Similarly, accelerometers could be added to the crew seats on later flights to measure G-loads, he said. The level of extra instrumentation would have to be balanced against the complexity and cost they would add to a give test.

“We’re saying ‘here’s our standard test objectives, but now if we look at how we’re going to use these vehicles in the future, what data could we capture off these early test flights that would help us advance quicker into operational type missions?” he asked.