Angle: Astronauts are training to the world's first ISS aimed at civilian ships-Reuters News-International

Collin eaton

[Houston 22 Reuters]-Experienced astronauts and pilots gathered at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Boeing <BA.N> is training for manned flight to the International Space Station (ISS) using the Starship liner, which is under development.

A star liner planned to be used for space travel by ordinary customers in the future. Although it was scheduled to be launched this month, it was postponed until the end of the year at the earliest due to technical problems and personnel changes at the top of the NASA.

After NASA's space shuttle program ended in 2011, the first manned flight resumed, Boeing, and Space X, a space development venture led by US electric vehicle Tesla founder Elon Musk, space X We are sharpening our goal to become the first company.

Both companies with state-of-the-art technology are considered to be the most successful locations in the global space industry that are expected to grow.

NASA has recently relied on Russian rockets to transport personnel to the ISS. The ISS, which has a total construction cost of $ 100 billion (about ¥ 10,600 billion), flies over 400 kilometers from the ground, and since November 2000, astronauts have been staying constantly.

NASA then asked Space X and Boeing for a total of $ 7 billion to develop a manned capsule-equipped rocket launch system to transport astronauts to the ISS.

Reuters interviewed NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Mike Fink, who are training for the ISS at the Johnson Space Center, as well as Boeing astronaut and test pilot Christopher Ferguson. went.

Here, they are working on underwater training for walking in outer space, responding to emergencies in ISS, and docking training with a flight simulator.

<Mr. Ferguson leading the mission>

Boeing's CST-100 Starliner project with the autopilot system is led by NASA ex-astronaut and retired US Navy Colonel Ferguson (57).

“Boeing understood the size and power of the spacecraft, but didn't think much about the interior or the interface between the aircraft and the occupant moving by autopilot.”

While the in-flight design has been simplified, it includes a “big compromise” to make it easier for the pilot to understand the current location, destination, and route, and how to recover from unexpected situations.

Mr. Ferguson, who led the last flight of the Space Shuttle in 2011 and spent more than 40 days in space, said, “After all, it is all about identifying the aircraft. I want to avoid throwing a changing ball.” talked.

<Mr. Man, the first space flight>

Former US Navy fighter pilot Mann (42), unlike his parents and grandparents, is looking forward to seeing young people who grew up without looking at the Apollo program come alive with a new space flight from the United States. Told.

“It's a very big event for Americans. It's important that the young generation sees being launched from the land of the United States, and that this brings employment and industry back to the United States. The future of our space flight is bright.”

<Fink is the foundation for space travel>

Starliner ’s mission is to bring people and goods to the space station and to build the foundations for commercial flights that take tourists to space, Mr. Finck, NASA veteran astronaut who has experienced space three times. Said.

“There are only about 500 people who have been to the universe. I hope it will increase to 5000 in the next 10 years. In the next 20 years, 50,000 or more,” he said. Mr. Fink, a former Air Force Colonel who had stayed at the space station for six months, said.

<Take home American flag>

Ferguson has left the US flag in the ISS eight years ago, when he led the last space shuttle flight. It was for the purpose of having an American astronaut who went to ISS take it back to Earth, but now I think it's not bad to go back with the first US commercial spacecraft.

What to do if the spaceship in space X reaches first.

“It will be very happy. It ’s important not to bring it home, it ’s important to be able to take it home. (NASA astronauts who are going to board Space X)” Ferguson said.