NASA is targeting March 2 for launch of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon on its uncrewed Demo-1 test flight. Boeing’s uncrewed Orbital Flight Test is targeted for launch no earlier than April.
Extra time was needed to complete hardware testing, data verification, remaining NASA and provider reviews, and training of flight controllers and mission managers.
In January, SpaceX successfully completed a static fire test of its Falcon 9 with Crew Dragon atop the rocket at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in Florida, in preparation for Demo-1.
Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner continues to undergo testing in preparation for its Orbital Flight Test, and United Launch Alliance is conducting final processing of the Atlas V rocket that will launch Starliner from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
New Flight Planning Dates
SpaceX Demo-1 (uncrewed): March 2, 2019
Boeing Orbital Flight Test (uncrewed): NET April 2019
Boeing Pad Abort Test: NET May 2019
SpaceX In-Flight Abort Test: June 2019
SpaceX Demo-2 (crewed): July 2019
Boeing Crew Flight Test (crewed): NET August 2019
Dragon 2 Features
The SpaceX Dragon 2 will be partly reusable. SpaceX expects ten flights are possible before significant vehicle refurbishing is needed.
It will have a payload capacity of 3,307 kilograms (7,291 lb) Cargo Dragon 2. It will be able to carry seven astronauts.
It will use four main parachutes for water landing when returning from space.
SpaceX could develop propulsive landing using the SuperDraco engines. However, propulsive landing capability has not been funded and there is no current plan to use rockets on the return.
The Dragon 2 has a SpaceX-developed SPAM backshell and an updated third-generation PICA-X heat shield.
Prior Success With a Static Fire
Static fire test complete—targeting February launch from historic Launch Complex 39A for Crew Dragon’s first demonstration flight! pic.twitter.com/sJF24U3UOM
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 25, 2019
SOURCES- NASA, SpaceX
Written By Brian Wang. Nextbigfuture
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.
All the military has to do to take over and revive Venezuela’s economy is start a protection racket on property rights — including the socialized property of the government — charging rent on the liquidation value as established by the highest escrowed bids deposited with the military, with the high bid exempted from rent. Then distribute the rent evenly to all of its members to do with as they will. The militia members, acting individually, will quickly deliver social goods to the needy in their respective locales and collectively will do everything in their power to maximize the value of property.
Who, exactly, is saying nice things about Saudis?
That’s my point. If he doesn’t have the resources to even keep that elite well fed so they do the brutal suppression, that is when he loses power.
That is the thing about socialism, in it’s truest form it creates such a stark division between the haves and the have not’s, and when the have not’s roughly double the number of have’s than the tipping point is reached and a coupe is soon to follow.
So open revolt with national guard support == clickbait?
NBF made a prediction about this happening and took flak from some members over the prediction.
All Putin’s horses and all Putin’s men
Couldn’t put Venezuela back together again
History has dozens, if not hundreds, of examples of brutal leadership that holds to power for years, decades, sometimes centuries, despite not having enough resources to keep more than a tiny elite well fed and happy.
It just doesn’t work out according to simple equations.
Never should have let the Russians establish an air base there.
So has Maduro run out of funds to pay thugs to suppress the opposition? That is when an autocrat gets overthrown. See “The Dictators Handbook”.
I am not right wing, just old. I consider myself progressive but I have a low tolerance for bull snot.
Great comment, but the use of snowflakes puts you right in there with them 🙂
I had to look it up, RWNJ. For those interested it stands for Right Wing Nut Job. I’ll just continue to call both right and left wing nut jobs snowflakes.
Yep, I got you not_a_rwnj. 🙂
Quote Article
” but by then protests had died down and millions of Venezuelans had left the country”
Support dictators, just bring all the unhappy population to the United States.
The dictator loves that because no one is left oppose him. The emigrants love it because they do not have to stand up for their freedom, just move to a country where the citizens have already paid for their freedom with their own blood.