NASA And SpaceX Prepare For Historic Sixth Reflight Of Crew Dragon Spacecraft!

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SpaceX, in collaboration with NASA, is preparing for a significant advancement within the Commercial Crew Program. The upcoming Crew 11 mission will see the Crew Dragon spacecraft undertake its sixth flight. Notably, this mission will feature the Crew Dragon Endeavor, which previously marked SpaceX’s inaugural crewed spaceflight.

Innovations in Crew Dragon: New Heat Shield Developed by SpaceX and NASA

During a recent press briefing, Steve Stich, NASA’s program manager for the Commercial Crew Program, announced important enhancements in preparation for the Crew Dragon’s historic sixth launch to the International Space Station (ISS).He highlighted that new Drogue 3.1 parachutes have been developed to enhance safety, specifically by fortifying the parachute’s crown for improved landings.

The Crew 11 mission stands out as SpaceX’s fifth Dragon mission planned for 2025 and its fourth human spaceflight endeavor this year. Both NASA and SpaceX are actively working on the certification process for the spacecraft, aiming to finalize approval for 15 flights while extending mission durations up to eight months.“SpaceX conducted testing on numerous components to ensure they can withstand up to 15 flights, ”the NASA official stated.

Stich elaborated that while many components have achieved clearance for 15 flights, a few remain limited to just six flights. Key structural elements still pending certification include certain weldment structures and the tubing that transfers helium from its tanks to the propellant tanks.

Crew Dragon for SpaceX's Fram2 mission — The Crew Dragon utilized for SpaceX’s Fram2 mission earlier this year. Image: SpaceX

Sarah Walker, SpaceX’s director of Dragon Mission Management, provided further insights regarding the Crew 11 mission. She noted that the Crew Dragon will be transported to the fueling facility shortly before moving to the hangar. In terms of certification for the 15-flight goal, Walker indicated that 70% of the spacecraft’s components will be fully certified for 15 flights, while the remaining components will receive certifications spanning from six to 15 flights. The target is to achieve “100% qualification”for demonstrating these 15 flights.

Additionally, Stich discussed the advancements in the new heat shield designed for the Crew Dragon. He described it as a large composite component, noting that the earlier shield’s complex manufacturing process, particularly due to the laminate structure and bonded splices, posed significant challenges in achieving the necessary strength. The newly designed heat shield is expected to enhance the spacecraft’s landing capabilities with improved structural integrity and easier manufacturing processes, as explained by the NASA official.

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