April 7, 2018

Companies Test Spacecraft Parachutes as First Commercial Crew Flights Near (Source: SpaceFlight Insider)
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program has taken a step closer to crewed flights as the two prime contractors (Boeing and SpaceX) conduct the latest round of tests of their spacecraft parachute systems. The latest round of Boeing’s Starliner parachute tests occurred in February 2018 when a Boeing C-17 aircraft carried a dart-shaped test bed module and released it over Arizona, testing the flight drogue and main parachute system.

Two more tests are planned with the dart module. Boeing plans to conduct three reliability tests using a high-fidelity capsule simulator, which will precisely mimic the CST-100’s mass and aerodynamics. This will be accomplished using a helium balloon to lift the simulator to an altitude of over 30,000 feet (9,100 meters) and release it to evaluate parachute deployments as well as overall system performance.

The most recent SpaceX parachute test for its Crew Dragon spacecraft was conducted on March 4, 2018. A Lockheed C-130 aircraft carried the test vehicle to an altitude of 25,000 feet (7,620 meters) and dropped the test vehicle. In order to simulate an off-nominal situation, only one of the two drogue chutes deployed. Then a deployment stage was skipped on one of the four main parachutes. According to NASA, the objective of the test was to prove that the capsule could make a safe landing under such circumstances. (4/5)

NASA Announces Independent Review Board Members for James Webb Space Telescope (Source: NASA)
NASA has assembled members of an external Independent Review Board  for the agency’s  James Webb Space Telescope. The board will evaluate a wide range of factors influencing Webb’s  mission success and reinforce the agency’s approach to completing the final integration and testing phase, launch campaign, and commissioning for NASA’s next flagship space science observatory.

“We are exploring every aspect of Webb’s final testing and integration to ensure a successful mission, delivering on its scientific promise,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “This board’s input will provide a higher level of confidence in the estimated time needed to successfully complete the highly complex tasks ahead before NASA defines a specific launch time frame.”

The board, convened by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, includes individuals with extensive experience in program and project management, schedule and cost management, systems engineering, and the integration and testing of large and complex space systems, including systems with science instrumentation, unique flight hardware, and science objectives similar to Webb. The Independent Review Board review process will take approximately eight weeks. (4/6)