the reality of the world is that certain wheels need to be greased, especially if what you're doing will rock certain boats.
"Mind, as manifested by the capacity to make choices, is to some extent present in every electron." -Freeman Dyson
Hundreds of people from dozens of countries and private companies have found some reason for spending the millions upon millions of dollars needed to get into space. So, clearly there is a market. Denying the facts is lunacy, but go ahead if it makes you feel better.
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
Nah man. For one the Space Shuttle was planned to be retired back when W was still President. It was deemed necessary to retire it to save money for the abortive uber expensive Ares rocket that NASA Administrator Mike Griffin was pushing. When Obama got into power most of the Shuttle maintenance facilities had already been closed down like the rocket engine manufacturing and refurbishing plant. Little he could do but cancel it as scheduled at that point. The plan was always to rely on Soyuz launches until an alternative vehicle could be developed.
There is broad bi-partisan support for the SLS rocket (Ares Strikes Back) in the Senate against Obama's wishes and those people in the Senate are those opposing his space policy. Which was to privatize the ISS launch services and rethink how to do Moon and Mars exploration in an economically sustainable way.
The Senate basically cut the funding for the Commercial Crew program. Setting back for like 2 years a US crew transportation vehicle to the ISS and sploshed it all down on SLS
Thank God someone does not do this politically correct BULLSHIT.
I still remember when Mankind was used as a word.
50%, 90%, 99%. I stand by my original statement: it is "man-ratable", and not yet "man-rated". I fully expect that they've done their homework and will, after additional flight demonstrations, receive the certification. But they haven't gotten it yet.
Hundreds of people from dozens of countries and private companies have found some reason for spending the millions upon millions of dollars needed to get into space. So, clearly there is a market.
It was very expensive Cold War propaganda and military posturing during the "space race." Today, the government space "market" is mostly for PR value and political patronage.
SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
Even if going to LEO was free, what business could make sense? Grow up.
If getting to LEO was free, tourists would be flocking up there ASAP, there'd be hotels on the Moon, and cruise ships would be heading for Mars and beyond.
... is lunacy ...
I se what you did there.
Today, the government space "market" is mostly for PR value and political patronage.
"Why" doesn't matter. Maybe it is national pride. Maybe it is the opportunity to conduct experiments at the finest microgravity research facility in the solar system. "Why" doesn't matter. What matters is that governments and private citizens are willing to pay someone to ferry them into space. SpaceX thinks they can do it cheaper than the competition. Maybe they're right. Maybe they're wrong. Only time will tell.
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!