NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari and Kayla Barron, together with European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Matthias Maurer, are assigned to fly the Crew-3 mission.
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 1195 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 12-14-2020 11:14 AM
Given how NASA has been talking up how nice it is to have seven astronauts/cosmonauts aboard the ISS for conducting science, does anyone know why NASA is only sending three astronauts instead of four for Crew 3?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-14-2020 11:15 AM
Per NASA:
A fourth crew member will be added at a later date, following a review by NASA and its international partners.
It is expected that the fourth crew member will be a Roscosmos cosmonaut.
dcfowler1 Member
Posts: 123 From: Eugene, OR Registered: May 2006
posted 12-14-2020 11:57 PM
Interesting that Chari will be a rookie commander.
David C Member
Posts: 1334 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
posted 12-15-2020 04:50 AM
This is one of the points of Dragon. There isn't a whole lot of commanding to do. Certainly no real stick wiggling. Any video game jockey can learn to do it.
I mean it's probably a Cooper-Harper 5 or something, but there's not a rush to do anything, so the lack of feedback and lousy interface are no big deal.
Is it sufficiently reliable? Only time will tell.
Skylon Member
Posts: 311 From: Registered: Sep 2010
posted 12-15-2020 06:32 AM
To the "rookie commander" comments, it is unique in the sense that it is the first time NASA is flying a rookie commander with a veteran astronaut (Tom Marshburn in this case) aboard. Any time NASA flew a rookie commander, the entire crew were first time flyers.
I think this also makes clear, in spite of Dragon's automation, NASA still prefers someone with a piloting background in command of the vehicle.
MSS Member
Posts: 963 From: Europe Registered: May 2003
posted 03-31-2021 04:05 PM
Schedule launch date for Crew-3 was changed from September 13 to October 20, 2021. Is it true, someone hear about it? Thanks.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-05-2021 03:32 PM
From a NASA release today (April 5):
NASA and SpaceX are continuing to prepare for the Crew-3 mission, targeted as early as Saturday, Oct. 23...
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
She is currently in training for NASA SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station.
Delta7 Member
Posts: 1680 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007
posted 05-05-2021 08:57 AM
The official NASA biographies of both Kjell Lindgren and Bob Hines mention they are training as backup crewmembers for Crew 3, in addition to their assignment as Crew 4 prime crew members.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-10-2021 12:17 PM
NASA has now removed mention of Crew-3 from Barron's biography.
brianjbradley Member
Posts: 140 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Dec 2010
posted 05-10-2021 12:33 PM
The uncertainty of a flight assignment for Kayla Barron must be frustrating for her. Reminiscent of a few shuttle stories.
Skylon Member
Posts: 311 From: Registered: Sep 2010
posted 05-11-2021 07:24 AM
Maybe, to a point. I think she likely has some comfort her day is coming "soon" seeing as she was announced as one of the candidates for Artemis and there seems to be a press to get the rookies in that pool to fly missions before the first Artemis crews are named.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-17-2021 01:17 PM
Despite the on-again, off-again edits to her biography, NASA has now formally assigned Kayla Barron to serve as a mission specialist on SpaceX Crew-3.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-14-2021 10:25 AM
NASA and SpaceX are now targeting the launch of Crew-3 no earlier than Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021.
Crew-3 will launch on a new Crew Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin a six-month science mission at the space station.
brianjbradley Member
Posts: 140 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Dec 2010
posted 06-14-2021 01:32 PM
Tom Marshburn tweeted that Stephanie Wilson is training with Crew-3 as a back-up. No note on the official JSC bio, though.
SpaceBram New Member
Posts: 9 From: Belgium Registered: Mar 2017
posted 06-22-2021 01:33 PM
With 27 years of age between NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn (born 1960) and Kayla Barron (born 1987), I think we have the record of biggest age gap between members of the same crew. Incredible!
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 1195 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 06-22-2021 02:13 PM
I believe John Glenn and Pedro Duque have the largest age differential amongst a crew. They flew on STS-95. Born 1921 and 1963 respectively.
SpaceBram New Member
Posts: 9 From: Belgium Registered: Mar 2017
posted 06-23-2021 12:08 AM
Correct. I forgot about the second flight of John Glenn. Well, let's say Crew 3 is the flight with the biggest age difference between the professional astronauts in the crew (as Glenn was a passenger on that flight).
MSS Member
Posts: 963 From: Europe Registered: May 2003
posted 08-07-2021 05:27 AM
Crew-3 official crew portrait from Matthias Maurer (via Flickr):
SpaceX Crew-3 porait with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Thomas Marshburn, Kayla Barron and ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-07-2021 01:28 PM
Crew-3 has named their new SpaceX Crew Dragon "Endurance."
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 1195 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 10-07-2021 02:29 PM
Does anyone but me miss fun names like Molly Brown or Charlie Brown? I realize that the NASA/ESA astronauts are naming the spacecraft, but SpaceX has shown a nice sense of humor with regards to naming their vessels.
oly Member
Posts: 1370 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 10-07-2021 10:48 PM
There is a catch 22 situation in naming the vehicles.
If they name it something inspirational the public believes the crew takes the honour of being an astronaut seriously and taxpayers dollars are being well spent, if they name it something fun some people will cry foul that the astronauts are there to work, not have fun at taxpayers expense (between yelling at kids to get of their lawn)
I would love to see more spacecraft given fun names and would even love to see things like the nose art from WW2 be given a modern twist or more vehicle names appropriated from sci-fi.
I think it would make a great photo op to pull up to the ISS with a capsule named "abandon all hope."
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-13-2021 04:53 PM
From Kayla Barron (via Instagram):
Spacesuits... but make it fashion.
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3457 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 10-26-2021 10:11 PM
I should know this, but: What's the last American space mission in which just one of the crew was a veteran and the rest - doesn't matter the crew size - were all rookies?
I'm thinking Mission 51C, where Mattingly had flown before and the rest not, but was there a later flight?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-27-2021 05:40 PM
From Matthias Maurer (via Twitter):
Yesterday we saw our SpaceX Endurance capsule in Hangar 39A. This Sunday we will be launched to the International Space Station from the same launchpad as the Apollo astronauts who travelled to the Moon. It's surreal and humbling, but also, rockets are quite heavy.
ManInSpace Member
Posts: 283 From: Brooklin, Ontario Canada Registered: Feb 2018
posted 10-28-2021 11:59 AM
Always appreciate the high quality photographic updates that you post, Robert.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-28-2021 12:05 PM
Thanks! I try to pick out interesting photos rather than just post them all. This crew (Crew-3) has in particular been quite good.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-10-2021 03:43 PM
SpaceX and NASA live video
SpaceX and NASA are targeting as soon as Wednesday, November 10 for Falcon 9's launch of Dragon's third long-duration crew mission (Crew-3) to the International Space Station from historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The instantaneous launch window opens at 9:03 p.m. EST, or 2:03 UTC on November 11, with a backup opportunity available on Thursday, November 11 at 8:40 p.m. EST, or 1:40 UTC on November 12.
Following stage separation, Falcon 9's first stage will land on the "A Shortfall of Gravitas" droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2816 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 11-10-2021 05:42 PM
What time is docking scheduled?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-10-2021 05:53 PM
Assuming a launch tonight, then docking will follow 22 hours later at approximately 7:10 p.m. EST on Thursday (0010 GMT Nov. 12).
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2816 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 11-10-2021 08:39 PM
We had some slight cloud cover but from here in Georgia, west of Savannah, our launch photo:
328KF Member
Posts: 1351 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 11-11-2021 01:35 PM
I was surprised to be able to see the second stage burning from Charlotte, North Carolina, but even more surprised when the bright green meteor dropped right across Crew Dragon’s flight path and exploded behind the trees!
Quite a sight... one captured by at least one photographer that I’ve seen so far.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-11-2021 02:47 PM
Endurance is arriving early at the space station.
Crew Dragon Endurance is now expected to dock with the space station at 6:33 p.m. EST [2333 GMT].
The hatch opening and welcome ceremony are also expected to move ahead in the timeline.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-03-2022 01:18 PM
From Kathy Lueders, NASA's Associate Administrator of the Space Operations Mission Directorate (via Twitter):
Teams from NASA and SpaceX now are targeting Crew-3 undocking at 1:05 a.m. EDT on Thursday, May 5 from the International Space Station. Splashdown off of Florida’s coast is planned about 12:37 a.m. EDT Friday, May 6. The new undocking time allows for shorter phasing and more time to review the latest forecast info.
Weather is being watched closely to confirm selected primary and alternate sites are good for return, and we'll conduct another weather review about 24-hours before undocking to determine whether we are GO to proceed. More to come.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-05-2022 12:21 AM
NASA video
Join us to watch the Crew Dragon Endurance undock live from space with the four crew members of NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 aboard: NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron, as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer.
Undocking from the International Space Station (ISS) began at 1:20 a.m. EDT (5:20 UTC), on Thursday, May 5.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-05-2022 07:04 PM
NASA video
The four astronauts of Crew-3 are on the way home to Earth. Watch live as they reenter the atmosphere and splash down off the coast of Florida. Splashdown is targeted for 12:37 a.m. EDT (4:37 UTC), Friday, May 6.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48317 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-05-2022 11:07 PM
NASA update (via Twitter):
Crew-3's Dragon Endurance will splash down from the southwest, passing over southern Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula. Here's where you might be able to see it during reentry:
posted 12-14-2020 11:14 AM
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