SpaceX Builds Dragon for Launch Abort Test
Via NASA
SpaceX is deep into the production of the Dragon spacecraft that will be used to demonstrate the craft’s launch abort abilities during a test launch next year. The ability of a spacecraft to escape from an emergency situation at the launch pad or during ascent into space is a major priority for the next generation of American spacecraft now under development in partnership with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The Dragon spacecraft will use powerful, side-mounted Draco thrusters to lift the spacecraft away from its booster soon after liftoff during the test. No one will be inside the spacecraft for the launch, but the mission parameters will be set up as though there were, with extensive instrumentation and parachutes aboard to safely recover the Dragon.
14 responses to “SpaceX Builds Dragon for Launch Abort Test”
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One thing I find puzzling is that SpaceX is not reusing the Dragons from CRS 1 and 2 for these tests. The Dragons are advertised as being reusable but I believe that the CRS contract with NASA forbids reuse of the Dragons. Are the structures that different from Commercial Crew that they can’t be stripped down and reused? Were they damaged and nobody is talking about it?
The CRS Dragons don’t have any SuperDraco thrusters for Launch escape.
(My guess:) Basically they need to strip them down to the pressure vessel and install all the propulsion systems like on a new craft. And that is assuming that the pressure vessel on the “new” crewed Dragons is exactly the same as on the “old” cargo Dragons.
So why go through the effort when you could just refurbish the CRS Dragons at a later time for use for some future cargo contract or DragonLab Mission?
NASA wants no Dragons it pays for to be “used” vehicles. The abort test is in the SAA, so it cannot be a reused vehicle. This is something NASA will have to get over, since it bumps costs. Expect resistance from the old turf warriors within NASA’s hierarchy to the idea that SpaceX can do reusability both cheaply and safely, when the Shuttle could do neither.
it might be interesting to see whether or not they’d require any of the commercial crew contractees to build a new vehicle every time, since the Dream chaser, CST-100, and the manned Dragon are all meant to be reusable spacecraft.
I would guess Hug Doug, that insisting on a new vehicle for each flight, de-risks the operation of the vehicle. I imagine that for Dreamchaser, a new vehicle per flight is just impractical.
However, I wouldn’t be surprised if NASA didn’t raise change a change request to the contract after a few flights, to allow re-use to occur.
So, for example, if NASA changed the CRS contract that it has with Spacex to allow re-use, then the cost savings from that move could be split between Spacex and NASA, Spacex receiving a higher profit, from lower revenue, due to reduced cost.
I’ll bet NASA will want SpaceX to demonstrate re-use on a non-CRS/non-NASA flight, like a DragonLab for example. If they can demonstrate it successfully with no risk to NASA then NASA might be more willing to allow re-use. As with most things aerospace, it’s all about the certification.
I agree, bigelow will get cargo runs at a bargin price now.
My guess is that those earlier vehicles were not stressed for the loads imposed by the SupreDraco thrusters. There will be 8 of the thrusters and from what I’ve read, they put out 15,000 pounds of thrust each. It might require too much modification to use older vehicles for the test. Plus, it could be difficult to install all of the new test instrumentation.
Yes, NASA has ordered a new Dragon cargo capsule for each of the flights it has paid for. SpaceX does intend to reuse at least some of these capsules on DragonLab missions.
the Cargo and Crew version of the Dragon capsule are essentially two separate vehicles based on a common pressure vessel design. the pressure vessel will be nearly the same, the most significant difference are the mounts for the Launch Abort Super Draco rockets on the crewed version. and they will look similar on the outside, but the interior layout of each is very different. the cargo version of the Dragon has cargo racks on every wall and has no life support systems, for example.
No-one (outside SpaceX) has yet seen a DragonRider. However, it is more likely is that Dragon v1 (currently called cargo Dragon) will disappear and be replaced by Dragon 2 (i.e. DragonRider). The aim is to land Dragon propulsively on land, in the hope of increasing “the tempo” of missions. Manufacturing one vehicle configuration is also in keeping with the SpaceX philosophy of common architectures to eliminate costs associated with multiple production lines. Also, the current Dragon does have a life support system, albeit presumably not sufficient for 7 human passengers; so a uprated system will probably be needed.
Elon Musk has stated that Dragon2 looks quite a lot different to the present version – “like a real alien spaceship”. As for the “mounts” for the propulsive landing system (dual missioned as launch escape), we all wait with giddy anticipation. Like F9 and F9v1.1, the “new” Dragon will be substantially improved, yet based on the current design. He has also stated an intention to use cargo delivery missions to mature the new system before human passengers are carried.
SpaceX has posted pictures of several of the pressure vessels they currently have made and are working on on the factory floor, including the Dragons for the next 4 CRS missions and the pad abort and air drop tests. it’s based on that that i note there are only minor differences to the pressure vessel.
http://www.spacex.com/news/…
whether or not SpaceX continues to make cargo Dragons is up to them, but based on their past actions of discontinuing the Falcon 1 and the previous version of the Falcon 9, you’re probably right.
as i understand it, the cargo Dragon has an air circulation system, but not a life support or air scrubbing system.
given the impending nature of the pad abort test, i’d anticipate we get the debut of the DragonRider before the end of the year. perhaps a thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, or a Christmas present to all the fans of SpaceX.
Well, I can understand why they save the first few of them! I mean, they have one hanging from the ceiling near their Mission Control/Lunch Pad area in the factory. There is one that they use for showing off at conventions, etc. It wouldn’t surprise me if one ended up in the Smithsonian as well1
But yeah, eventually they are going to have to start reusing them 🙂
they can re-use them for BA-Alpha and later, BA-Bravo.
dbooker:
NASA actually asked SpaceX to fly new Dragons on each cargo flight to the ISS. Maybe it was an issue about having reliable spacecraft while allowing SpaceX to reuse the cargo Dragons for Dragon Lab or other customers. That way, SpaceX can develop reusability without risking mission success for the ISS. NASA is awfully picky about crew safety for the ISS and rightly so. That said, SpaceX cleared the highest bar first so the high standards NASA sets will be applied to the whole SpaceX program.
tinker