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Mark of the Dragon: You can now mark the historic first docking by a commercial crewed spacecraft with a stamp and an envelope (or postcard). A new pictorial postmark depicting SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule approaching the International Space Station is now available on request from the U.S. post office serving the NASA Johnson Space Center community in Houston. The postmark can be set for any date, allowing its use for future SpaceX missions, too.
Tremor: What is pink and blue and sequined all over? Tremor, the "stowaway" aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour. Revealed by Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken as the toy Apatosaurus chosen by their dinosaur-loving sons, the zero-g indicator is part of the Ty Flippables line of color-changing stuffed dolls. Tremor began to float after the spacecraft entered Earth orbit, tethered to an empty seat.
Human Kind: Tristan Eaton is no stranger to seeing his work in high places. A street artist who has created designer toys, Eaton's multi story tall murals have graced the side of city buildings. But his next exhibition is bound for new heights. "Human Kind," his series of indestructible, two sided paintings, is flying on SpaceX's first Dragon to launch with NASA astronauts to the International Space Station.
Boots on the Moooo'n: Move over Mission to Marzipan, Ben & Jerry's has a new space-themed flavor. Boots on the Moooo'n, a new Limited Batch, is an ode to the Netflix series "Space Force," launching Friday (May 29) on the streaming service. Boots on the Moooo'n ice cream has fudge cows, toffee meteors and a cookie dough core.
Savage on SpaceX: As a maker, a fan of all things NASA and former "Mythbusters" host, Adam Savage has a lot to like about the first launch of astronauts on a SpaceX rocket. He will share his enthusiasm for the flight during Discovery and Science Channel's live launch simulcast, but first Savage shared his thoughts on SpaceX's Dragon, new spacesuits and storytelling in a new interview.
Sun-baked meatball: After over a decade of exposure to the Florida space coast's air and sun, the 10 story tall NASA logo emblazoned on the side of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) had begun to fade. With human space launches set to resume from the Kennedy Space Center, it was time to restore the insignia, called the "meatball," and its adjacent American flag, to their former full-color glory.
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Flag captured: A day after arriving on board the International Space Station, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken claimed victory on behalf of SpaceX in a game of capture the flag. The two Demo-2 crewmates displayed the United States flag left by the final space shuttle mission for the first U.S. company to launch astronauts to the station. The flag will be returned to Earth aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon.
'Dragon arriving': Before Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley arrived aboard the International Space Station on Sunday (May 31), they first had a chance to take control of their SpaceX Crew Dragon ("Endeavour"). Flying by touch (the capsule is equipped with touchscreens), the two found it flew "just like the sim." The capsule then took over, flying the first autonomous docking by a U.S. crewed vehicle.
Capsule 206: The United States now has its third crewed spacecraft named "Endeavour." Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley revealed the name of their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule after it carried them into Earth orbit. Behnken and Hurley chose "Endeavour" for the retired space shuttle on which they first flew. The name was first selected by the Apollo 15 crew for their moon-bound command module.
The 'worm': After 30 years being buried, the "worm" is back in force. NASA's retired logo, which was in use at the agency from 1975 to 1992, has gone from being limited to apparel and souvenirs to becoming part of SpaceX's historic first launch of astronauts. "The NASA style guide is very clear, the worm no longer exists — but I write the style guide," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said about the decision to bring back the worm for the Demo-2 mission.
Bob & Doug's excellent machine: From its start, SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft was designed to be a 21st century capsule, so its first astronaut crew resisted adding their own touches from the past. DM-2 crewmates Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley avoided turning the Dragon into "Bob and Doug's excellent machine," though as veterans of the space shuttle, did customize their craft with Velcro.
Missing mission patch: Despite having two official designs, the crew of SpaceX's Demo-2 mission will be the first NASA astronauts to launch not wearing a mission patch since the Gemini 4 crew in 1965. SpaceX's spacesuits are adorned with NASA's and the company's logos, as well as Bob Behnken's and Doug Hurley's names, but forgoes a 55-year colorful tradition by omitting a place for the patch.
Trees, tags and traditions: NASA's first two astronauts set to launch from U.S. soil since the space shuttle was retired have borrowed ideas from other programs to start a new set of traditions for commercial spacecraft crews preparing to fly into space. Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley planted a tree and tagged a simulator in the lead up to their arrival in Florida on Wednesday (May 20), where they soon will lift off aboard SpaceX's first crewed Dragon capsule.
Artemis Accords: The Apollo moon landing sites and other areas of historical importance on the lunar surface will be left undisturbed if NASA's newly-announced principles for joint exploration are followed. Countries that want to join NASA's Artemis program will be held to the "Artemis Accords," the U.S. space agency's framework for the "safe, peaceful and prosperous" utilization of the moon.
Astrovan X: Neither Bob Behnken nor Doug Hurley will be able to call shotgun when they leave for the launchpad to liftoff on SpaceX's Demo-2 mission. The first two astronauts set to fly on board a Dragon spacecraft, they will ride in the backseats of a Tesla Model X out to their waiting Falcon 9 rocket. The electric SUV displays NASA's insignia on its doors and the "worm" logotype on its rear window.
Welcome to Jamestown: Astronaut Garrett Reisman, who served as a technical advisor on the Apple TV+ series "For All Mankind," is the narrator of new video tour of Jamestown, the show's Apollo-era moon base. As shown in the video, the lunar outpost includes a number of nods to real-life space history; details that even the most fervent of watchers may have missed during the series' first season.
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