NASA and commercial industry partners Boeing and SpaceX are making significant advances in preparing to launch our astronauts from U.S. soil for the first time since the space shuttle’s retirement in 2011. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights from 2018 to this point.
On the International Space Station, the crew aboard continues preparations for new visiting spacecraft. In June, astronauts installed a high-definition camera to assist with the docking of Boeing and SpaceX’s capsules as they approach for docking.
Meanwhile, on the ground, significant progress continues to take place for Boeing and SpaceX in final preparations for flight testing. Both companies have several spacecraft and rockets in various stages of production. Teams have practiced interfacing with the spacecraft, and rehearsed launch countdown and landing procedures, as well as emergency scenarios both at the launch pad and in flight.
With the upcoming flights to begin from Boeing and SpaceX, final rounds of crew and mission support practice, qualification tests, and simulations of multiple mission scenarios, serve to bring us on the doorstep of America’s next great chapter in space flight.
Learn more about the exciting work that both companies have done thus far in 2018, at https://go.nasa.gov/2LH1K17