SpaceX completed a full-duration static-fire test of Crew Dragon’s launch escape system on 2019-11-13 at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The same Crew Dragon spacecraft used in the 2019-11-13 static-fire test will be used for the in-flight abort test, with another Crew Dragon being moved up for the Demo-2 mission sometime in 2020.
SpaceX performed a pad abort test of Crew Dragon’s launch escape system in 2015.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft destroyed on 2019-04-20 had previously flown the uncrewed Demo-1 mission to the International Space Station in March.
NASA has not yet scheduled valid crewed test flights for the Crew Dragon or Starliner pending certification.
Cassidy expressed hope that either a Boeing CST-100 Starliner or SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft will visit the ISS during their time there.
SpaceX completed 13 consecutive successful tests of its 2019-03-03 parachute design for the Crew Dragon spacecraft as of 2019-11-03.
SpaceX will transition to the CRS-2 contract using a cargo version of Crew Dragon in 2020.
The new Crew Dragon spacecraft for Demo-2 is expected to be completed and ready to ship to Florida by late December of 2019.
SpaceX is testing a new 2019-03-03 version of the Crew Dragon parachutes that the company describes as having higher safety margins than earlier versions.
SpaceX designated Crew Dragon as the company’s overwhelming priority, with only about 5% of the company working on Starship.
If 2019-03-03 and 2019-03-02 performance prove comparable, fewer drop tests may be required to qualify 2019-03-03 for Crew Dragon.
NASA and SpaceX committed as a team to the 2019-03-03 parachute design for Crew Dragon.
Testing of the overall Crew Dragon system may be completed and hardware for Demo-2 may be delivered to Florida by the end of the year.
Airborne Systems is developing an advanced 2019-03-03 parachute to be used on Crew Dragon.
SpaceX is preparing an in-flight abort test in which a Crew Dragon spacecraft will separate from a Falcon 9 booster during ascent to test escape capability at maximum dynamic pressure.
SpaceX is developing Crew Dragon and conducting Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches in parallel with development of the Starship next-generation reusable launch vehicle.
Uncertainty about when Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon will be ready to transport astronauts is a significant challenge for NASA.
Cargo Dragon 2 is a version of Crew Dragon and is designed for at least five flights to and from the station.
SpaceX was testing both Draco thrusters and SuperDraco thrusters on the Crew Dragon ahead of an in-flight abort test then planned for the summer.