Commercial crew parachute tests

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In summary, SpaceX passed itspad abort test with flying colors while Boeing had a setback with a broken parachute. Both companies are still far away from flying astronauts to the ISS, but they are both inching closer.
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TL;DR Summary
Parachute tests successful for SpaceX, one parachute fails to deploy in Boeing test
Both Boeing and SpaceX are competing to fly NASA astronauts to the ISS. While they have their contracts already and follow-up contracts are still far away: The prestige to be first will be immense. Before they can fly humans they need to pass an extensive test program. Both capsules land with parachutes and their tests were a concern for a long time. In the last days we had two very different news.

SpaceX reported 13 successful parachute tests in a row - more than the 10 NASA requires. This should be sufficient to qualify this key system.
Edit: Elon Musk clarified that these tests were single-parachute tests. They still need 9 out of 10 multi-parachute tests.

Boeing did its pad abort test an hour ago.
Plan:
Roughly 26 seconds into flight, the three main parachutes on #Starliner will deploy. This allows the crew module to descend slowly and safely to the ground before touching down about 69 seconds later.
Video, the timestamp is set to 10 seconds before "launch". The three parachutes that were supposed to open are visible in the animation earlier (e.g. at 4:55). But in the real pad abort test...
Oops.

The abort test itself looks successful, but this probably means Boeing will need another round of iterations on the parachute system.
(SpaceX performed its pad abort test in 2015 already)

Both systems are designed to land safely with one parachute missing - 3 out of 4 for Dragon or 2 out of 3 for Starliner - but you certainly don't want that to happen often.
 
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Seems one of pilot parachutes broke away just after deployment, foiling subsequent main parachute release. Not sure though - video quality is bad. I am also surprised by the amount of spilled nitrogen dioxide. Problems with valves still persist?
 
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It has been speculated that hydrazine broke the line. It might take months until we get a proper accident investigation report. Maybe we get something in between from NASA.
 

FAQ: Commercial crew parachute tests

What is the purpose of commercial crew parachute tests?

The purpose of commercial crew parachute tests is to ensure the safety and reliability of the parachutes used in spacecrafts for human spaceflight. These tests are conducted to evaluate the performance of the parachutes in various conditions and to make necessary improvements for a successful landing.

How are commercial crew parachute tests conducted?

Commercial crew parachute tests are conducted using specialized equipment and test facilities. The parachutes are attached to a test vehicle or a dummy spacecraft and dropped from a high altitude to simulate the conditions of a real spacecraft landing. Data is collected during the test to analyze the performance of the parachutes.

Who conducts commercial crew parachute tests?

Commercial crew parachute tests are typically conducted by the space agency or private company responsible for the development and operation of the spacecraft. These tests may also involve collaboration with other organizations or companies that have expertise in parachute design and testing.

What factors are considered in commercial crew parachute tests?

Commercial crew parachute tests consider various factors such as the weight and size of the spacecraft, the altitude and speed at which the parachutes will be deployed, and the weather conditions. Other factors such as the materials used in the parachutes and the deployment mechanisms are also evaluated during these tests.

How do commercial crew parachute tests ensure the safety of astronauts?

Commercial crew parachute tests are crucial in ensuring the safety of astronauts as they provide valuable data on the performance of the parachutes in different scenarios. By conducting these tests, engineers and scientists can identify any potential issues and make necessary improvements to ensure a safe and successful landing for astronauts.

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