SpaceX launches Block 5 rocket with helium tanks for NASA astronauts
New Delhi : Elon Musk’s SpaceX is striving hard to get certification for its Falcon 9 Block 5 designed for launching astronauts for NASA researches. Owing to the need the private American aerospace manufacturer has built the crew Dragon space capsule. The work is underway and they still need to add new helium tanks to the Block 5. Previously, the Block 5 has been launched without the helium tanks. The first seven quality launches will begin next month with the Demo-1 flight to the space station.
In June 2018, Dragon 2 was scheduled to carry its first crew of two NASA astronauts on a 14-day test flight mission to the ISS in 17 January 2019. Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner was planning first astronauts in November 2018 but NASA said the Boeing launch is now likely to occur in 2019 or 2020.
The new helium tanks to be installed in the capsule are composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs). They store cold helium at high pressures for injection into the rocket’s propellant tanks. Various redesigns were required for handling the frozen helium and liquid oxygen because of SpaceX accidents.
Crew Dragon by SpaceX has an advanced emergency escape system to quickly carry astronauts to safety if something goes wrong. Sources confirmed that the agency will launch Block 5 rockets shortly for a satellite launch. Block 5 is intended for 10 reuses without renovation and up to 100 launches with renovation. The goal for Block 5 Falcon 9 is to turn around and relaunch within 24 hours.
