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Author Topic:   SpaceX's Crew Dragon Crew-2 mission
Robert Pearlman
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posted 07-28-2020 08:53 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA release
NASA Announces Astronauts to Fly on SpaceX Crew-2 Mission to Space Station

NASA and its international partners have assigned crew members for Crew-2, which will be the second operational SpaceX Crew Dragon flight to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

Above: The members of the SpaceX Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station. Picture from left are NASA astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet.

NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively, for the mission. JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet will join as mission specialists.

Crew-2 is targeted to launch in spring 2021, following the successful completion of both NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 test flight mission, which is expected to return to Earth Aug. 2, and the launch of NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 mission, which is targeted for late September. The Crew-2 astronauts will remain aboard the space station for approximately six months as expedition crew members, along with three crewmates who will launch via a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. The increase of the full space station crew complement to seven members – over the previous six – will allow NASA to effectively double the amount of science that can be conducted in space.

This will be Kimbrough's third trip to space and his second long-duration stay at the space station. Born in Killeen, Texas, and raised in Atlanta, Kimbrough was selected as an astronaut in 2004. He first launched aboard space shuttle Endeavour for a visit to the station on the STS-126 mission in 2008, then aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft for Expedition 49/50 in 2016. He has spent a total of 189 days in space, and performed six spacewalks. Kimbrough also is a retired U.S. Army colonel and earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and a master's degree in operations research from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

McArthur will be making her second trip to space, but her first to the station. She was born in Honolulu but considers California to be her home state. After being selected as an astronaut in 2000, she launched on space shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist on STS-125, the final Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, in 2009. McArthur operated the shuttle's robotic arm over the course of the 12 days and 21 hours she spent in space, capturing the telescope and moving crew members during the five spacewalks needed to repair and upgrade it. She holds a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a doctorate in oceanography from the University of California, San Diego.

This will be Hoshide's third spaceflight. He was part of the STS-124 mission aboard space shuttle Discovery in 2008 and a crew member for Expeditions 32 and 33, launching aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 2012 for a 124-day visit to the station. Pesquet previously flew as part of Expeditions 50 and 51, launching aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft and spending 196 days in space.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 01-29-2021 02:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA release
NASA, SpaceX to Launch Second Commercial Crew Rotation Mission to International Space Station

NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Tuesday, April 20, for launch of the second crew rotation mission with astronauts on an American rocket and spacecraft from the United States to the International Space Station.

Above: Members of the SpaceX Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station participated in training in Hawthorne, California, on Jan. 11, 2021. Pictured from left are ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet, NASA astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide.

NASA's SpaceX Crew-2 mission will launch four astronauts aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket to the space station. It will be the first mission to fly two international partner crew members as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program.

NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet will join as mission specialists.

The mission will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew is scheduled for a long-duration stay aboard the orbiting laboratory, living and working as part of what is expected to be a seven-member crew.

Crew-2 also is expected to arrive at the space station to overlap with the astronauts that flew to the station as part of the agency's SpaceX Crew-1 mission.

Return of Crew-1 with NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, along with JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, is currently scheduled for late April or early May. Crew-2 astronauts are set to return in fall 2021.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 04-21-2021 08:09 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA release
NASA, SpaceX Reschedule Launch

NASA and SpaceX now are targeting 5:49 a.m. EDT (0949 GMT) Friday, April 23, for the launch of the agency's Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station due to unfavorable weather conditions along the flight path on Thursday.

Although conditions around the launch site were expected to be favorable for liftoff, mission teams also must consider conditions along the flight path and recovery area in the unlikely event of a launch escape.

For a launch April 23, the U.S. Space Force 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions at the launch pad for liftoff of the Crew-2 mission based on Falcon 9 Crew Dragon launch weather criteria. Conditions also are expected to improve along the flight path and recovery area for the mission. The primary weather concerns for the launch area will be liftoff winds.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 04-23-2021 01:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Astronauts depart for launchpad

Crew-2 astronauts Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, Thomas Pesquet and Aki Hoshide exited their crew quarters at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building and departed for Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:35 a.m. EDT (0635 GMT) on Friday (April 23).

The astronauts' ride to the pad were two customized Tesla Model X electric SUVs outfitted with cooling air for their pressure suits. Their vehicles traveled as part of a convoy including support team members and security personnel. Kimbrough and McArthur rode together in one car, with Pesquet and Hoshide in the other.

The crew's two vehicles, together with a third carrying support personnel, had the license plates "REDUCE", "REUSE" and "RECYCLE" as a nod to Earth Day on Thursday and the mission being the first to reuse a Falcon 9 first stage and a Crew Dragon capsule.

The countdown continues for the scheduled 5:49 a.m. EDT (0949 GMT) launch.

Robert Pearlman
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From: Houston, TX
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posted 04-23-2021 02:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Crew members climb aboard Endeavour

Crew-2 astronauts Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, Thomas Pesquet and Aki Hoshide 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, "Endeavour."

Commander Kimbrough entered the Dragon first and took Seat 3, followed by pilot McArthur in Seat 2. Mission specialist Pesquet then ingressed and was seated to McArthur's right in Seat 1, followed by Hoshide, also a mission specialist, in Seat 4 to Kimbrough's left.

McArthur is sitting in the same seat, on board the same spacecraft, as her husband, Bob Behnken, sat for SpaceX's Demo-2 mission in 2020.

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
Editor

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From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 04-23-2021 02:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Endeavour hatch closed for launch

The side hatch through which the Crew-2 astronauts entered their Dragon spacecraft was closed and a leak check is complete.

Launch of the Crew Dragon Endeavour carrying Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, Thomas Pesquet and Aki Hoshide remains on track for 5:49 a.m. EDT (0949 GMT) from Kennedy Space Center.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 04-23-2021 04:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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-2 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.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 04-23-2021 04:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
collectSPACE
SpaceX launches Crew-2 to space station on reused rocket, capsule

Four astronauts have lifted off for the International Space Station on NASA's first crewed mission to fly on a reused SpaceX rocket stage and crew capsule.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon "Endeavour," which splashed down from a demonstration mission to the space station in August 2020, launched again on Friday (April 23) with NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Pesquet and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut (JAXA) Aki Hoshide. The Crew-2 mission flew from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:49 a.m. EDT (0949 GMT), boosted by the Falcon 9 first stage that lifted off with the Crew-1 mission in November.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 04-24-2021 04:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Endeavour docks to space station

"Endeavour" docked to the International Space Station on Saturday (April 24), marking the first return of SpaceX Crew Dragon to the orbital complex.

Endeavour, carrying Crew-2 astronauts Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, Thomas Pesquet and Aki Hoshide, docked to the forward-facing port of the space station's Harmony node at 5:08 a.m. EDT (0908 GMT). The autonomous docking marked the end of a 23-hour rendezvous.

Beginning its approach to the space station from below, the Endeavour 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 7:44 a.m. EDT (1144 GMT), joining Expedition 65 commander Shannon Walker and flight engineers Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, Soichi Noguchi, Mark Vande Hei, Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 07-21-2021 07:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Endeavour relocates to open port on station

SpaceX's Crew-2 astronauts relocated their Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft on Wednesday, (July 21), setting the stage for a historic first when two different U.S. commercial crew spacecraft will be docked to the International Space Station at the same time.

Endeavour autonomously undocked from the forward port of the space station's Harmony module at 6:45 a.m. EDT and relocated to the space-facing port at 7:35 a.m. EDT (1045 to 1135 GMT). NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet were aboard the Crew Dragon for the relocation.

The move freed up Harmony's forward port for the docking of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner, scheduled for launch Friday, July 30, as part of the spacecraft's Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2).

Robert Pearlman
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posted 11-05-2021 08:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA release
SpaceX Crew-2 to return to Earth

NASA's SpaceX Crew-2 mission now is targeting a return to Earth no earlier than 7:14 a.m. EST Monday, Nov. 8, with a splashdown off the coast of Florida. The Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station at 1:05 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, to begin the journey home.

NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Aki Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet will complete 199 days in space at the conclusion of their mission. The spacecraft also will return to Earth with about 530 pounds of hardware and scientific investigations.

Endeavour will undock autonomously and perform a fly around maneuver to photograph the exterior of the International Space Station. Once the maneuver is completed, the Crew Dragon spacecraft will aim for a splashdown at one of seven targeted landing zones in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida.

NASA and SpaceX also have a backup undocking and splashdown opportunity available Monday, Nov. 8, if weather conditions are not favorable for the primary opportunity.

The NASA and SpaceX teams will determine a primary and alternate splashdown location from the seven possible landing locations prior to return, factoring in weather, crew rescue, and recovery operations. Additional decision milestones take place prior to undocking, during free flight, and before Crew Dragon performs the deorbit burn.

NASA and SpaceX closely coordinate with the U.S. Coast Guard to establish a 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
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posted 11-06-2021 08:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA update
NASA's SpaceX Crew-2 mission now is targeting a return to Earth no earlier than 7:14 a.m. EST (1214 GMT) Monday, Nov. 8, with a splashdown off the coast of Florida. The Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station at 12:04 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, to begin the journey home.

Endeavour now will forego a fly around maneuver to photograph the exterior of the International Space Station to allow for additional, alternative splashdown locations off the coast of Florida.

NASA and SpaceX also have a backup undocking and splashdown opportunity available Monday, Nov. 8, if weather conditions are not favorable for the primary opportunity.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 11-07-2021 08:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA update
NASA's SpaceX Crew-2 mission now is targeting a return to Earth no earlier than 10:33 p.m. EST Monday, Nov. 8 (0333 GMT Nov. 9), with a splashdown off the coast of Florida.

The Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station at 2:05 p.m. EST (1905 GMT) Monday, Nov. 8, to begin the journey home. Mission teams decided to adjust the Sunday, Nov. 7, undocking following a planned weather review showing high winds unfavorable for recovery near the splashdown zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 11-08-2021 11:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA and SpaceX video
Watch as four astronauts board their SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft and prepare for the journey home to Earth, after a mission of over six months on the International Space Station.

Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur of NASA, Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency, and Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency say farewell to their fellow crew members on the station and close the Crew Dragon's hatch.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 11-08-2021 01:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Endeavour undocks from space station

The Crew Dragon Endeavour undocked from the space-facing port of the International Space Station's Harmony node on Monday (Nov. 8) at 2:05 p.m. EST (1905 GMT).

Short firings of Endeavour's Draco thrusters gently pushed the spacecraft away from the orbiting complex to then begin a flyaround survey of the space station.

A series of departure burns will then increase the distance between the Dragon and space station, culminating in a deorbit burn at 9:39 p.m. EST (0239 GMT Nov. 9). Splashdown is targeted for 10:33 p.m. EST (0333 GMT Nov. 9) off the coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 11-08-2021 09:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
collectSPACE
SpaceX Crew-2 splash down from station on Dragon Endeavour

Four astronauts have returned safely from the International Space Station, less than 11 days shy of their spacecraft's on-orbit limit.

Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur with NASA, Thomas Pesquet with the European Space Agency (ESA) and Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) splashed down on board the SpaceX Crew Dragon "Endeavour" on Monday (Nov. 8). Their landing at 10:33 p.m. EST (0333 GMT Nov 9) off the coast of Pensacola, Florida in the Gulf of Mexico brought an end to the 199-day Crew-2 mission.

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