SpaceX set to surpass Gemini 11's altitude record with Polaris Dawn mission
- Reference: 1724174950
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/08/20/spacex_polaris_dawn/
- Source link:
The private mission led by Shift4 CEO Jared Isaacman represents the furthest humans have ventured from Earth since the days of the Apollo program. The plan is to launch Isaacman and his three fellow astronauts in a Crew Dragon spacecraft to a 190 x 1,200 km orbit. The Dragon's Draco thrusters will then raise the orbit to 190 x 1,400 km, surpassing that of Gemini 11, before the orbit is lowered to 190 x 700 km for the first commercial spacewalk.
The mission is expected to last five days, and if all goes according to plan, it will take place as NASA finally decides what to do with Boeing's Starliner and whether its crew should also join the ranks of SpaceX astronauts.
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The objectives for the mission are to grab that Earth-Orbit altitude record for humans, then perform a commercial spacewalk with SpaceX-designed Extravehicular Activity (EVA) spacesuits, perform a first test of laser-based Starlink communications on a human spaceflight, and finally undertake several experiments for partner institutions.
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The trip carries risks. At 1,400 km up, the spacecraft and its occupants will be exposed to a higher radiation environment than the International Space Station (ISS).
While the orbit will be lowered to 190 x 700 km for the spacewalk, exiting the capsule is inherently dangerous, not least because this will be the first time the SpaceX EVA suit has been used in this environment, but also because since the Crew Dragon does not have an airlock, the cabin will need to be depressurized before the spacewalkers can venture outside.
[4]SpaceX tries to wash away Texas pollution allegations
[5]Before we put half a million broadband satellites in orbit, anyone want to consider environmental effects?
[6]NASA mulls using SpaceX in 2025 to rescue Starliner pilots stuck on space station
[7]NASA pushes back missions to the ISS to buy time for Starliner analysis
SpaceX's EVA spacesuit is an evolution from the Intravehicular Activity (IVA) suit, with good mobility and new thermal management textiles and materials that have seen action on the Falcon interstage and Dragon's trunk.
The trunk of the Dragon spacecraft has proved surprisingly – and inconveniently for those on the ground – durable. A large chunk that survived reentry was [8]found in Australia two years ago, and other bits and pieces have made it back to Earth intact in the months since. [9]In a July briefing , SpaceX said it would be moving Dragon recovery back to the US West Coast and have Dragon jettison its trunk after the de-orbit burn takes place.
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Isaacman said that Polaris Dawn would be the first of three Polaris missions. Polaris II will build upon the lessons of Polaris Dawn, and Polaris III will be the first human spaceflight using SpaceX's Starship.
Isaacman [11]said Starship "could very well be the 737 for human spaceflight someday, but it'll certainly be the vehicle that will return humans to the Moon." ®
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[4] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/13/spacex_snaps_back_over_texas/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/12/starlink_spacex_environment_review/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/07/nasa_spacex_starliner_boeing/
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[9] https://www.spacex.com/updates/
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[11] https://x.com/PolarisProgram/status/1825574717232652531
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Re: Eh?
Not really. For the Dragon the only things carried by the trunk are solar panels and radiators, everything else is in the capsule. That's in stark contrast to the Starliner and Orion capsules which do have a traditional service module containing a lot of the (very expensive) equipment required. eg Starliner is having trouble with the thrusters on its service module, there aren't any on the Dragon trunk.
Bad choice of comparison
Isaacman said Starship "could very well be the 737 for human spaceflight someday, but it'll certainly be the vehicle that will return humans to the Moon."
Yeah... Maybe don't mention the 737, even if intending to mean the old one that changed passenger air travel, it has unfortunate connections with wanting to land itself aggressively, parts coming off, and poor build quality.
I get the idea, but yeah.
Re: Bad choice of comparison
"land itself aggressively"
I think you are referring to Lithospheric Braking.
Re: Bad choice of comparison
People remember the crashes, but the 737 is an extremely safe vehicle.
Re: Bad choice of comparison
"Yeah... Maybe don't mention the 737, even if intending to mean the old one that changed passenger air travel, it has unfortunate connections with wanting to land itself aggressively, parts coming off, and poor build quality."
So far, Starship has had issues with engines not working or powerful enough when they are, parts flying off and melting when re-entering the atmosphere. Oh, going boom as been a problem too. Nothing has been discussed or reveled concerning an escape system and there's been no concept drawings for interiors from SpaceX (lots from others). It's getting less likely by the day that Starship will be the vehicle to take astronauts from lunar orbit to the moon's surface and back up. It's never been slated to take people from Earth to the moon.
Re: Bad choice of comparison
You mean like it was getting less likely by the day that SpaceX would be able to land a booster and reuse it...
Starship is still in that period of finding out what works and what does not. Since they're trying to do things that have literally never been done before, I'm cutting them a bit of slack to keep trying.
Edit: I have a strong feeling that "catch a huge booster with a pair of 'chopsticks'" is not a viable plan, but I'm willing to buy the popcorn and watch.
You sound like Congress when anything fails at NASA, which is the reason NASA is terrified to actually try anything new these days.
Could we please send Musk too? One way.
You can sell him a return ticket. The back flight is as credit worthy as he is.
Eh?
The trunk of the Dragon spacecraft has proved surprisingly – and inconveniently for those on the ground – durable.
Am I missing something?
Does"trunk" mean what we used to call the service module?