NASA has certified the space capsule Crew Dragon from SpaqceX for regular manned flights into space, as the first privately manufactured spacecraft ever. The last time such a certification was granted was 40 years ago , at that time for the space shuttle, the US space agency now explains.

For Elon Musk and the company, the step is an important one Milestone. NASA is no longer dependent on ordering flights to the ISS for its astronauts in Russian space capsules and SpaceX is thus temporarily the only commercial NASA contract partner for manned flights into space.

No longer dependent on Russia With the certification, NASA can now implement its Commercial Crew Program after years of preparation. 2014 had commissioned the space agency SpaceX and Boeing to develop and test space capsules for manned flights in Earth orbit. This was preceded by the end of the space shuttle program, which is why the USA had no more opportunity since 2011 to fly astronauts into space themselves. Actually, the space capsules developed by the two companies should already 2017 be ready, but that had been delayed again and again. Rocket launch with heise online (First Kerbal, then SpaceX)

In May the first take-off was successful and the first regular flight with SpaceX technology is imminent. The bookings in Russia cost NASA around 71 million US dollars per Seat, at SpaceX it should be around 55 million dollars, writes CNBC.

At SpaceX, certification for regular flights is now seen as the culmination of years of development, testing and training. The engines have been tested over 700 times, the docking system over 500 Times. Eight million hours had flowed into HiL tests (Hardware in the Loop) and the parachutes were almost 100 Tried times. Manned flights into space are the core mission of SpaceX and it is honored to be able to help NASA usher in a new era of exploration of space. “I am very proud that we are returning to regular manned space launches from American soil with American rockets and spacecraft,” added NASA chief Jim Bridenstine.

First regular flight is pending The first regular flight of a SpaceX capsule to the ISS (Crew-1) is scheduled to start on Saturday and NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker and her Japanese colleague Soichi Noguchi. They should then stay on the International Space Station for six months. Thanks to the space capsule from SpaceX, NASA can now increase the number of its astronauts on the ISS from three to four, which means that seven space travelers can now inhabit the outpost of humanity at the same time. In December, Boeing plans to start another unmanned test flight to the ISS so that it can also fly astronauts there next year.

SpaceX Crew-1 (9 pictures)
The Crew Dragon before the start

(Image: NASA / Joel Kowsky) (mho)