安全问题推迟了美国重新开始载人航天飞行的努力

Safety Concerns Delay US Effort to Restart Human Spaceflight

NASA reportedly has warned SpaceX and Boeing of its concerns over the design and safety of their astronaut launch systems.

The Reuters news agency says the problems could threaten efforts by the United States to re-start its human spaceflight program later this year.

Reuters says its story is based on information in a new U.S. government report and from people in the aerospace¹ industry.

NASA is paying $2.6 billion to SpaceX and $4.2 billion to Boeing to develop competing rocket and capsule launch systems. The goal is to send astronauts to the International Space Station from U.S. territory. The space agency has not launched astronauts from American soil since the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011.

NASA safety advisors² identified four “key risk items” in their 2018 yearly report, which was released earlier this month. The release came just days before the first planned un-manned test flight under the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

For Boeing, one risk item is the capsule’s structure. The safety advisory³ panel warned it could be damaged when the heat shield is deployed⁴.

The report also noted⁵ the redesign of a SpaceX rocket canister. The redesign was ordered after a canister exploded in 2016. The safety advisors also noted concerns about the company’s “load and go” process of fueling the rocket with astronauts inside the capsule.

Both companies faced the issue of “parachute performance,” when their space vehicles would return to Earth.

The report added, “There are serious challenges to the current launch schedules for both SpaceX and Boeing.”

Two people with direct knowledge of the program told Reuters that the space agency is concerned with more than just the four items listed. The Boeing and SpaceX launch systems have already been delayed several times in recent years. But experts said the companies must deal with “most” of those concerns before they can fly astronauts and, eventually, private citizens to space.

NASA official Joshua Finch⁶ told Reuters that technical questions about the launch systems should go to Boeing and SpaceX. But he said, “Flying safely always takes precedence over schedule.”

Josh Barrett of Boeing said his company has worked on the capsule’s structure and completed its structural⁷ test program in January. He added that, “Our numbers show we are exceeding NASA’s safety requirements.”

SpaceX spokesman James Gleeson said the company, working with NASA, has developed “one of the safest, most-advanced human spaceflight systems ever built.”

Parachute performance

Earlier SpaceX capsules were designed to transport supplies to the International Space Station. The company has since designed a new version to carry people.

Three people familiar with the project said NASA has identified design differences between the two capsules. Two persons told Reuters that there was a concern as to whether the parachute will be able to slow down a capsule enough to ensure the crew’s safety.

Gleeson said SpaceX parachute systems are designed so the capsule can safely landed in water in the event one of the parachutes fails. He added that the company has already completed 17 parachute tests for the Commercial Crew Program. And it is planning 10 more.

In its report, the NASA safety panel said that SpaceX may be required to re-design its parachute system. A re-design would likely mean more testing and a longer delay.

NASA also found design problems with the system that keeps SpaceX’s capsule in an upright position once it lands in the ocean. The problems could cause the capsule to be flooded with water.

SpaceX’s Gleeson said its capsule is designed to be water-resistant and to float on water.

Risk of more delays

Last June, Boeing had to stop its un-manned test launch when fuel leaked from the engine. Boeing’s Barrett blamed the accident on faulty valves. He said Boeing has re-designed the valves, though the new ones must be re-tested.

NASA had announced this month that SpaceX was planning a test of its Crew Dragon capsule without a crew in March and a flight with astronauts in July. Boeing’s un-crewed Starliner would fly “no earlier” than April, with the flight involving a human crew planned for August.

The NASA report said this launch schedule is now at risk.

The United States has been paying Russia about $80 million for each American astronaut to fly on a Russian spacecraft to the International Space Station.

NASA said last week it was considering paying Russia for two more seats to the space station for this autumn and spring 2020.

I'm Jonathan Evans. And I'm Susan Shand.

Words in This Story

capsule - n. a small part of the spacecraft where people live and work

item - n. a separate part or thing

shield - n. something that defends or protects something

canister - n. a metal case that contain gas, chemical or fuel

challenge - n. a difficult task or problem

schedule - n. a plan of the times when something will be done

precedence - n. a condition of being more important than something else

exceed - v. to be greater or more than something

faulty - adj. having a mistake

valve - n. a mechanical device that controls the flow of liquid, gas, etc. by opening and closing

1 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

2 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网

3 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

4 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 finch   

n.雀科鸣禽(如燕雀，金丝雀等)

参考例句：

• This behaviour is commonly observed among several species of finch.这种行为常常可以在几种雀科鸣禽中看到。
• In Australia,it is predominantly called the Gouldian Finch.在澳大利亚，它主要还是被称之为胡锦雀。

7 structural   

adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的

参考例句：

• The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。