NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, together with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi are assigned to fly the Crew-1 mission.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-01-2020 11:35 AM
From SpaceX via Twitter:
Once Demo-2 is complete, and the SpaceX and NASA teams have reviewed all the data for certification, SpaceX will launch Crew Dragon's first six-month operational mission (Crew-1) later this year. The Crew-1 spacecraft is in production and astronaut training is well underway.
SPACEFACTS Member
Posts: 346 From: Germany Registered: Aug 2006
posted 05-02-2020 09:47 AM
NASA public affairs officer Rob Navias just told me that the specific designations spacecraft commander and joint operations commander only apply to SpaceX's Demo-2 (and Boeing's CFT), the test flights. After that that it will be commander, pilot and mission specialists.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-08-2020 12:29 PM
From Johnson Space Center via Twitter:
Crew 1 astronauts – NASA's Victor Glover, Mike Hopkins and Shannon Walker, along with JAXA's (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Soichi Noguchi — continue training on International Space Station systems in preparation for the first operational Crew Dragon launch later this year.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-14-2020 07:42 PM
SpaceX photo release
Crew Dragon commander Michael Hopkins, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Shannon Walker – all NASA astronauts – and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut and mission specialist Soichi Noguchi participate in training exercises on July 21, 2020, in preparation for NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 mission.
Headshot Member
Posts: 991 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 08-15-2020 12:12 AM
Was any explanation given why the water training was not performed in SpaceX spacesuits? Or does the crew have the option of changing into these orange suits before egressing Dragon after landing at sea?
oly Member
Posts: 1210 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 08-15-2020 01:57 AM
Given the damage saltwater immersion does to equipment I suspect that SpaceX would be hesitant to manufacture suits for water egress training unless there was no other alternative.
Having previously undertaken water rescue training, helicopter ditching and water rollover egress training, and rescue winch retrieval training, it has been my experience that alternative equipment, more suitable (pardon the pun) for saltwater immersion and post use washing is common.
I have used flight rated equipment, including helmets, flight and g-suits, and buoyancy vests during rescue training, however, such equipment had already been removed from service as aircrew clothing and been relegated to the "training aid" status. I doubt SpaceX have sufficient worn out or pre-owned spacesuits in their inventory yet.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-25-2020 11:45 PM
From Victor Glover (via Twitter):
Crew-1 is complete with Dragon Rider training. We've got our license to fly! Thank you to all that made this possible. We hope to make you proud!
Crew-1 final spacewalk underwater training is completed, with flying colors! Thanks all the divers and support operators at NBL and instructors at JSC!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-29-2020 09:57 AM
NASA video
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and leadership from NASA and SpaceX discuss the upcoming SpaceX Crew-1 mission, which will be the first crew rotational flight of a U.S. commercial spacecraft to the International Space Station.
Astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker of NASA and Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are targeted to launch on Oct. 31 at 2:40 a.m. EDT aboard the Crew Dragon from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
SpaceAngel Member
Posts: 349 From: Maryland Registered: May 2010
posted 09-29-2020 10:43 AM
Define coincidence; the mission will take off on the 20th anniversary marker of the start of the ISS Expeditions.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-29-2020 11:00 AM
NASA video
SpaceX and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) join NASA in giving an overview of the Crew-1 mission, the first crew rotational flight of a U.S. commercial spacecraft to the International Space Station.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-29-2020 12:33 PM
NASA video
The next crew to launch from U.S. soil to the International Space Station talk about their upcoming mission.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-29-2020 01:09 PM
The Crew-1 astronauts have named their Dragon spacecraft "Resilience."
David C Member
Posts: 1267 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
posted 09-30-2020 02:36 AM
Full marks for picking something new.
I’m not sure it’s a great radio call though. A bit of a mouthful and I doubt it’s the best in difficult reception conditions. Still, that’s their (potential) problem.
oly Member
Posts: 1210 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 09-30-2020 08:03 AM
I guess that the crew and flight controllers will rehearse using their call sign prior to their mission and should become adept with the word, and the transmissions will be on a controlled loop where all users will be expecting to hear it.
Given that there are not many stations using the communications loop that require a call sign it probably does not matter for mission reasons if they use it or not. There is not going to to many conflicting radio calls from other traffic.
Given the current environment I think this call sign is a great choice.
David C Member
Posts: 1267 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
posted 10-01-2020 12:00 AM
Good points.
CMD_OVRD Member
Posts: 46 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Jul 2009
posted 10-05-2020 08:14 PM
Even after the Demo-2 crew introduced “Endeavour” to the world, flight controllers alternated between “Dragon” and “Endeavour” on the comm loops throughout the flight. It comes down to how quickly something needs to be said or how routine the transmission is. Pilots and air traffic controllers will sometimes do the same thing when things get really busy (although this can sometimes create even more confusion). I suspect we’ll hear the same “shorthand” during the Crew-1 mission given that “Resilience” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.
SpaceAngel Member
Posts: 349 From: Maryland Registered: May 2010
posted 10-10-2020 03:23 PM
Launch of NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station is now targeted for no sooner than early-to-mid November, providing additional time for SpaceX to complete hardware testing and data reviews as the company evaluates off-nominal behavior of Falcon 9 first stage engine gas generators observed during a recent non-NASA mission launch attempt.
What a shame the mission has been delayed until mid-November; so much for launching on the 20th anniversary marker of the first ISS expedition...
In addition, why couldn't SpaceX use another rocket in the mean time?
OV-105 Member
Posts: 856 From: Ridgecrest, CA Registered: Sep 2000
posted 10-10-2020 03:41 PM
SpaceX only has the Falcon 9 and all of their rockets use the Merlin engines. What other rocket could they use?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-10-2020 03:44 PM
The extra time is to verify that the problem is not systematic to multiple Merlin engines across different Falcon 9 rockets, rather than being vehicle-specific.
Per Elon Musk, the concern is an "unexpected pressure rise in the turbomachinery gas generator" that triggered the abort of the Oct. 2 launch of a GPS satellite.
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 1042 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 10-10-2020 06:14 PM
Given their Falcon 9 launch on Oct. 6 it appears that SpaceX is simply being ultra-cautious with a manned crew. That is excellent in my opinion.
ejectr Member
Posts: 1830 From: Killingly, CT Registered: Mar 2002
posted 10-11-2020 08:03 AM
Bad things can happen when things are rushed. They know what they're doing. Good for them.
oly Member
Posts: 1210 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 10-11-2020 07:16 PM
quote:Originally posted by SpaceAngel: why couldn't SpaceX use another rocket in the mean time?
SpaceX development of the Falcon 9 rocket was "frozen" with the Block 5 design so that crew rated accreditation could be achieved. In theory, any Falcon 9 first stage could be used for either a crewed or cargo mission, and they could be interchanged between mission types.
Any anomaly or aberration that occurs needs to be investigated to determine what happened, why it happened, the probability of it happening again, and does it require a change or modification to prevent it happening again.
Until the event has been investigated and the cause identified, there is no way of telling if such an event could not occur again on another serial number vehicle or engine. If the investigation identifies the root cause, then applicable actions can be introduced.
SpaceX probably has just as many fans as they do detractors, and they are trying to get regular crewed spaceflight operations established. Having a failure is the last thing they need whilst trying to establish regular crewed spaceflight operations.
NASA and other administrative bodies would also require an investigation process be carried out, and that any corrective actions align with the crewed rating accreditation approval.
MSS Member
Posts: 887 From: Europe Registered: May 2003
posted 10-14-2020 07:24 PM
According to Future Expeditions | NASA SpaceX Crew-1 launch is scheduled not earlier then November 11, 2020.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-21-2020 10:00 AM
From Kathy Lueders, NASA's associate administrator for human exploration and operations (via Twitter):
We are making a lot of good progress with SpaceX on engine testing to better understand the unexpected behavior observed during a recent non-NASA launch. It's too early to report findings at this point, as SpaceX continues testing to validate what's believed to be the most credible cause.
Based on our current analysis, SpaceX is replacing one Merlin engine for the Crew-1 rocket that displayed similar early-start behavior during testing. We are still working towards a mid-November launch for Crew-1.
SpaceAngel Member
Posts: 349 From: Maryland Registered: May 2010
posted 10-24-2020 06:10 AM
Just out of curiosity; is there an exact time when lift-off will occur on 11/11?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-24-2020 08:57 AM
An exact time is not known as Nov. 11 is only the no earlier than date. A launch that day would be around 9:00 p.m. EST.
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 1042 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 10-24-2020 01:00 PM
Interestingly enough, 11/11, aside from being Armistice day, would have an even more fitting symbolic meaning on that day if they do launch. It's the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower landing in Massachusetts.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-26-2020 06:17 PM
NASA and SpaceX now are targeting 7:49 p.m. EST on Saturday, Nov. 14 (0049 GMT Nov. 15) for the Crew-1 launch.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-27-2020 01:19 PM
While the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is only offering launch viewing from its main campus, Gray Line has a package providing access to the Apollo/Saturn V Center (which otherwise remains closed due to the Kennedy Space Center's pandemic status).
Witness the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying astronauts to the International Space Station, marking the beginning of a new era of space exploration. This is the closest viewing area available, just 3 miles from the launch pad 39A with a clear line of sight. Join Gray Line as you ride with them out to Kennedy Space Center. After clearing security and entering the visitor complex you will have a little time to explore, before you have to board the bus out to the Apollo/Saturn V Center.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-28-2020 04:03 PM
In a call with reporters today (Oct. 28), Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX's vice president for build and flight reliability, said that the investigation into a recent abort was traced back to a nail polish-like lacquer that had seeped through a 1/16th-inch (1.57 mm) vent hole and then hardened inside a line leading to a relief valve as part of the engine's gas generator. The blocked line caused a rise in pressure that was detected by sensors, leading to the abort.
The same condition was found in two of the nine Merlin engines on the Crew-1 Falcon 9 and so those engines were replaced. (In total, six engines across multiple vehicles were found to have the intrusion.)
NASA and SpaceX are still working toward a Nov. 14 launch. The astronauts will enter quarantine on Oct. 31 and fly to Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 6. A static fire with the Falcon 9 booster is planned for Nov. 9.
SpaceAngel Member
Posts: 349 From: Maryland Registered: May 2010
posted 10-29-2020 04:21 PM
What are the chances of meeting this launch schedule on time?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-29-2020 04:47 PM
As of today, NASA and SpaceX remain on track for Nov. 14, but just like any other mission, there are still many things that have to go right before Crew-1 can launch. NASA still needs to hold flight readiness and launch readiness reviews, SpaceX still needs to conduct a static fire with the Falcon 9, the weather needs to cooperate, and so on.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-06-2020 01:10 PM
SpaceX photo
The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 mission arrived at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A on Thursday, Nov. 5, after making the trek from its processing facility at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-08-2020 11:30 AM
NASA video
Watch live as all four NASA SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts arrive at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, Nov. 8, ahead of their launch to the International Space Station for the first fully certified mission of the Commercial Crew Program.
Administrator Jim Bridenstine will join deputy administrator Jim Morhard and Junichi Sakai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to welcome NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Michael Hopkins, Shannon Walker, and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-09-2020 05:35 PM
SpaceX photos
Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 in the hangar at Launch Complex 39A ahead of launching four astronauts to the space station.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-10-2020 09:53 AM
SpaceX photos
Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon vertical on Launch Complex 39A.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 46202 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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oly Member
Posts: 1210 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 11-10-2020 06:54 PM
Congratulations to SpaceX for gaining complete certification of the first human-rated commercial space system. A significant milestone in spaceflight history.
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3291 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 11-11-2020 08:58 AM
Agreed! And I can't help noticing that this first operational Dragon launch will be a night launch. It took NASA over 11 years to launch a crew at night.
posted 05-01-2020 11:35 AM
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