While NASA and its partners have suffered continuing launch failures as of late, we can now hope to enter an era of renewed optimism in spaceflight. The transition of traditional facilities to commercial use connotes literal and new horizons. NASA unveiled the new name of Boeing’s commercial crew transportation spacecraft, dubbed the CST-100 Starliner, in addition to current plans to refit Kennedy Space Center for more continuous transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
NEW PLANS FOR COMMERCIAL SPACEFLIGHT WITH BOEING’S STARLINER
Starliner, Boeing’s commercial crew transportation spacecraft, was designed with a focus on automated flight, reliable operation and frequent flights carrying NASA astronauts to the space station, according to NASA. Paying customers may also have the opportunity to experience the incredible heights of low-Earth orbit and the exclusive sensation of sustained weightlessness. NASA said they plan to launch the Starliner from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex-41 on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. The test version of the spacecraft will go through numerous tests until the first official pad abort test in 2017.
“One hundred years ago we were on the dawn of the commercial aviation era and today, with the help of NASA, we’re on the dawn of a new commercial space era,” said Boeing’s John Elbon, vice president and general manager of Space Exploration.
PAST FAILED LAUNCHES
If the thought of commercial spaceflight makes you worrisome, your fears are probably justified in the numerous failed launches NASA and its partners have experienced in the past. SpaceX’s recent June explosion of cargo headed for the ISS was likely caused by a faulty strut, which most believe should have been tested more carefully and efficiently. Thankfully, SpaceX said it will not be using these particular struts in any future flight applications, and will use additional hardware quality tests.
In 1998, the Mars Climate Orbiter disintegrated in Mars’ upper atmosphere before it had the chance to study the Martian climate, atmosphere and surface changes, as originally planned. The cause was due to ground-based computer software. The cause of the failure, facepalm-ingly elementary, was a momentary lapse of reason, during which calculations for atmospheric entry were input in metric, but output in non-SI units of pound-seconds instead of the metric newton-seconds, as specified in the contract between NASA and Lockheed. While these failed launches have cost NASA and its partners billions of dollars, they are steadfast in their resolve to ensure all hopes for future spaceflight plans are backed by absolutely meticulous rigor.
TRANSFORMING OLD FACILITIES INTO NEW OPPORTUNITIES
NASA has stated that the main mission for Boeing’s Starliner and the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft is to enhance American launch capabilities such that astronauts may reach the ISS with relative ease. Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program will call Kennedy Space Center home. Robert Cabana, Kennedy’s center director, said of this empasse, “I am proud of our success in transforming Kennedy Space Center into a 21st century, multi-user spaceport that is now capable of supporting the launch of all sizes and classes of vehicles, including horizontal launches from the Shuttle Landing Facility, and spacecraft processing and landing.” As we face our mistakes with scientific cogency, we will be better prepared for the future.
OUR CHILDREN MAY EXPLORE THE FINAL FRONTIER
