SpaceX is ramping up its rocket launches, with plans to send a four-person crew to the International Space Station this week. The Crew-7 mission, which will be SpaceX’s 11th astronaut flight, is set to deliver NASA commander Jasmin Moghbeli, European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov to the ISS for a half-year stay.
Despite the company’s busy schedule of launching missions to deploy Internet satellites for its Starlink broadband network, SpaceX is paying special attention to crew missions. The company recently conducted a flight readiness review with NASA managers to address any potential issues that could affect the upcoming launch. Bill Gerstenmaier, SpaceX’s vice president of build and flight reliability, emphasized the importance of these crew missions and the trust placed in SpaceX to safely transport astronauts.
SpaceX has been setting new records with its launch rate, with the company’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets launching 81 times in the last year. It is on track to complete nearly 90 missions by the end of this year. Gerstenmaier stated that the company’s teams are capable of supporting launches from three pads simultaneously without overworking the workforce.
SpaceX has also proven its capabilities in payload mass, having launched over 447 metric tons in the first half of this year. This is nearly 10 times more than all Chinese rockets combined. Gerstenmaier noted that while SpaceX’s flights may appear trouble-free from an outsider’s perspective, every launch comes with its own challenges and opportunities for learning.
NASA and SpaceX officials confirmed during the flight readiness review that they were ready to proceed with preparations for the Crew-7 mission. They addressed technical concerns related to a drogue parachute and a valve failure on a Dragon cargo capsule. These issues have been resolved, allowing the mission to move forward.
The valve failure in particular resembled a similar problem faced by Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule, which has experienced delays and stuck valves. SpaceX has worked to address the valve issue on its Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft and has successfully tested and verified the functionality of the valves.
The lessons learned from investigating the valve issues on both Starliner and Dragon will inform future mitigation efforts. SpaceX and NASA are considering adding purge air to the propulsion system and other measures to prevent corrosion from occurring.
Gerstenmaier acknowledged that SpaceX’s frequent launches provide an opportunity for engineers to identify and resolve problems before they become more significant. The ability to closely monitor the hardware and test it in various environments contributes to the company’s continuous improvement.
Overall, SpaceX’s busy launch schedule is not only a testament to its capabilities but also an opportunity for growth and improvement. As the company prepares for the Crew-7 mission, it remains committed to ensuring the safety and success of its crewed missions.
