Spacewatch: Nasa to launch new crewed craft in 2019

[Judi Lynn]

Capsules being developed to act as taxis between Earth and International Space Station

Stuart Clark
@DrStuClark
Thu 29 Nov 2018 16.30 EST

Nasa and its commercial partners, Boeing and SpaceX, are nearing the end of their programme to develop new crew capsules that will act as taxis between Earth and the International Space Station (ISS).

Two final uncrewed test flights have been confirmed for next year, which will be followed by the first astronauts in the summer.

The US has been without the domestic means to launch its astronauts since 2011, when the Space Shuttle was retired. Since that time, it has been relying on Russian Soyuz craft to carry Americans into space.

In tandem, Nasa has been developing capsules as part of the commercial crew programme. That effort is reaching the final stages. On 7 January, SpaceX will launch its first Crew Dragon spacecraft, which will be an uncrewed test flight to the ISS that will pave the way for the first crewed flight in June.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/nov/29/spacewatch-nasa-launch-crewed-spacecraft

[House of Roberts]

1. I'd be interested to know if these new 'craft'

are still going to have to rely on Russian launch vehicles to reach orbit.
I haven't heard whether the Atlas or Delta vehicles would be human rated in time to use them, as they are built here in North Alabama. It would sure ramp up production and add jobs hereabouts once they get approved.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. SpaceX's Dragon 2 craft is launched by its Falcon 9 rocket, the Starliner by an Atlas V

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_2

https://www.ulalaunch.com/missions/commercial-crew