The innovative design of a space plane passes the leak test (exclusive)

A spacecraft designed to eventually replace many astronaut activities exploring space passed two key pressure tests in September, said representatives of the spacecraft construction company at Space.com in an exclusive interview.

The Genesis Engineering Solutions satellite concept, based in Maryland, is just big enough for one person; an astronaut would float inside the probe for several hours and manipulate equipment using robotic arms. Propellant propellants would allow the spacecraft to nestle close to a target, such as the jetpack of NASA's Manned Dressing Unit which had been briefly tested on space suits of astronauts in the 1980s.

Instead of using a voluminous space suit to perform repairs on NASA's future Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway space station, for example, space operator Genesis could use robotic arms while maintaining relative comfort inside a closed cockpit. [Take a Look Inside Lockheed Martin’s Proposed Lunar ‘Gateway Habitat for Astronauts]

But long before flying into space, the Genesis spacecraft must pass several key tests on the ground.

One of them ensures that the spacecraft can withstand the pressure. Genesis engineers performed tests in early September on the facilities of their manufacturing partner, AMRO Fabricating Corp., in the Los Angeles metropolitan area (South El Monte). AMRO also manufactures panels for the human-rated Orion probe of NASA and Lockheed Martin, which is supposed to bring astronauts to the moon in the 2020s.

The first test of the Genesis spacecraft showed that the crew cabin could withstand pressure even at a pressure equal to 1.5 times the expected operating pressure. The second test showed that the spacecraft had minimal leaks from its joints; Finally, Brand Griffin, Project Manager, told Space.com that the goal was not to leak at all.

"We have passed the global pressure test and the leak test, and our test philosophy is to look at all the things we can test on the ground to save money," Griffin said.

In February, Genesis announced that its spacecraft had successfully passed an underwater "fit" test in which scuba diving volunteers swam in the spaceship while it was submerged in swimming pool. Volunteers of different heights and weights tried to get inside and operate the orders. This has been done to demonstrate that the spacecraft can adapt to a standard range of human body types.

Later this year, Genesis is planning a ground-based thruster-booster test. Although most of the spacecraft components are readily available commercially, these thrusters were to be custom-built in-house and would require certification, Brand said. Then come tests of the robotic manipulation system, which will be done in partnership with the SRI (formerly the Stanford Research Institute.) The SRI is known to have created a robotics so sensitive that it can be used to defuse the bombs, Brand said.

Genesis Engineering Solutions' spacecraft concept is inspired by decades of development and previous ideas dating back at least to the 1950s. Although the company has not yet announced the date of her flight for her spacecraft, she hopes to be able to carry her on a rocket to test it while the International Space Station is still active. (Space station funding by NASA is currently going up until 2025.)

Sierra Nevada is one of the possible partners. Its Dream Chaser satellite is responsible for assuming six cargo missions within NASA by the end of 2024. trajectory. Genesis and Sierra Nevada have signed a "protocol agreement" and discussions are continuing, Griffin said.

Although the Genesis spacecraft is flying on another rocket, Mr. Griffin says the spacecraft is designed to support the launch loads of all the rockets that go to the space station. However, the key is that the spacecraft never reaches the complex in orbit itself.

"The space station is like a gated community, you have to meet all these requirements to get in and it does not like things that fly," he said. "We would separate even before delivering the cargo to the space station and doing it [our tests] where we are not in the air traffic of [the] space station."

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