Boeing’s Commercial Crew Development (CCDev-2) initiative has successfully completed its software preliminary design review (PDR, marking the completion of 45 milestones in support of the commercial crew programme (CCP).
Boeing Commercial Programs vice president and general manager John Mulholland said the review, conducted with Boeing management along with independent Boeing and NASA reviewers, effectively demonstrated a software design that meets NASA safety requirements, as well as all system-level requirements within cost and schedule constraints.
"The completion of the software PDR sets the stage for us to finalise a mature system that is capable of providing safe, reliable crewed access to the International Space Station," Mulholland said.
During the test, part of NASA’s space act agreement, the PDR team studied the system’s flight software, comprising aspects concerning safety, testing, overall redundancy management, avionics hardware and ground systems.
According to Boeing, crew space transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft’s software ability will facilitate proper functioning during its launch, orbital manoeuvring, docking with and splitting from the International Space Station (ISS), re-entry and landing.
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By GlobalDataFollowing the thorough design process, comprising the requirements of NASA human rating and CST-100 system-level necessities, Boeing is planning to cut CST’s potential future certification refusal risk and its alteration, which would impact safety, cost and schedule of spacecraft.
Boeing Avionics and Software Integrated Product team manager Orlando Rodriguez said: "On a fixed-price programme, such as this, detailed planning and innovative teamwork yield better odds toward successful and affordable operations."
The team’s further work on remaining CCDev-2 programme includes a propellant tank demonstration test and an orbital manoeuvring / attitude control engine hot fire test, which would provide information regarding important elements of the design of CST.
Initial test flights of reusable CST-100, capable of transporting up to seven astronauts, or a combination of astronauts and cargo and compatible with various expendable rockets, will be performed aboard United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle in 2015-16.
Image: The software for CST 100 will assist during its docking with and splitting from the International Space Station. Photo: courtesy of Boeing image.
