Just moments ago, NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 crew got the word that Crew Dragon is “Go” to undock from the International Space Station, beginning the journey home. Anna Menon, the SpaceX Crew Operations and Resources Engineer (CORE) for Crew Dragon’s departure from the International Space Station, shared the decision with astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley.
In the next few minutes, the vestibule between Crew Dragon and the station will be depressurized. The spacecraft will autonomously undock from the orbiting laboratory at 7:34 p.m. EDT.
NASA astronauts Robert Behnken (left) and Douglas Hurley await liftoff of NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission on May 30, 2020. Photo credit: NASA
NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley are back aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon “Endeavour” spacecraft in preparation for undocking from the International Space Station. Behnken and Hurley are strapped into their seats and the hatches between the two vehicles have been closed. The final “Go-No Go” for undocking is coming up at about 7:20 p.m. EDT.
A photo of cargo bags packed near the docking adapter connecting the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station prior to NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley boarding Crew Dragon for departure. Photo credit: NASA/Bob Behnken
If the “Go” is given, undocking is targeted for 7:34 p.m. EDT. Behnken and Hurley will spend the night in orbit before beginning the journey home. Splashdown is scheduled for 2:48 p.m. EDT on Sunday.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying Hurley and Behnken lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30 and arrived at the space station the following day. The Demo-2 test flight is helping NASA certify SpaceX’s crew transportation system for regular flights carrying astronauts to and from the orbiting laboratory. SpaceX is readying the hardware for the first rotational mission, which would occur following NASA certification.
Prior to the Demo-2 launch, NASA astronauts Doug Hurley (right) and Bob Behnken familiarize themselves with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, the spacecraft that will transport them to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Photo credit: SpaceX
Behnken and Hurley have received the ‘go’ for donning their SpaceX spacesuits. These suits provide them with breathable gasses for their return trip home and also allow them to communicate with teams here on Earth via microphones contained in the helmets.
NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 crew members Douglas Hurley, left, and Robert Behnken monitor their displays inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon during docking operations at the International Space Station, May 31, 2020. Image credit: NASA TV
The Crew Dragon’s hatch officially closed at 5:36 p.m. EDT. The next major milestone for astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will be the spacecraft’s undocking from the International Space Station after a two-month stay at the orbiting laboratory during NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission.
With assistance from Expedition 63 commander Chris Cassidy, and Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner, Behnken and Hurley have made their way into the Crew Dragon. Hatch closure will occur in the next couple of minutes.
NASA astronauts Bob Behnken, left, and Doug Hurley, are pictured having just entered the International Space Station on May 31, 2020, shortly after arriving aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. Photo credit: NASA
NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley are preparing to leave the International Space Station behind this evening after spending more than two months aboard the orbiting laboratory. With NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission drawing to a close, Behnken and Hurley are scheduled to climb aboard the company’s Crew Dragon “Endeavour” just a few minutes from now.
Once Behnken and Hurley have moved into the Crew Dragon, the hatches between the two vehicles will be closed. The “Go-No Go” call is expected around 7:20 p.m. EDT, with undocking at 7:34 p.m. Two small engine burns will put physical distance between the departing Crew Dragon and the station, followed by a series of four departure burns to further move the spacecraft away from the station and start the flight home. Several hours later, one departure phasing burn, lasting about six minutes, will put Crew Dragon on the proper orbital path to line it up with the splashdown zone.
The crew will spend the night in orbit before beginning the journey home. Splashdown is scheduled for 2:48 p.m. EDT on Sunday.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying Hurley and Behnken lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30 and arrived at the space station the following day. The Demo-2 test flight is helping NASA certify SpaceX’s crew transportation system for regular flights carrying astronauts to and from the orbiting laboratory. SpaceX is readying the hardware for the first rotational mission, which would occur following NASA certification.
NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley. Photo credit: SpaceX
Following a scheduled assessment of weather conditions for splashdown, teams from NASA and SpaceX are proceeding with preparations to bring NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley home to Earth aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon “Endeavour” spacecraft.
Conditions are “Go” at the primary targeted site, off the coast Pensacola, and alternate site off the coast of Panama City in the Gulf of Mexico for splashdown and recovery on Sunday, Aug. 2. Teams will continue to closely monitor Hurricane Isaias and evaluate impacts to the potential splashdown sites.
SpaceX will monitor changes to conditions until 2.5 hours prior to the scheduled undocking, when a determination to proceed with departure will be made. If conditions are marginal and exceed the accepted criteria, a joint recommendation by SpaceX and NASA will be made whether to proceed with undocking at 7:34 p.m. EDT. NASA and SpaceX will make the final decision to proceed after the astronauts are ready inside Crew Dragon just before undocking.
Live coverage of NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 return will begin at 5:15 p.m. and continue through the targeted splashdown at 2:48 p.m. on Sunday, the first return of a commercially built and operated American spacecraft carrying astronauts from the space station. It will wrap up NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight after more than two months at the International Space Station.
Hurley and Behnken arrived at the orbiting laboratory in the Crew Dragon May 31 following a launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30. This is SpaceX’s final test flight and is providing data on the performance of the Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon spacecraft and ground systems, as well as in-orbit, docking, splashdown, and recovery operations.
Expedition 63 crewmembers aboard the International Space Station on Saturday, Aug. 1. In front (from left) are, NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley. In back (from left) are, Roscosmos cosmonaut and Flight Engineer, Ivan Vagner, Commander Chris Cassidy, and Roscosmos cosmonaut and Flight Engineer, Anatoly Ivanishin. Photo credit: NASA
Preparations to bring NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley home to Earth are well underway, and on the morning of Saturday, Aug. 1, the duo celebrated their homecoming with a farewell ceremony aboard the International Space Station alongside Expedition 63 commander Chris Cassidy.
“It’s an exciting day for us all as we bid farewell to our two friends and colleagues, Bob and Doug, as they complete the journey of this amazing test mission,” Cassidy said.
Behnken and Hurley have spent the past two months in space as part of NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission. The mission is designed to test and validate SpaceX’s crew transportation system – from launch to in-orbit, docking, landing, and recovery operations. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, “Endeavor,” is scheduled to undock from the space station at 7:34 p.m. EDT, based on favorable weather conditions for splashdown off the coast of Florida.
“The hardest part was getting us launched, but the most important part is bringing us home [to our sons],” Behnken said. “For Jack and Theo, Tremor the apatosaurus is headed home soon and he’ll be with your dads. You’ll have to pick which one of us is your favorite.”
Splashdown is slated to occur at 2:42 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 2, and will be broadcast live on NASA TV and the agency’s website. NASA and SpaceX teams will decide on the primary location for splashdown later this afternoon, about six hours before Crew Dragon undocks from the orbiting laboratory. Teams will continue to closely monitor Hurricane Isaias and evaluate impacts to the landing sites in the Gulf of Mexico along the Florida Panhandle.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft, carried atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifted off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A on May 30. The final test flight for SpaceX under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, Demo-2 will provide the data necessary for NASA to certify SpaceX’s transportation system for regular, operational missions to the space station. Behnken and Hurley’s return to Earth will mark the first time a commercially built and operated American spacecraft carrying astronauts has made the journey back from space.
“For the men and women of the Commercial Crew Program and SpaceX—all the work they’ve done to get us to this point, where we’re on our way to completing this test flight—it’s been a true honor,” said Hurley.
NASA astronauts (from left) Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley and Chris Cassidy are the U.S. members of the Expedition 63 crew aboard the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA
Teams from NASA and SpaceX are proceeding with preparations to bring NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley home from the International Space Station to Earth with a splashdown on Sunday, Aug. 2, off the Florida coast aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon “Endeavour” spacecraft.
At 9:10 a.m. EDT this morning, NASA will provide live coverage for the SpaceX Dragon Demo-2 farewell ceremony aboard the space station as Behnken and Hurley conclude their time as members of Expedition 63 with Commander Chris Cassidy of NASA and Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner.
Return conditions remained “Go” at several of the needed target locations for splashdown and recovery after teams received a weather briefing Friday evening from the U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron. NASA and SpaceX will make a decision on a primary splashdown target approximately 6 hours before undocking.
NASA and SpaceX are targeting 7:34 p.m. EDT Saturday, Aug. 1, for undocking of the Dragon “Endeavour” spacecraft from the space station and 2:42 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, for splashdown, which will be the first return of a commercially built and operated American spacecraft carrying astronauts from the space station.
Teams continue to closely monitor Hurricane Isaias and evaluate impacts to the landing sites in the Gulf of Mexico along the Florida Panhandle. Teams have several weather decision milestones ahead of and after undocking to adjust the splashdown location and time based on the forecasted conditions for recovery.
NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 return coverage is as follows (all times Eastern):
Saturday, Aug. 1
5:15 p.m. – NASA TV undocking coverage begins for the 7:34 p.m. undocking (NASA Television will have continuous coverage from undocking to splashdown)
Sunday, Aug. 2
2:42 p.m. – Splashdown
5 p.m. – Administrator post-splashdown news conference at Johnson, with the following representatives:
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
Commercial Crew Program representative
International Space Station representative
Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer, SpaceX
NASA Astronaut Office representative
Tuesday, Aug. 4
4:30 p.m. – Demo-2 Crew News Conference from the Johnson Space Center, with the following participants
NASA astronaut Bob Behnken
NASA astronaut Doug Hurley
Behnken and Hurley arrived at the orbiting laboratory on May 31, following a successful launch on May 30 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During their 63 days aboard station, Behnken and Hurley contributed more than 100 hours of time to supporting the orbiting laboratory’s investigations, participated in public engagement events, and supported four spacewalks with Behnken and Cassidy to install new batteries in the station’s power grid and upgrade other station hardware.
These activities are a part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which has been working with the U.S. aerospace industry to launch astronauts on American rockets and spacecraft from American soil the International Space Station for the first time since 2011. This is SpaceX’s final test flight and is providing data on the performance of the Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon spacecraft and ground systems, as well as in-orbit, docking, splashdown and recovery operations.
The test flight also is helping NASA certify SpaceX’s crew transportation system for regular flights carrying astronauts to and from the space station. SpaceX is readying the hardware for the first rotational mission, which would occur following NASA certification.
The goal of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station. This could allow for additional research time and increase the opportunity for discovery aboard humanity’s testbed for exploration, including helping us prepare for human exploration of the Moon and Mars.
Just moments ago, NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 crew got the word that Crew Dragon is “Go” to undock from the International Space Station, beginning the journey home. Anna Menon, the SpaceX Crew Operations and Resources Engineer (CORE) for Crew Dragon’s departure from the International Space Station, shared the decision with astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley.
