Space: after a good year, 2022 promises to be exciting for manned flights

The year 2021 will have marked the technological success of SpaceX in matter manned flights which will have successfully completed two manned flights to the International space station (ISS) on behalf of the Nasa, but also a promising first tourist mission in orbit low (Inspiration-4), more than 500 kilometers from Earth. This year also saw the entry into service of the suborbital vehicles of Virgin galactic and Blue Origin with the realization of the first promising tourist flights.

Thomas Pesquet returns to the International Space Station

2021 will have seen two astronauts Europeans fly aboard the International Space Station. In March, there was the return aboard the ISS of Thomas Pesquet for a new long-term mission duration (Alpha mission), which was noted by the German Matthias maurer in November (Cosmic ISS mission). These two European manned missions recalled the very strong dependence of Europeans in manned flights on Americans and Russians. Thomas Pesquet and Matthias Maurer have indeed joined the orbital complex aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. During his stay aboard the ISS, the Frenchman met a rather surprising Russian crew. Actress Yulia Peresild and Klim Shipenko, the director of the film ” The Challenge “, Stayed aboard the Station for a week, the time to direct and shoot many scenes of the film which is scheduled for release towards the end of 2022. Tom Cruise, who wanted to become the first actor to shoot in space, so politeness was roasted by therussian actress.

But, 2021 also showed the difficulties of Boeing which still cannot develop its Starliner manned vehicle. After a partial failure during the first test flight in December 2019, it was believed that the year 2021 would have allowed him to achieve a successful demonstration flight and a first manned mission to the ISS. But it has not happened. Boeing was forced to postpone the second test flight in the first quarter of 2022.

Finally, at the last intermediate ministerial meeting, held in Portugal in November 2021, on the acceleration of the use of space in Europe ” The Matosinhos Manifesto », No decision has been taken concerning a possible decision on the green light to a manned flight program which could have been decided at the next ministerial meeting, scheduled for the end of 2022.

In 2022, new chapters in the history of human spaceflight will open

In 2022, the year should be even more exceptional and dense than 2021. The year 2022 began with the announcement of NASA which confirmed that the life of the International Space Station would be extended at least until 2030 As a reminder, the station was initially supposed to cease its activities in 2016. Here is the list of major events planned for this year that we have identified with the specialist Philippe Coué, author of the book Manned space flight, a structuring choice for Europe :

• first shot of new European launcher Ariane-6 absolutely essential for Europe;
• first shot of US SLS heavy lunar launcher (Boeing) which will launch towards the Moon the first lunar vehicle Orion (this theft will be automatic);
• one to multiple shots of the reusable and potentially revolutionary super-heavy launcher Starship (SpaceX), its success could disrupt space transportation;
• end of the assembly of the Chinese station Tiangong-3 and start of its continuous operation with crew changes;
• first manned flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner;
• probable second test of the Chinese lunar transport vessel VNG;
• first automatic flight test of the Indian spacecraft Gagayaan;
• continuation of commercial manned flights, two of which Axiom flights planned to the ISS ;
• acceleration of tourism suborbital ;
• two new crew rotations in April and October;
• second manned flight of the European Samantha Cristoforetti during Crew-4 (April 2022).

Finally, the year 2022 will end with the end of the selection process for the astronauts of theESA and the presentation of the new promotion scheduled for November. November will also be the month of the ESA Ministerial Council, which will see all the ministers of the Member States meet in Paris. They will decide the future of ESA’s programs and perhaps, if they are not lacking in courage, will endow Europe with an ambitious manned flight program that will not be confined only to low orbit. To be continued…