Photo: NASA via wikipedia
At the beginning of the month, the American space agency announced the names of the astronauts that will be climbing on board the SpaceX and Boeing space capsules. Last weekend, the people assigned to the Crew Dragon learned they might be pioneering a novel fueling technique.
Debate on whether the proposed SpaceX way, called load-and-go, is safe or not has been raging for a while. SpaceX uses liquid kerosene mixed with oxygen kept at super cold temperatures (-340 degrees Fahrenheit, -171 degrees Celsius) as fuel for its rockets. This allows for the rocket to carry more fuel as it occupies less space.
The temperatures at which the propellant is being kept would require the fuel to be loaded right before launch, with the astronauts on board. Any spark generated during this process could turn into a deadly explosion.
During the debate, former acting NASA administrator Robert Lightfoot said NASA would probably not have launched the Apollo missions had the working environment had been that of today.
On the other hand, Brent Jett Jr., member of NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, argued that “verifiable controls identified and implemented for the credible hazard causes” could make this option viable.
NASA officially announced over the weekend that it agrees with SpaceX and will be looking into fueling the rockets after the astronauts are on board.
“To make this decision, our teams conducted an extensive review of the SpaceX ground operations, launch vehicle design, escape systems and operational history,” said in a statement Kathy Lueders, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
“Safety for our personnel was the driver for this analysis, and the team’s assessment was that this plan presents the least risk.”
The space agency does leave a shadow of a doubt over their actual use of this method, saying final certification for the plan is still pending and more verification is required.
For SpaceX's Crew Dragon test flight, NASA assigned Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, both members of several Endeavour and Atlantis missions. The company's first mission, should the test be successful, will be flown by Victor Glover, at his first flight to space, and ISS veteran Michael Hopkins.
The temperatures at which the propellant is being kept would require the fuel to be loaded right before launch, with the astronauts on board. Any spark generated during this process could turn into a deadly explosion.
During the debate, former acting NASA administrator Robert Lightfoot said NASA would probably not have launched the Apollo missions had the working environment had been that of today.
On the other hand, Brent Jett Jr., member of NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, argued that “verifiable controls identified and implemented for the credible hazard causes” could make this option viable.
NASA officially announced over the weekend that it agrees with SpaceX and will be looking into fueling the rockets after the astronauts are on board.
“To make this decision, our teams conducted an extensive review of the SpaceX ground operations, launch vehicle design, escape systems and operational history,” said in a statement Kathy Lueders, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
“Safety for our personnel was the driver for this analysis, and the team’s assessment was that this plan presents the least risk.”
The space agency does leave a shadow of a doubt over their actual use of this method, saying final certification for the plan is still pending and more verification is required.
For SpaceX's Crew Dragon test flight, NASA assigned Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, both members of several Endeavour and Atlantis missions. The company's first mission, should the test be successful, will be flown by Victor Glover, at his first flight to space, and ISS veteran Michael Hopkins.
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