GENERAL AVIATION 34 CLIMATE CHANGE 26 COMMERCIAL CREW 12 Keeping the joy of fl ying Why scientists trust temp records Sizing up the differences

VIRTUAL TRAVEL Why immersive techs could now be part of air travel forever PAGE 18

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | A publication of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics | aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org ANALYSIS COMMERCIAL SPACEFLIGHT Shopping for a spaceship

12 | JULY/AUGUST 2020 | aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org Now that SpaceX has proven it can launch NASA to the International Space Station, Boeing is preparing for its turn, likely early next year. When astronauts climb inside Star- liner, space enthusiasts and casual viewers alike will notice some differences that could help future passengers decide which capsule they’d rather book for a trip to space.

BY CAT HOFACKER | [email protected]

or those accustomed to erected. NASA’s goal has been to spark creation of a launches and those of the Apollo era, the competitive human launch market, and that can’t fi rst SpaceX crewed mission was simulta- happen unless Boeing establishes its CST-100 Starliner neously familiar and totally new. capsules as a viable competitor to the Crew Dragons. NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and To do that, Boeing must try again to dock an FDoug Hurley walked out of uncrewed Starliner to the station, after the first in on the way to the launch pad on May 30 demonstration attempt in December, called OFT for through the same doorway as the Apollo and space orbital fl ight test, was aborted in orbit. A software shuttle crews before them, but did so donned in coding error caused the Mission Elapsed Time clock sleek white and black suits instead of the puffy white to start too early, which threw out of sync the planned suits of Apollo or the neon orange ascent suits of orbital insertion burn needed to put Starliner on the the shuttle era. They were the latest in a long line of path to intersect with the space station. Boeing had astronauts to traverse to Launch Complex 39A, but no choice but to order the capsule home without the fi rst to make the 14-kilometer trek in a zippy Tesla doing the burn. NASA and Boeing have said only Model X. And when they stepped into the SpaceX that the second uncrewed fl ight will be later this Crew Dragon capsule, they were greeted by three year, which likely pushes the fi rst Starliner crewed glossy touch screens, a sharp contrast to the array fl ight to 2021. of buttons and switches on the shuttle fl ight deck. “This really does illustrate the advantage of These technology choices exemplify the begin- having two partners,” Phil McAlister, NASA’s di- ning of what NASA Administrator rector of commercial spacefl ight, told the Human called a “new era in human spacefl ight.” Design Exploration and Operations Committee of NASA’s decisions were entirely up to SpaceX, as long as they Advisory Council in May. “Knowing there is another met NASA’s requirements for crew safety. SpaceX owns partner there to take up the slack allows for both the Crew Dragon that’s docked at station and due to companies to focus on crew safety.” carry Behnken and Hurley home in August; it built Both designs must prove their safety, so analysts the that boosted them; and it leases Pad 39A and former astronauts suspect that other factors, from NASA. Over the course of NASA’s $8.2 billion such as the capsule interior and spacesuit designs, Commercial Crew development program ($3.14 will be powerful determinants for the kinds of billion of which went to SpaceX), NASA astronauts customers who are likely to choose each of the An artist’s rendering were invited to sit in a mockup of Crew Dragon and competing capsules. of the SpaceX Crew give feedback, but neither they nor NASA had veto “People will sign up with SpaceX who are more Dragon and fl ying toward authority. SpaceX did have to convince NASA that on the ‘showy’ side of things because that’s more the International all safety risks were acceptable from the pad to the of a headliner,” predicts Laura Forczyk, founder of Space Station. station. This was accomplished through extensive space consulting fi rm Astralytical in Georgia. “Boe- NASA testing of the capsule, including parachutes; the ing has the more traditional [customer set], other addition of launch abort engines that could whisk government agencies who want to fl y astronauts.” the astronauts away from a fi zzling or exploding Boeing declined to discuss this or other issues, launch vehicle provided further assurance, as did a citing the need to focus on preparations for the sec- 2019 uncrewed fl ight in which Dragon autonomously ond uncrewed fl ight, dubbed OFT-2. A spokesman fl ew and docked with the International Space Station. directed me to previous comments by Jim Chilton, Soon, if all goes as planned, NASA, the space head of Boeing’s Space and Launch division. agencies of other governments and someday private “Boeing stands ready to repeat an OFT,” Chilton customers will choose how they want to ride to ISS told reporters during a March press conference. “We or any of the proposed private stations still to be just want to make sure that whatever we fl y next is

aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org | JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 13 aligned with NASA’s preferences. And of course, for Starliner crews will don for launch and landing all of us, crew safety is No. 1.” exemplify these approaches. Along with meeting NASA’s requirements for a Different philosophies fl ame-resistant suit that would also protect crew in The Crew Dragon and Starliner designs are signifi cant the event of a cabin depressurization, SpaceX founder upgrades from that of the Apollo-era capsules and wanted a garment that looked stylish. space shuttle orbiters in terms of safety, software “He’s trying to get the entire world excited about a and reusability. Both vehicles are designed to fly hopeful, promising future in space for all of humanity, autonomously from launch to docking, although and to do that, it’s got to look good,” Reisman says. the spacecraft commander can intervene if there’s a “People are going to get excited about a future that technical failure. Boeing will alternate between two not only is cool but also looks cool.” Starliner capsules, each intended to fl y up to 10 times To meet this goal, Musk enlisted Hollywood cos- after refurbishment. The size of the Crew Dragon fl eet tume designer José Fernández in 2016 to create the is still unclear because until May, NASA had required fi rst prototypes. From there, SpaceX designers tweaked that SpaceX use a new capsule for every fl ight. the suits to balance aesthetics and functionality. Where these spacecraft diverge is the underlying The Boeing suits, by contrast, were made by David philosophy guiding their development. Clark Co. of Massachusetts, the same company that “I think the big difference is that SpaceX paid made the Gemini, Apollo and space shuttle suits. attention to the look of the design as part of the Boeing set out to create a lighter, more compact engineering process,” says , a former garment than those earlier suits. Designers relied NASA who worked at SpaceX from 2011 on feedback from former NASA astronaut Chris to 2018 and was in charge of Crew Dragon design Ferguson, hired by Boeing in 2012 as director of crew Boeing, NASA and and development. He remains a senior adviser on and mission systems for Starliner. Ferguson will join U.S. Army personnel tend topics relating to human spacefl ight. NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Mike Fincke for to the Boeing CST-100 In contrast, Boeing opted for upgrades, not an the capsule’s crewed demonstration. Starliner spacecraft after overhaul, of “fl ight proven and heritage” technol- The Crew Dragon and Starliner suits, each of it landed in New Mexico in December following an ogies where possible, to cut down on schedule and which will be custom-made for crew members, uncrewed Orbital Flight risk to the crew, according to the Boeing website. both weigh in at 9 kilograms, compared to the Test that was cut short. The two distinct suits that Dragon and 13.6-kilogram shuttle suit. The reduction NASA/Bill Ingalls

14 | JULY/AUGUST 2020 | aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org Choose your ride Boeing and SpaceX aren’t just competing to liberate NASA from relying on Russian Soyuz capsules. They’re vying against each other for future customers. Here are some differences, large and small.

BOEING CST-100 STARLINER

Launch vehicle: Atlas Spacesuits: Designed by Transport to launch pad: Flight deck displays: Two Getting home: Descend V from United Launch David Clark Co., maker Astronauts will ride aboard iPad-sized screens that under three parachutes to Alliance, a joint venture of the Gemini, Apollo and the Astrovan II, a custom display fl ight information; one of fi ve ranges in the of Boeing and Lockheed space shuttle suits. NASA vehicle manufactured by about 70 buttons and southwestern U.S.; Martin. astronaut Chris Ferguson Airstream, the company that switches for inputting com- cushioned by airbags. Launch pad: Space Launch was hired in part to give built the original Astrovan mands, though spacecraft Complex 41, leased by ULA input. that took shuttle crews to can fl y autonomously. from the U.S. Air . Special features: Soft-shell the launch pad. Manual fl ying: Steering two helmet that zips instead of joysticks. latches; touch-screen gloves.

SPACEX CREW DRAGON

Launch vehicle: SpaceX Spacesuits: Made in-house Transport to launch pad: Flight deck displays: Three Getting home: Descend Falcon 9. by SpaceX with input from Astronauts ride in a custom touch screens that display under four parachutes for a Launch pad: Launch founder Elon Musk and Telsa Model X, equipped fl ight information and on splashdown in the Atlantic Complex 39A, leased by Hollywood costumer José with tubes to pump cooling which astronauts input Ocean off the Florida coast. SpaceX from NASA. Fernández, whose credits air into their spacesuits. commands, though space- include the X-Men movies. craft can fl y autonomously. Special features: Hard- Manual fl ying: Tapping the shell helmet that latches; touch screen. touch-screen gloves.

“ People will sign up with SpaceX who are more on the ‘showy’ side of things because that’s more of a headliner. Boeing has the more traditional [customer set], other government

agencies who want to fly astronauts.” — Space consultant Laura Forczyk

aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org | JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 15 The SpaceX Crew comes partially from the fact that neither design has 19 hours later in near-real time. Most astronauts Dragon (right center) the bubble-shaped helmets of the shuttle era that pride themselves on valuing function over form in approaches the locked onto the suits via heavy, metal neck rings. such matters. International Space Station with NASA Instead, Boeing opted for a soft, hood-like helmet that “I do think we have the obvious reaction: ‘Wow, astronauts Bob Behnken astronauts can zip shut, whereas SpaceX 3D-prints isn’t that slick,’” says former astronaut Tom Jones, and on its suit helmets out of an undisclosed material. who fl ew on four shuttle missions between 1994 and board. Once seated in their Starliner capsule, astronauts 2001. “But whether or not you touch the screen or NASA can adjust horizontal zippers on the suit torso for press a button at the edge of the screen, I don’t think comfort and pull off their gloves if need be, a contrast it makes much difference to you as an operator.” to the one-piece Crew Dragon suit with attached Boeing’s Ferguson will get to test Starliner’s version gloves. The only adjusting those crews can make is of the controls on orbit. The capsule is designed to fl y fl ipping up their helmet visor. and dock with ISS autonomously, but Ferguson and “We like to think this represents the future of future crew members must be ready to manually what protective space gear will be,” Ferguson said steer the spacecraft if the need arises by maneuvering during a 2017 Facebook Live of the suit’s unveiling. joysticks on both sides of the screens. During the Crew Dragon fl ight, spacecraft commander Hurley overrode Getting to the launch pad the automated fl ight software with a few taps of the In another nod to the shuttle program, Starliner touch screen to inch Dragon within 100 meters of ISS. crews will make the 14-kilometer ride to Pad 41 in As different as the Crew Dragon and Starliner a customized silver motor coach dubbed the As- fl ights will look almost from the start, the biggest trovan II, built by Ohio trailer company Airstream, technical difference won’t come until the end of the which crafted the original Astrovan to ferry shuttle mission. Instead of the parachute splashdown in astronauts to the launch pad. the Atlantic Ocean favored by the Apollo and Crew The fl ight decks through which the astronauts Dragon capsules, Boeing decided to bring Starliner will monitor the status of their Starliner is another down to one of fi ve ranges in the Southwest United notable differentiator. Instead of the three large touch States, based on where the space station is in its orbit screens in Crew Dragon, the Starliner console has two when Starliner crews depart. iPad-sized screens surrounded by about 70 physical Starliner’s return will start out much like Behnk- switches and knobs. en and Hurley’s planned trip home in Dragon. The Dragon’s touch screens gave the fl ight deck a capsules will undock and jettison their service futuristic look for the estimated 10 million people modules, revealing heat shields that will plow into who watched the capsule rise from the pad and dock the atmosphere and ablate to protect the capsules

16 | JULY/AUGUST 2020 | aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org from the searing 1,600 degrees Celsius of entry. A simulated spacecraft Boeing is advertising a fifth open seat on its That’s where the architectures diverge. Starliner fl oats to the desert in NASA flights to outside customers, and both has three parachutes to slow it upon entry, while Arizona during a test of companies are brokering private flights on their SpaceX’s equipment that the heavier Crew Dragon needs four. To cushion capsules through space tourism company Space will bring its Crew Dragon the landing, Starliner will inflate air bags with spacecraft back to Earth. Adventures. compressed nitrogen and gas. The mass simulator and So far, only SpaceX has had any luck. Space “One of the main benefi ts is the stability and the four main parachutes were Adventures earlier this year announced it will ability for the landing system to absorb the loads released from a C-130 launch four private citizens aboard a Crew Dragon cargo aircraft. on the crew and on the spacecraft,” said John Mul- for a fi ve-day orbital trip, tentatively scheduled for SpaceX holland, then Boeing’s 2021. Dragon garnered a second private customer manager, during a December press conference. in March, when Texas startup Axiom Space signed Boeing says coming down on land will also make a contract to launch a crew of three tourists and an refurbishment easier because recovery teams won’t Axiom astronaut on a Crew Dragon for an eight-day have to fi sh the capsule out of the sea and take it stay at ISS, also targeted for 2021. back to a port as SpaceX does. If all goes as planned, Axiom could blossom into a lucrative customer. Under a NASA contract, the Come fl y with me company is building a commercial habitat module, The NASA test fl ights of Crew Dragon and Starlin- scheduled to be installed on ISS by 2024. This is the er will serve as benchmarks for attracting future fi rst of several private nodes Axiom aims to build customers, without which Boeing and SpaceX and eventually detach into a separate space station. can’t close their business cases. Forczyk of Astra- Boeing’s path forward commercially is more lytical and other analysts remain uncertain there is challenging. The company must address the coding enough demand to merit two crew transportation errors and other recommendations laid out by an systems. The NASA contracts cover only six routine independent review panel earlier this year before fl ights to ISS in the coming years, each with four it launches the next crewless mission, all of which astronauts. is paid for through a $410 million charge on 2019 “That can’t be your only market,” says Marco earnings that Boeing set aside in 2020. Cáceres, space analyst for aerospace consulting The stakes are high for the next attempt. fi rm Teal Group of Virginia. “If you’re going to do “Boeing probably needs to prove itself because if something in terms of human space exploration, they can’t, if they experience more signifi cant delays it’s got to be much broader than sending astronauts and setbacks, they run the risk of being completely one, two or three times a year to the space station.” overshadowed by SpaceX,” Forczyk says. ★

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