Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Tour of Boeing's CST-100 Spaceliner to LEO
Phys.Org ^ | 06-13-2014 | by Ken Kremer

Posted on 06/13/2014 2:00:06 PM PDT by Red Badger

On Monday, June 9, Boeing revealed the design of their CST-100 astronaut spaceliner aimed at restoring Americas ability to launch our astronauts to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and the International Space Station (ISS) by 2017.

The full scale CST-100 mockup was unveiled at an invitation only ceremony for Boeing executives and media held inside a newly renovated shuttle era facility at the Kennedy Space Center where the capsule would start being manufactured later this year.

The CST-100 is a privately built manrated capsule being developed with funding from NASA under the auspices of the agency's Commercial Crew Program (CCP) in a public/private partnership between NASA and private industry.

The vehicle will be assembled inside the refurbished processing hangar known during the shuttle era as Orbiter Processing Facility-3 (OPF-3). Boeing is leasing the site from Space Florida.

Boeing is one of three American aerospace firms vying for a NASA contract to build an American 'space taxi' to ferry US astronauts to the space station and back as soon as 2017.

The SpaceX Dragon and Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser are also receiving funds from NASA commercial crew program.

NASA will award one or more contracts to build Americas next human rated spaceship in August or September.

Since the forced shutdown of NASA's Space Shuttle program following its final flight in 2011, US astronauts have been 100% dependent on the Russians and their cramped but effective Soyuz capsule for rides to the station and back – at a cost exceeding $70 million per seat.

Chris Ferguson, the final shuttle commander for NASA's last shuttle flight (STS-135) now serves as director of Boeing's Crew and Mission Operations.

Ferguson and the Boeing team are determined to get Americans back into space from American soil with American rockets.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: space

Boeing’s commercial CST-100 ‘Space Taxi’ will carry a crew of five astronauts to low Earth orbit and the ISS from US soil. Mockup with astronaut mannequins seated below pilot console and Samsung tablets was unveiled on June 9, 2014 at its planned manufacturing facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer

Hatch opening to Boeing’s commercial CST-100 crew transporter. Credit: Ken Kremer

Boeing unveiled full scale mockup of their commercial CST-100 ‘Space Taxi’ on June 9, 2014 at its intended manufacturing facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The private vehicle will launch US astronauts to low Earth orbit and the ISS from US soil. Credit: Ken Kremer


1 posted on 06/13/2014 2:00:06 PM PDT by Red Badger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

It’s just like the Apollo era command module. Isn’t this a step backwards?

CC


2 posted on 06/13/2014 2:08:13 PM PDT by Celtic Conservative (tease not the dragon for thou art crunchy when roasted and taste good with ketchup)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Celtic Conservative
"It’s just like the Apollo era command module. Isn’t this a step backwards?"

Frankly, yes it is.
The Space Shuttle was a fantastic flying machine and another newer, safer design for another Shuttle should be implemented.

3 posted on 06/13/2014 2:14:08 PM PDT by StormEye
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Celtic Conservative

Exactly. We did this in the late 60’s.


4 posted on 06/13/2014 2:16:03 PM PDT by Rebelbase (Tagline: optional, printed after your name on post)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Celtic Conservative

ya , back to spam in a can


5 posted on 06/13/2014 2:17:13 PM PDT by molson209 (Blank)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Using this regression of space travel as an example, if the government were in charge of development of flight we should be changing back to propeller driven planes by now.


6 posted on 06/13/2014 2:17:55 PM PDT by Rebelbase (Tagline: optional, printed after your name on post)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: StormEye

Yep, take everything we learned from the space shuttles and apply it to a new vehicle.


7 posted on 06/13/2014 2:19:02 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Haven't you lost enough freedoms? Support an end to the WOD now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

if we did that we’d still appear like the last superpower. barack the destroyer can’t have that happen.


8 posted on 06/13/2014 2:22:24 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Celtic Conservative

All things old are new again.


9 posted on 06/13/2014 2:28:16 PM PDT by coon2000 (Give me Liberty or give me death!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Here's the Orion Module.

Yeah, it's the same shape as the Boeing and the Apollo, but it really does have capabilities quite in advance of the Apollo.

10 posted on 06/13/2014 2:33:41 PM PDT by fishtank (The denial of original sin is the root of liberalism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Celtic Conservative
"It’s just like the Apollo era command module. Isn’t this a step backwards?"

Perhaps, but then, the shuttle turned out not to be cost effective. A reusable "do everything" vehicle simply can't compete with simpler, cheaper, specialized yet "cookie-cutter" equipment designed from the ground up for one particular type of mission (such as a low orbit taxi for astronauts).

11 posted on 06/13/2014 2:34:09 PM PDT by Da Bilge Troll (Defeatism is not a winning strategy!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

Imagine the design the affirmative-action gov run NASA would come up with. Just the thought...


12 posted on 06/13/2014 2:34:32 PM PDT by Wavy_Wally
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Seven person MAX capacity?

What will OSHA say if they have to use this to rescue 8 persons at the ISS?


13 posted on 06/13/2014 2:53:00 PM PDT by Cletus.D.Yokel (Catastrophic Anthropogenic Climate Alteration: The acronym explains the science.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

1. This is a model, not real hardware, and 2. Spacex looks well ahead of this.


14 posted on 06/13/2014 2:55:19 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Celtic Conservative
It’s just like the Apollo era command module. Isn’t this a step backwards?

They have gone back to the teardrop shape due to reliability reasons and experience with the shuttle, but at least Spacex puts legs on it and has it return powered.

15 posted on 06/13/2014 3:02:00 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Hmmm...tablets. I wonder if they can watch Netflix while enroute?


16 posted on 06/13/2014 3:23:49 PM PDT by Sergio (An object at rest cannot be stopped! - The Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

What if Putin won’t allow anymore of us back on the space station?


17 posted on 06/13/2014 5:07:17 PM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
BFD!

It looks like Boeing's approach is to "go on the cheap" by sacrificing crew comfort and safety during acceleration -- in a second-hand Apollo Command module -- with toy avionics...

No wonder they used mannikins: no human could stay in those padless torture racks long enough to make the photos -- @ one gee!

Has any engineer here ever seen such an outlandish "******-rig"?

18 posted on 06/13/2014 5:10:01 PM PDT by TXnMA ("Allah": Satan's current alias... "Barack": Allah's current ally...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TXnMA

It is a mockup meant to provide an overall idea of the design.


19 posted on 06/16/2014 6:06:06 AM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson