While the US is facing the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths from Coronavirus with nearly 39 million people having lost their jobs in nine weeks, Elon Musk’s company SpaceX together with NASA are making history of a different kind. Today they plan to send American astronauts to the International Space Station on board the first privately owned spacecraft SpaceX Crew Dragon as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
This is the final step required for Crew Dragon to become certified for human flight, after which it’ll enter into regular operational service ferrying people and cargo to the International Space Station. The mission also marks the first time astronauts have lifted off for space from U.S. soil since the end of the Shuttle program in 2011.
One of the main goals of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is for private companies to create the next generation of spacecraft saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon will lift off from Launch Complex 39A – the same place Saturn V launched humanity to the Moon and from where the first and final Space Shuttle missions lifted off pic.twitter.com/wOSsbCRqi7
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 25, 2020
When and where is lift off?
Astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley have been selected to fly on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft from Florida, for an extended stay at the space station for the Demo-2 mission.
Behnken and Hurley were selected as a NASA astronaut in 2000 and they have completed two space shuttle flights. Behnken in 2008 and 2010, when he performed three spacewalks during each mission and Hurley in 2009 and 2011.
Lifting off from the Launch Pad at 4.33pm EDT, Crew Dragon will accelerate its two passengers to approximately 17,000 mph and put it on an intercept course with the space station. Once in orbit the crew will verify the spacecraft is performing properly, and then will dock with the space station approximately 24 hours after lift off.
Although the Crew Dragon being used for this flight test can stay in orbit about 110 days, the specific mission duration will be determined once on station. Upon conclusion of the mission, Crew Dragon will autonomously undock with the two astronauts on board, depart the space station and re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere.
Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon are vertical on the launch pad pic.twitter.com/2nw9h0jxde
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 21, 2020
Launching in a pandemic will make it very different to previous launches with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine urging people to stay home for the launch and watch it online at NASA TV. “We are on the cusp of launching American astronauts on American rockets from American soil yet again,” Bridenstine told the astronauts, “You really are a bright light for all of America right now. Thank you so much for all you’ve done and all you’re about to do.”
