posted 05-08-2020 01:35 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by AstroCasey:
...it does appear to be a first.

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posted 05-08-2020 08:10 PM            

Proper head restraint was cited as a possible improvement in the Columbia accident investigation report, but that could better be accomplished with better seat design without compromising mobility/visibility in the suits during normal ops.

posted 05-08-2020 11:36 PM               

Building a spacesuit that can achieve flexibility and mobility in space whilst maintaining the suit pressure equal to the ISS cabin pressure is difficult.

quote:

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Originally posted by 328KF:
...having two large David Clark earphones on either side of the head inside a soft helmet looks pretty painful in an "off nominal" situation.

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posted 05-13-2020 11:59 AM               

For example, anyone who will come on site or interact with the crew during the quarantine period, as well as any VIPs, will be screened for temperature and symptoms. Hurley and Behnken, as well as those in direct, close contact with the crew will be tested twice for the virus as a precaution.

posted 05-16-2020 02:41 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by 328KF:
...NASA has yet to release an official crew portrait

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jsc2019e017848 (April 30, 2020) --- NASA astronauts Robert Behnken (left) and Doug Hurley will launch to the International Space Station on the Demo-2 mission – the crew flight test of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. Credit: SpaceX/Ashish Sharma

posted 05-16-2020 08:26 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by AstroCasey:
Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover are the backup crew.

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Group portrait photos of SpaceX Crew Flight Test (Demo-2) crew & backup crews - From left to right: Victor Glover, Mike Hopkins, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken.

posted 05-16-2020 03:46 PM               

Kjell is their backup, but he is not in quarantine with them.

posted 05-18-2020 08:47 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Headshot:
How many Falcon 9 launches will be conducted from LC-39A before the Demo-2 mission lifts off?

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Standing down from the Starlink mission, due to tropical storm Arthur, until after launch of Crew Demo-2.

posted 05-20-2020 10:18 AM               

• -00:45:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
  
• -00:42:00 Crew access arm retracts
  
• -00:37:00 Dragon launch escape system is armed
  
• -00:35:00 RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
  
• -00:35:00 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
  
• -00:16:00 2nd stage LOX loading begins
  
• -00:07:00 Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
  
• -00:05:00 Dragon transitions to internal power
  
• -00:01:00 Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
  
• -00:01:00 Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
  
• -00:00:45 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
  
• -00:00:03 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
  
• -00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff

• +00:00:58 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
  
• +00:02:30 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
  
• +00:02:34 1st and 2nd stages separate
  
• +00:02:36 2nd stage engine starts
  
• +00:07:12 1st stage entry burn
  
• +00:08:43 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
  
• +00:08:45 1st stage entry burn
  
• +00:09:09 1st stage landing
  
• +00:12:02 Crew Dragon separates from 2nd stage
  
• +00:12:48 Dragon nosecone open sequence begins

posted 05-20-2020 12:52 PM               

This is SpaceX's flight, so we may not see their "press kit" until a day or two before the launch if they stay consistent with past launches. It is their decision what details to release or not.

posted 05-21-2020 10:01 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Steve Bowen was the first NASA astronaut to fly on back-to-back missions.

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Still, on July 19th 1963 he flew X-15 number 3 to 105.9km altitude, and on 22nd August of the same year he flew the same machine to 107.8km. That's quite high enough to meet any pernickety FAI sporting definition of space. On August 23rd 2005 NASA awarded him civilian astronaut wings posthumously.

posted 05-21-2020 10:50 AM               

NASA Invites Public to Be Its Guests to Celebrate Historic 'Launch America'

NASA is inviting the public to help celebrate a historic milestone in human spaceflight as it prepares for #LaunchAmerica – the first flight into orbit of American astronauts on American rockets from American soil since the end of the space shuttle era in 2011.

Known as NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 test flight, which is targeted for lift off at 4:33 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 27, this mission will send NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley to the International Space Station as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program. Members of the public can attend the launch virtually, receiving mission updates and opportunities normally received by on-site guests.

"Through NASA's virtual launch experience, we make it possible for more people than ever to watch the beginning of this new era in human spaceflight," said Bettina Inclán, NASA's associate administrator for Communications. "We're already seeing people participate online with the #LaunchAmerica hashtag and helping build the excitement for this historic moment."

To participate, members of the public can register to find a calendar of mission information, mission highlights, and virtual tours.

Demo-2 will be SpaceX's second spaceflight test of its Crew Dragon craft and its first test with astronauts aboard. This final test flight prior to NASA certification and will provide data on the performance of the Falcon 9 rocket, the Crew Dragon and ground systems, as well as in-orbit, docking, and landing operations.

The Falcon 9 rocket will launch from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. But, the excitement will be felt across the country and around the world, with virtual launch parties and other events to help usher in this new era of spaceflight as NASA and its commercial partners take the next bold step toward to send the first woman and the next man to the Moon by 2024 as part of the agency's Artemis program.

Live video coverage and countdown commentary begins at 12:15 p.m. May 27. Watch the launch and all prelaunch activities on NASA TV, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin. You also can share reasons you are excited for the launch on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #LaunchAmerica for a chance to be shared on our social media channels.

But, before then, there are a lot of other ways people can get involved with this historic mission now. The virtual events taking place include:

Virtual NASA Social

For the first time ever, NASA is hosting a global "NASA Social," an opportunity for social media users to get a behind the scenes view of the launch – virtually – and a unique way the public can celebrate the return of human spaceflight to American soil.

The #LaunchAmerica NASA Social is taking the form of a Facebook group that any social media user can request permission to join by answering a few simple questions and agreeing to adhere to the guidelines of the group. In addition to connecting virtually with a community of people excited about the #LaunchAmerica mission, participants will be able to virtually tour NASA facilities at Kennedy and interact with NASA representatives in real time, as well as virtually view a launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

NASA STEM Engagement

No matter where you are, you can celebrate this historic milestone with other members of the Artemis Generation. Students can share their excitement with webinars, virtual reality experiences and activities specifically designed for grades K-4 and grades 5-12.

NASA Television Coverage

In addition to social media coverage, NASA Television will air a number of events leading up to, including, and following the historic launch. Continuous coverage of the mission on all NASA TV channels begins at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 and continue through Crew Dragon's arrival at the International Space Station on Thursday, May 28, including the subsequent hatch opening and welcoming ceremony.

The following events currently are scheduled to air live (all times Eastern). Please check the NASA TV schedule for the latest updates:

• Thursday, May 21

  No earlier than 6 p.m. – Demo-2 post-Flight Readiness Review news conference

• Friday, May 22

  2:15 p.m. – Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley virtual media question-and-answer session

• Monday, May 25

  No earlier than 6 p.m. – Demo-2 prelaunch news conference

• Tuesday, May 26

  10 a.m. – NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine media availability at Kennedy's Countdown Clock

• Wednesday, May 27

  Noon – Live views of the SpaceX/Falcon 9 rocket on Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center

  12:15 p.m. – Live countdown coverage of NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station (launch scheduled at 4:33 p.m.)

  6 p.m. – Demo-2 postlaunch news conference

• Thursday, May 28

  11:39 a.m. – Docking of the SpaceX Crew Dragon and NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station

  1:55 p.m. – SpaceX Crew Dragon hatch opening to the International Space Station

  2:25 p.m. – SpaceX Crew Dragon and International Space Station crew media event aboard the space station

• Friday, May 29

  11:05 a.m. – International Space Station Expedition 63 crew news conference with space station Commander Chris Cassidy of NASA and NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley

  12:50 p.m. – International Space Station Expedition 63 in-flight event for SpaceX to mark the arrival of the Demo-2 crew

The Demo-2 mission will be the final major step before NASA's Commercial Crew Program certifies Crew Dragon for operational, long-duration missions to the space station. This certification and regular operation of Crew Dragon will enable NASA to continue the important research and technology investigations taking place onboard the station, which benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future exploration of the Moon and Mars starting with the agency's Artemis program.

posted 05-21-2020 04:52 PM               

There certainly is a different level of nervousness for both Doug and I — I think nervousness is not the right word. It is a different level of awareness once we get the 'ejection seat,' if you will, armed on the vehicle while it starts the tanking process.

So to sit on that ejection seat for 45 minutes through that tanking operation, leading up to the launch, is something that we are used to doing in airplanes. At some point on the ground, we do need to arm that ejection seat and post-flight we need to do it as well. It is just part of the way we have done business our entire careers, both in the military and now on the SpaceX vehicle.

Again, I wouldn't say we have nervousness or a difference, it is just part of recognizing what capabilities the vehicle has and what can happen to you at any given point. Once we get that system armed up, we will be ready to go fly.

posted 05-21-2020 06:50 PM            

It sounds from that answer as if they have accepted that the abort system will be able to get them away from an explosion during fueling. So while the question was asked, I have yet to see any rationale behind that assumption.

posted 05-21-2020 08:09 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by 328KF:
I heard Behnken's comment about "heightened awareness" to be related to the arming of the escape system...

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posted 05-22-2020 12:19 AM               

The crews fully understand the risks involve and have compared them to what they reference as their normal, working on and around fully armed aircraft ejection systems, something they understand, train, and remain conscious of.

There are associated risks with fueling the system before and after crew ingress, the load and go reduces the number of people in proximity of a fully fueled rocket and allows for a greater mass of fuel to be loaded. Tanking or topping up the contents of liquid fuel tanks while it sits on the pad with crew strapped in has the same risk factor as fully fuelling the vehicle, there are always risks of couplings failing to disconnect or seal, line or tank rupture, and catastrophic failure.

Perhaps people do not agree with the SpaceX design because it differs from the way things have been done previously, but that very point is why SpaceX is in the position they are.

Consider what design changes would be needed to make the Falcon 9 design perform the same way previous designs have performed and then consider why the previous designs are not being used for the next launch. There is not another system capable of conducting reusable crewed launch to the ISS and back online today. SpaceX should be applauded for their design and effort, their ideation and innovation of designs has been an interesting journey so far.

posted 05-22-2020 08:39 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Delta7:
When Behnken arrives aboard the ISS this will mark the first time that 2 former Astronaut Office Chiefs have flown together.

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