SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft was a success. Why does NASA continue to fund Boeing starships?

It is no exaggeration to say that space exploration technology company's dragon spacecraft

It is the best manned spacecraft in the United States at present;

At present, the dragon spacecraft has reached its peak.

Space exploration technology company has completed seven manned dragon spacecraft missions;

And Boeing's CST- 100 starship,

After a series of setbacks and failures,

So far, a successful unmanned flight test has not been completed.

Since space exploration technology's dragon boat is so successful,

Why not cut off Boeing's starship?

As soon as the two are compared,

Boeing's starline spacecraft is obviously the loser.

Why does NASA still need interstellar routes?

Let's analyze it in this issue.

First, the space shuttle retired, and NASA entered the era of commercial manned.

First of all, we have to understand,

How the Boeing Starline spacecraft project was born.

20 1 1 the end of the space shuttle project,

This forced NASA to rethink.

How to get astronauts into space;

Due to lack of determination and input,

When the space shuttle retired,

NASA has not yet found a mature alternative.

In the1990s and early 20th century,

NASA has started some projects to replace the space shuttle.

The most famous is the Constellation Project.

However, due to the high design cost,

However, there have also been some policy changes.

Even before the space shuttle retired, Constellation and other projects were dismounted.

NASA will also fund the construction of the International Space Station.

Develop new payload spacecraft and launch vehicles,

These projects are carried out simultaneously,

NASA didn't get the necessary policy and resource inclination.

NASA spends $3.5 billion annually to continue to operate the space shuttle;

In order to find the way to the International Space Station

Alternative methods of transporting goods and astronauts,

NASA has proposed a solution for the space industry.

NASA chose not to continue as Party A,

But as a user, buy services in the aerospace industry.

This move will open a brand-new industry.

In the long run,

The total cost of NASA will be reduced.

Instead of designing a new spacecraft for low earth orbit,

NASA chooses to purchase services from private commercial organizations;

As part of the commercial manned project,

NASA cooperates with Boeing Company and Space Exploration Technology Company respectively.

Signed two contracts for commercial manned spacecraft,

Develop interstellar manned spacecraft and dragon manned spacecraft respectively.

The development of both companies has been delayed to some extent.

Nearly nine years after the space shuttle retired,

The only way for NASA to get into space is

From the spacecraft of the Russian Federation

Spending hundreds of billions of dollars on seats.

In May 2020, Space Exploration Technology Company finally sent two astronauts to the space station.

And in June 2020 165438+ 10, the crew mission was officially launched.

Boeing is still far behind,

The starship is still in the unmanned test flight stage.

Secondly, the future is uncertain and NASA is in a dilemma.

Starship 20 19 12

An unsatisfactory unmanned test flight was carried out;

Due to a series of software design problems,

The Boeing spacecraft failed to dock with the International Space Station.

In 20021year, Boeing tried the second unmanned flight test mission again.

It was delayed again because of the problem of oxidant valve.

After more than two years of re-reading,

Boeing starline spacecraft will be launched on May 65, 2009.

Restart the Unmanned Flight Test (OFT-2).

However, even if the second test flight of the Boeing starline spacecraft is successful,

Its future is also quite uncertain;

Because with the retirement of ULA Cosmic God 5 rocket,

The development of the Vulcan rocket that launched it,

The naked eye is also dissatisfied.

In order to keep the starline spacecraft project going until now,

What's bothering NASA,

What are the reasons that have to be said behind this?

First of all, it is too late for NASA to quit now.

NASA has invested too much money,

Continue to maintain the existence of starships.

This is almost an irreversible choice.

This is certainly not NASA's pot,

Because a few years ago, no one would think

Elon musk's space exploration technology company can

Take the lead in manned space flight and beat Boeing.

Boeing, as a giant enterprise,

Its legendary story in the space field,

Can be traced back to more than a hundred years ago,

At every important moment of NASA's nearly 60 years,

Played an important role.

Space exploration technology company is a upstart in the space field.

Laughed at in the early stages of development,

Think that going into space is just

The delusion of billionaire Musk;

The critic commented.

Space Exploration Technologies makes rockets out of wax and rubber bands.

On 20 14, Russian Space Agency Director rogozin mocked NASA.

It is suggested that NASA use trampolines to launch astronauts.

Fortunately for NASA,

NASA has fixed-price contracts with Boeing and Space Exploration Technologies.

This means that any extra costs will be borne by the contractor.

Last year, Boeing announced that it had withdrawn $654.38+85 billion from its third-quarter earnings.

To pay for the cost overrun caused by the delay of the starship,

This makes the company from 20 19.

The starship's cash expenditure reached $595 million.

This means that in addition to the delay of receiving interstellar lines,

Will not bring additional economic expenses to NASA.

Space exploration technology company's dragon boat is guaranteed.

NASA didn't panic.

This year, NASA bought three manned dragon spacecraft from Space Exploration Technologies.

Increase the official crew mission of the space exploration technology company dragon spacecraft from 6 to 9.

This may even happen.

When Space Exploration Technology Company completed the scheduled six manned missions,

The starship hasn't made its first manned test flight.

Secondly, NASA can't stop its cooperation with Boeing.

The relationship between Boeing and NASA has a long history.

Boeing is a listed aerospace giant.

Since the establishment of 1958 National Aeronautics and Space Administration,

Boeing has always been a partner of NASA.

Boeing or a company acquired by Boeing

A space capsule was built to send Apollo astronauts to the moon.

Then the space shuttle was built,

Boeing has been NASA since 1993.

The preferred partner to participate in the construction of the International Space Station.

If we abort the starline spacecraft program,

Will hurt the relationship between NASA and Boeing,

Even other projects with Boeing,

NASA can only drink this cup of poison,

Continue to maintain the cooperative relationship with Boeing.

Finally, if the starship succeeds,

It can provide orbit control function for the International Space Station.

According to Rockdyne,

According to the project manager of the starline spacecraft service module,

The propulsion system of the starship can be used to improve the orbit of the space station.

The propulsion system of a starship includes different types.

Propeller with different functions.

* * * There are four escape engines, which can provide18t thrust;

And 24 orbital maneuvers and attitude control thrusters.

Each unit can provide 680 kilograms of thrust,

Can provide attitude control during escape,

Step separation and large orbit maneuver.

It also includes RCS of 28 reverse thrust systems,

Each unit provides 44 kilograms of thrust.

The functions of RCS include raising the height of the International Space Station,

Other large engines on the starship

Help to speed up the process of raising the height of the space station,

If the remaining fuel allows.

Even if other engines are not used,

The RCS of the starship is also enough to complete the lifting task.

This function is particularly important now.

Because after Russia was sanctioned in Ukraine,

It has been decided to withdraw from the International Space Station project within a few years.

At present, the propulsion system of the International Space Station includes

Russian cabins and Russian cargo ships were completed.

The propulsion system is mainly to raise the height of the space station.

Avoid debris, orbit change and derailment treatment.

At present, these actions are carried out by the Russian cabin.

The cargo ship moved forward.

American cabin provides daily attitude control,

That is, the direction of the space station;

Russian thrusters in some dynamic events

Will also be applied to attitude control,

These events include rendezvous and docking of spacecraft,

When the attitude control system in the United States reaches the control limit of unloading.

Boeing's starship is replacing the Russian cabin.

The best choice to solve these problems,

If it has these abilities.

However, all this must be based on

Boeing starline spacecraft completed basic manned flight.

And freight tasks.

Sometimes we need starships.

In order to raise the height of the International Space Station,

This is Boeing's claimed ability.

We hope Boeing's starship can work as soon as possible.

Boeing and NASA have no way out.

How to treat the fate of Boeing starline spacecraft?