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The Crew Dragon, including the Falcon 9 rocket and associated ground systems, is the first new, crew spacecraft to be NASA-certified for regular flights with astronauts since the space shuttle nearly 40 years ago. Several critical events paved the way for this achievement, including grounds tests, simulations, uncrewed flight tests and NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 test flight with astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley earlier this year.
"Today's signing is about the people across NASA, SpaceX and other groups that came together to complete an unbelievable amount of hard work to accomplish this task," said Kathy Lueders, associate administrator for NASA's Human Exploration and Operation Mission Directorate. "Certification moves us from the design and test phase into the crew rotation phase of our work, but we will not stop making sure every flight, including NASA's Space Crew-1 mission, will be approached with the same rigor we have put into making this the best system it can be for our astronauts."
The launch of the Demo-2 mission on May 30, 2020, marked the first time astronauts flew aboard the American rocket and spacecraft from the U.S. to the space station, and extensive analysis of the test flight data followed the safe return of Behnken and Hurley on Aug. 2.
Prior to Demo-2, NASA and SpaceX completed several demonstration flights to prove the system was ready to fly astronauts. In 2015, teams completed a Crew Dragon pad abort test during which the spacecraft demonstrated the ability to escape the launch pad in the event of an emergency prior to liftoff.
In March 2019, NASA and SpaceX took another major step toward restoring America's human spaceflight capability when Crew Dragon returned safely to Earth after spending five days docked to the space station for NASA's SpaceX Demo-1 mission. The test flight was the first launch, docking and return of the commercially built and operated American spacecraft.
In January 2020, NASA and SpaceX completed a launch escape demonstration of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. During the test, SpaceX configured Crew Dragon to intentionally trigger a launch escape prior to 1 minute and 30 seconds into flight to demonstrate Crew Dragon's capability to safely carry the astronauts to safety in the unlikely event of an in-flight emergency.
"Thank you to NASA for their continued support of SpaceX and partnership in achieving this goal," said SpaceX Chief Engineer Elon Musk. "I could not be more proud of everyone at SpaceX and all of our suppliers who worked incredibly hard to develop, test, and fly the first commercial human spaceflight system in history to be certified by NASA. This is a great honor that inspires confidence in our endeavor to return to the Moon, travel to Mars, and ultimately help humanity become multi-planetary."
Dozens of tests of the spacecraft's parachute system were successfully completed, which began in 2016 and wrapped up this year. Several key events have occurred since 2018, including the completion of electromagnetic interference chamber testing on Crew Dragon at the SpaceX factory in Hawthorne, California, and acoustic chamber testing on the spacecraft at the NASA's Plum Brook Station test facility at Glenn Research Center in Ohio. Hundreds of tests have been performed on the spacecraft's eight SuperDraco abort engines, which would provide astronauts an escape from the rocket in the unlikely event of an emergency at liftoff.
NASA and SpaceX also coordinated with the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense (DoD) to conduct crew rescue training. The DoD Human Space Flight Support Office Rescue Division is prepared to deploy at a moment's notice to quickly and safely rescue astronauts in the unlikely event of an emergency during ascent or splashdown.
"NASA's partnership with American private industry is changing the arc of human spaceflight history by opening access to low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station to more people, more science and more commercial opportunities," said Phil McAlister, director of commercial spaceflight development at NASA. "We are truly in the beginning of a new era of human spaceflight."
NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 mission will be the first flight to use the certified SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and will fly NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, on a six-month mission to and from the space station. Crew Dragon is targeting launch on a Falcon 9 on Saturday, Nov. 14, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Robert Pearlman
From SpaceX, via Twitter (photo: NASA/Joel Kowsky):
Static fire of Falcon 9 complete – targeting Saturday, November 14 at 7:49 p.m. EST for launch of Crew Dragon's first operational mission to the International Space Station with four astronauts on board. Teams will continue monitoring weather conditions for liftoff and along the flight path.
Robert Pearlman
Launch readiness review complete
Teams on Friday (Nov. 13) completed the final major review for the SpaceX Crew-1 mission.
NASA and SpaceX agreed to re-target the launch for Sunday (Nov. 15) at 7:27 p.m. EST (0027 GMT Nov. 16), a day later than originally planned due to onshore winds and first stage booster recovery readiness. The Dragon will dock to the space station Monday (Nov. 16) at about 11 p.m. EST (0400 GMT Nov. 17).
The astronauts set to launch on SpaceX's first operational crewed mission for NASA are poised to make history — both as a crew of four and as individuals.
NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, together with Soichi Noguchi of JAXA (the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), will lift off aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule named "Resilience" for a six-month stay on the International Space Station.
Robert Pearlman
Astronauts depart for launchpad
Crew-1 astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker and Soichi Noguchi have exited their crew quarters at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building and departed for Launch Complex 39A.
The astronauts' ride to the pad are two customized Tesla Model X outfitted with cooling air for their pressure suits. Their vehicles, which have the license plate "L8RERTH" ("Later Earth"), are traveling as part of a convoy including support team members and security personnel. Hopkins and Walker are riding together in one car, with Glover and Noguchi in the other.
The countdown continues for today's (Nov. 15) scheduled 7:27 p.m. EDT (0027 GMT Nov. 16) launch. Weather is a concern with the chance of favorable conditions at 50 percent.
Robert Pearlman
Crew members climb aboard Resilience
Crew-1 astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker and Soichi Noguchi arrived at Launch Complex 39A and took the elevator up to the 255-foot level of the fixed service structure. They then took a short flight of stairs to the crew access level, where they crossed the crew access arm – the walkway from the fixed service structure over to the White Room and their waiting SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, "Resilience."
Mission commander Hopkins entered the Dragon first and positioned in Seat 3, followed shortly after by mission specialist Walker in Seat 4. Noguchi, also a mission specialist, then ingressed and was seated to Hopkins' left in Seat 1, followed by pilot Glover between Walker and Hopkins in Seat 2.
As the astronauts boarded, their seats were configured in the upright position; later, prior to closure of the spacecraft's side hatch, the seats will be rotated into a reclined position for flight.
Robert Pearlman
Resilience hatch closed for launch
The hatch through which the SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts entered their Dragon spacecraft has been closed and a leak check is complete.
An initial attempt at closing the hatch resulted in a minor pressure drop inside the capsule. Technicians reopened the Dragon and inspected the seals. Finding and removing a small piece of foreign object debris (FOD), the hatch was closed again and a second leak check verified that the spacecraft was holding pressure.
Launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Resilience carrying Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker and Soichi Noguchi remains on track for 7:27 p.m. EDT (0027 GMT) from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A.
Robert Pearlman
Loading of Falcon 9 propellant begins
Valves are open and propellants are beginning to flow into the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
SpaceX's launch director verified the launch team was "go" to begin loading the Falcon 9 rocket's propellants – liquid oxygen and a refined, rocket-grade kerosene called RP-1 – into the rocket's first and second stages.
The crew access arm that provided a walkway for the Crew-1 astronauts earlier has been retracted from the rocket.
The Dragon's launch escape system (LES), consisting of a set of eight SuperDraco engines integrated into the spacecraft's body, has been armed in preparation for launch. The LES is designed to separate the capsule from the Falcon 9 rocket and carry the crew away to safety in the unlikely event of an emergency.
The weather forecast has improved from a 50 percent to 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions for a launch at 7:27 p.m. EST (0027 GMT).
Four astronauts lifted off on board a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station, marking the start of the first "operational" commercial crewed orbital spaceflight from the United States.
Crew-1 mission commander Michael Hopkins, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialist Shannon Walker, all with NASA, together with mission specialist Soichi Noguchi of JAXA (the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), launched on the SpaceX Dragon "Resilience" on Sunday (Nov. 15).
Robert Pearlman
Resilience docks to space station
The SpaceX Dragon "Resilience" docked to the International Space Station on Monday (Nov. 16), becoming the 100th crewed vehicle to arrive at the orbital complex.
The capsule, carrying Crew-1 astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker and Soichi Noguchi, attached to the forward-facing port of the space station's Harmony node at 11:01 p.m. EST (0401 GMT Nov. 17). The autonomous docking marked the end of a 27.5-hour rendezvous.
"SpaceX, this is Resilience, excellent job right down the center," said Hopkins. "SpaceX and NASA, congratulations! This is a new era of operational flights to the International Space Station from the Florida coast."
"And ISS, Sergey, Sergey and Kate, we'll see you real soon," he said.
Beginning its approach to the space station from below at 9:23 p.m. EST (0223 GMT), the Resilience guided itself to waypoints at 720 feet (220 meters) and 66 feet (20 m) directly in front of the station before proceeding in to dock.
The astronauts opened the hatches and entered the space station at 1:02 a.m. EST (0602 GMT) on Tuesday (Nov. 17) to join Expedition 64 commander Sergey Ryzhikov and flight engineers Kate Rubins and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov.
Robert Pearlman
Crew-1 moves 'Resilience' to new port
Crew Dragon Resilience with NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi undocked from the forward port of the International Space Station's Harmony module and re-docked to the space-facing port on the same node on Monday (April 5).
The first relocation for a U.S. commercial crew spacecraft, the move took place between 6:30 a.m. and 7:08 a.m. EDT (1030 to 1108 GMT).
The mostly-autonomous maneuver was in preparation for the arrival of the SpaceX Crew-2 Dragon in late April and the upcoming delivery of new solar arrays this summer on the CRS-22 Cargo Dragon.
Robert Pearlman
NASA release
SpaceX's Crew-1 return to Earth targeted for May 1
NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 mission with NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, and Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is now targeting a return to Earth at 11:36 a.m. EDT [1536 GMT] on Saturday, May 1, in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. The Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Resilience, is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station at 5:55 p.m. EDT [2155 GMT] on Friday, April 30, to begin the journey home.
NASA and SpaceX agreed to move Crew-1's undocking and splashdown from Wednesday, April 28, following a review of forecast weather conditions in the splashdown zones off the coast of Florida, which currently predict wind speeds above the recovery criteria. Teams will continue to monitor weather conditions for splashdown ahead of Friday's planned undocking.
The Crew Dragon will undock autonomously and depart from the space station with the capability to splashdown at one of seven targeted landing zones in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. Resilience also will return to Earth important and time-sensitive research. For normal crew rescue and recovery operations, the NASA and SpaceX teams select two primary splashdown locations from the seven possible locations about two weeks prior to return, with additional decision milestones taking place prior to crew boarding the spacecraft, during free flight, and before Crew Dragon performs a deorbit burn.
NASA and SpaceX closely coordinate with the U.S. Coast Guard to establish a 10-nautical-mile safety zone around the expected splashdown location to ensure safety for the public and for those involved in the recovery operations, as well as the crew aboard the returning spacecraft.
Robert Pearlman
NASA release
Crew-1 undocking and splashdown waved off
NASA and SpaceX have decided to move Crew-1’s undocking and splashdown from Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1, respectively, following a review of the forecast weather conditions in the splashdown zones off the coast of Florida, which continue to predict wind speeds above the return criteria.
Mission teams from NASA and SpaceX will meet again on Friday to further review opportunities for the safe return of Crew-1. Crew Dragon is in great health on the space station, and teams will continue to look for the optimal conditions for both splashdown and recovery.
Robert Pearlman
Sunday splashdown set for Crew-1
SpaceX's Crew-1 mission is now targeting a return to Earth no earlier than about 2:57 a.m. EDT (0657 GMT) Sunday (May 2), in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. The Crew Dragon Resilience is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station at 8:35 p.m. EDT on Saturday (0035 GMT May 2) to begin the journey home.
Hatch closure of the Resilience will be on Saturday at 6:20 p.m. EDT (2220 GMT).
NASA and SpaceX decided to move Crew-1's undocking and splashdown from Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1, respectively, following a review of the forecast weather conditions in the splashdown zones off the coast of Florida, which predicted wind speeds above the return criteria. Teams now forecast ideal conditions for both splashdown and recovery during the weekend.
This will be the third night splashdown in history, following the unplanned landing in a lake by cosmonauts Vyacheslav Zudov and Valery Rozhdestvensky aboard Soyuz 23 on Oct. 16, 1976, and Apollo 8's predawn return in the Pacific Ocean on Dec. 27, 1968, with NASA astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders.
Robert Pearlman
Resilience undocks from space station
The Crew Dragon Resilience undocked from the space-facing port of the International Space Station's Harmony node on Saturday (May 1) at 8:35 p.m. EDT (0035 GMT May 2).
Two short firings of Resilience's Draco thrusters gently pushed the spacecraft away from the orbiting laboratory. A series of four departure burns will further increase the distance between the two vehicles.
Splashdown is targeted for approximately 2:57 a.m. EDT (0657 GMT) Sunday off the coast of Panama City, Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.
Making a rare nighttime splashdown, four history-making astronauts have returned from the International Space Station aboard a record-setting U.S. spacecraft.
Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker of NASA and Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) landed in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Florida, on Sunday (May 2). The SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts splashed down on Crew Dragon "Resilience" after 167 days in orbit, arriving home one day shy of doubling the 84-day U.S. record set by the third crewed mission to the Skylab orbital workshop in 1974.
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