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Crew Dragon and the Shape of Things to Come


Mallette

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Reportedly the ‘crew dragon’ will completely gut the Soviet manned space program that relies on older technology. Russia charges big $$ to fly foreign astronauts to the space station and the fee for just one astronaut pays for the entire launch/recovery. Once SpaceX takes away that income Russia’s antiquated space program is kaput. Should be interesting.

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1 hour ago, Bosco-d-gama said:

Once SpaceX takes away that income Russia’s antiquated space program is kaput. Should be interesting.

Probably correct, but they are quite good at space and may respond with new tech of their own. 

Dave

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7 hours ago, Mallette said:

Probably correct, but they are quite good at space and may respond with new tech of their own. 

Dave

Considering that Russia has no irons in the fire getting to ‘b’ from ‘a’ would be a huge expense and undertaking. At best they might steal the technology but developing same would still be many years and $billions away. They could try transferring technology from their military programs but that would get them ‘faster’ not reusable. Methinx China is better positioned for this stuff than Russia. If the planet can avoid war these will be some exciting times. That’s a big ‘if’..........

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17 minutes ago, Bosco-d-gama said:

If the planet can avoid war these will be some exciting times. That’s a big ‘if’..........

Agreed. I don't think folks realize the potential. Russia has an iron in the fire...national pride. They claim many firsts, some fact, some fantasy, and will spend as readily to maintain national pride as on defense. Don't write them off...they have a LOT more experience than the Chinese in space and, as with us, they can take on as much sovereign debt as required to do the job. But the Chinese have oceans of money and also a drive to dominate science...and commerce. And they will. At best, we all win. At worst, we all lose if any two spiral into war. We have enough pride and arrogance to do that, as do the other two. Let's hope for the best.

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Before we should loose track of the impetus of this topic, we may well relegate self to the existence of time and the relativity of such to recognize the progress that is made by space exploration even, on a local scale. Speculative debate may continue yet, we must take advantage of the proven entrepreneurial spirit which exists in the pioneers amongst us. Some of us may well realize these ambitions

in our lifetime. It is with welcome benefit to mankind that I speak to these and alike subjects. Private enterprise in the end product, should cost you little to nothing for the actual worth.

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On 3/7/2019 at 2:27 PM, Mallette said:

What a beautiful ship! Half the price and off the ground first compared to Boeings Apollo 2.0 effort. Of course, still glad to have the Boeing Starliner coming as we can't have too many crewed spacecraft options. Crew Dragon 7 person capable and with printed engines, no less. It was, and remains, ground landing capable but Elon has decided that since NASA really doesn't care SpaceX won't develop it farther and will concentrate on Starship. As with the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy Lift, Crew Dragon is largely just another step toward his goal of reaching Mars sooner and in a bigger way. 

Starship has paying customers for a 2023 lunar circumnavigation. They will have a LOT of room and many windows to view the sights from as it's designed for up to a 100 passengers. It will be interesting to see if Musk pursues use as an Earth point A to point B ship. Certainly possible but it's also not core business as, unless it generated a LOT of money really fast, wouldn't get him to Mars faster which is his focus. Of course, other investors such as those pursuing Hyperloop may do so. The two big players there are moving along much faster than anticipated. NBC News reports that Virgin Hyperloop One hopes to begin testing full-sized hyperloop systems in 2021 and then to build hyperloops in the United Arab Emirates and India, among other countries. The company is also conducting feasibility studies for routes in Missouri and Colorado. Musk’s Boring Company has received a permit to begin excavating a possible hyperloop station in Washington, D.C. And Hyperloop Transportation Technologies is carrying out a feasibility study for a hyperloop linking Chicago and Cleveland and is considering routes in Europe, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.

 

Right now, the first system looks like it will be in India. It will be designed to be virtually on demand in that the main tube will have units moving at speed at all times and when one is summoned the nearest one will move into a siding tube for the pickup. This will greatly increase efficiency over any existing or currently being developed mass transit concept. 

BFR_passing_the_Moon.jpg

SpaceX_Crew_Dragon_(More_cropped).jpg

180307-hyperloop-transportation-technologies-se-433p_f7076f6f8837999b2a845bafc3f843dc.fit-2000w.jpg

It was very exciting to see that launch, and dock with ISS.

 

They are set to go in July.  Then they have to pass the safety review, whiskey and weed apparently didn't set to well with NASA.

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.space.com/amp/42594-nasa-chief-spacex-boeing-safety-review.html

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