Elon seems to be operating out of an abundance of caution. Hard to blame him after the past couple years, though.
Meanwhile, Doug Messier had a brief Twitter interview with him about the GAO report.
And some
Area-man-does-good story in Ontario newspaper reveals a few new details about Blue Origin’s New Shepard plans: https://t.co/0GWrBHUeYt pic.twitter.com/JNXRES6ZgI — Jeff Foust (@jeff_foust) February 18, 2017 ” target=”_blank”>inadvertent insight
”
The company’s current goal is to redesign the New Shepard to allow it to carry passengers into space, and the first launch of the manned spacecraft is expected to take place before the end of 2017.
“I’ll be working with the team who is going to be rethinking the structural flight components on that vehicle,” he said.
He said a crew of three will pilot that spacecraft, leaving three empty seats within the capsule. And Laurence has a chance of filling one of those seats – although it’s a slim one.”
The new shepard sub orbital capsule will have 3 pilots?
No, three test passengers.
AFAIK, before the last flight of New Shepard it had been announced it would retire after that flight.
After the test experiences and load measurements in flight I’d say it wouldn’t be at all unusual to want to look at structural design to see what can be lightened and what might need strengthening.