NASA should make alternative plans to ensure access to the International Space Station beyond 2018 because of further delays that are likely for SpaceX and Boeing Co. in certifying their astronaut transport capsules, according to a government watchdog report released Thursday.
The two companies are each building spacecraft that will ferry astronauts to the space station. The U.S. Government Accountability Office report predicted that despite plans to certify those capsules next year, that process is likely to slip to 2019.
Since the space shuttle program ended in 2011, the U.S. has relied on the Russian space agency to take astronauts to the space station. That contract is set to expire in spring 2019.
“If NASA does not develop a viable contingency plan for ensuring access to the ISS in the event of further Commercial Crew delays, it risks not being able to maximize the return on its multi-billion dollar investment in the space station,” the report states.
The GAO said both companies have “aggressive development schedules” that are “increasingly under pressure.” It cited several risks for each firm that could delay certification.
A top risk for Chicago-based Boeing is a possible need for more testing of the parachute system that helps the company’s capsule land.
Last March, Boeing had decreased the number of parachute system tests from six drop tests that examine the various forces on the capsule to one full-scale test that simulates all of the system’s attributes. After discussions with NASA's commercial crew program, Boeing increased the number of full-scale tests to five, with the option of an additional two if necessary.
The company said in a statement that it has tested its landing system over the last five years.
“While there will always be tremendous interest in key dates, providing astronauts with safe crew transportation to and from the International Space Station is our first and most important priority,” Boeing said.
A key risk for Hawthorne-based SpaceX is the potential for “unplanned design changes” to the company’s Falcon 9 rocket, the report said.
In 2015, SpaceX identified cracks in the turbines of its engine during qualification testing, and it later found additional cracks. Commercial crew program officials told SpaceX that the cracks were an “unacceptable” risk for human spaceflight. The company has already made design changes that, according to SpaceX officials, “did not result in any cracking during initial life testing,” the report said.
SpaceX did not have an immediate comment on the report.
SpaceX is planning to test fly its crew capsule without humans in November, while Boeing’s first test flight is slated for 2018. Both companies are planning for their first crewed test flights in 2018.
President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A powerful new storm is expected to wallop Southern California on Friday. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti says backers of Measure S are engaged in "dirty tricks." 16-year-old Mauricio Gomez is from El Salvador, a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world.
President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A powerful new storm is expected to wallop Southern California on Friday. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti says backers of Measure S are engaged in "dirty tricks." 16-year-old Mauricio Gomez is from El Salvador, a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world.
President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A powerful new storm is expected to wallop Southern California on Friday. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti says backers of Measure S are engaged in "dirty tricks." 16-year-old Mauricio Gomez is from El Salvador, a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world.
President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A powerful new storm is expected to wallop Southern California on Friday. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti says backers of Measure S are engaged in "dirty tricks." 16-year-old Mauricio Gomez is from El Salvador, a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world.
Kenneth Turan and Justin Chang chat about the 2017 Academy Awards, and which movie might win for best Picture.
Kenneth Turan and Justin Chang chat about the 2017 Academy Awards, and which movie might win for best Picture.
Harvard-Westlake wins 1A opener
Harvard-Westlake wins 1A opener
Even after Lake Oroville's water level is reduced by a targeted 50 feet, water managers intend to further drain the reservoir so that it can absorb major rain storms and spring snowmelt, according to state planning documents.
Even after Lake Oroville's water level is reduced by a targeted 50 feet, water managers intend to further drain the reservoir so that it can absorb major rain storms and spring snowmelt, according to state planning documents.
Russia denies that intelligence agents were in contact with Trump's campaign team. 100,000 people living downstream of the Oroville Dam are now allowed to go home. Enrique Marquez Jr. didn't take part in the San Bernardino shooting on Dec. 2, 2015. When the pastor at a Texas church urged his congregation to embrace refugees, 300 members left.
Russia denies that intelligence agents were in contact with Trump's campaign team. 100,000 people living downstream of the Oroville Dam are now allowed to go home. Enrique Marquez Jr. didn't take part in the San Bernardino shooting on Dec. 2, 2015. When the pastor at a Texas church urged his congregation to embrace refugees, 300 members left.
samantha.masunaga@latimes.com
@smasunaga
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