SpaceX – Page 56 – Commercial Crew Program

Falcon 9, Crew Dragon Pair Up for Critical Flight Test

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen illuminated on the launch pad by spotlights at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Demo-1 mission, Friday, March 1, 2019, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen illuminated on the launch pad by spotlights at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Demo-1 mission, Friday, March 1, 2019, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

NASA will use valuable information gathered from SpaceX’s uncrewed flight test, Demo-1, to certify the crew transportation systems are safe to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station in Demo-2. Both missions pair a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft.

In 2012, Dragon launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida and became the first commercial spacecraft in history to deliver cargo to the space station and return cargo to Earth. It has since been used for 16 commercial resupply missions for NASA. As part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, SpaceX developed the brand-new Crew Dragon to fly astronauts to and from the space station.

This illustration shows the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft docking to the International Space Station. Image credit: SpaceX

Crew Dragon features four windows, spacious seating and an advanced emergency escape system. The fully autonomous spacecraft can be monitored and controlled by on-board astronauts and SpaceX mission control. Its environmental control system allows astronauts to set the interior temperature to between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

SpaceX’s two-stage Falcon 9 rocket has been the power behind several cargo Dragon resupply missions to the space station, as well as the transport of satellites into orbit. It features nine Merlin engines in the first stage and a single Merlin vacuum engine in the second stage. It is the first orbital class rocket capable of reflight.

Following a successful test flight on Demo-1, Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon will be used to send NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the space station for Demo-2, targeted for July 2019.

NASA, SpaceX Prepare for March 2 Launch of Demo-1

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen after being raised into a vertical position on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Demo-1 mission, Feb. 28, 2019, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen after being raised into a vertical position on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Demo-1 mission, Feb. 28, 2019, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Liftoff of the SpaceX Falcon 9 for Demo-1, the first flight test of the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, is targeted for Saturday, March 2, at 2:49 a.m. EST from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. On this uncrewed mission, the first under the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, the Crew Dragon will fly to the International Space Station in an end-to-end demonstration of the company’s ability to launch astronauts to the orbiting laboratory and return them home. To learn more, read the prelaunch feature story.

Join us at 2 a.m. for countdown coverage here on the blog and on NASA TV.

Mission Timeline (all times approximate)
COUNTDOWN
Min/Sec—Events
-45:00—SpaceX Launch Director verifies “go” for propellant load
-37:00—Dragon launch escape system is armed
-35:00—RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
-35:00—First stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
-16:00—Second stage LOX loading begins
-07:00—Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
-05:00—Dragon transitions to internal power
-01:00—Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
-01:00—Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
-00:45—SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
-00:03—Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
-00:00—Liftoff of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft

LAUNCH, LANDING AND DRAGON DEPLOYMENT
Min/Sec—Events
00:58—Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
02:35—First stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
02:38—First and second stages separate
02:42—Second stage engine starts
07:48—First stage entry burn
08:59—Second stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
09:24—First stage landing burn
09:52—First stage landing
11:00—Dragon separates from second stage

Demo-1: SpaceX Falcon 9 is Vertical at Launch Complex 39A

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft is vertical and set for a 2:49 a.m. EST Saturday launch to the International Space Station on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It will be the first time in history a commercially-built and operated American crew spacecraft and rocket launches from American soil.

The Demo-1 mission, SpaceX’s inaugural flight with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, will provide the teams an end-to-end flight test to ensure the spacecraft and systems operate as designed before launching with astronauts.

Launch coverage on NASA TV and the launch blog will begin at 2 a.m., March 2, followed at 4 a.m. by a post-launch news conference with representatives from NASA and SpaceX. The launch and post-launch news conference also will air on NASA TV.

U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing meteorologists continue to forecast an 80 percent chance of favorable weather at liftoff.

Crew Dragon Ready for its Debut Flight

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen as it is rolled to the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Demo-1 mission, Feb. 28, 2019 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen as it is rolled to the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Demo-1 mission, Feb. 28, 2019 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft—designed to fly astronauts to the International Space Station from U.S. soil—is ready for its debut flight on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket. It is a first-of-its-kind test mission of a commercially-built and operated American spacecraft and rocket designed for humans.

The Demo-1 uncrewed flight test, targeted to launch March 2, will demonstrate the company’s ability to safely launch crew to the space station and return them home.

“It’s time to fly the SpaceX Demo-1 mission,” said Steve Stich, NASA launch manager and deputy manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. “This mission is an important step in returning human spaceflight to American soil. SpaceX and NASA teams are working side-by-side on this mission from start to finish as we have throughout this process. This flight test will inform the system design, operations and drive any changes that need to be made ahead of crew flights. We are ready to learn by flying.”

NASA and SpaceX are working together as public-private partnerships to build on the success of American companies already delivering cargo to the space station. Demo-1 is a critical step for NASA and SpaceX to demonstrate the ability to safely fly missions with NASA astronauts to the orbital laboratory.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon at Launch Complex 39A

The first launch of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft aboard the company’s Falcon 9 rocket is now only two days away. Liftoff of the uncrewed flight test, called Demo-1, is targeted for 2:49 a.m. EST from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A. The milestone will mark the first launch of a commercially built American rocket and spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to the International Space Station.

Meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force’s 45th Weather Squadron continue to predict an 80 percent chance of favorable weather for launch on Saturday morning, with the possibility of thick clouds or cumulus clouds posing the main concern.

NASA will broadcast a prelaunch briefing from Kennedy at 4 p.m. today. Participants are:

Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program
Joel Montalbano, deputy manager, International Space Station Program
Hans Koenigsmann, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX
Pat Forrester, chief, Astronaut Office, Johnson Space Center
Melody C. Lovin, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron

Learn more about the mission and NASA’s Commercial Crew Program in the press kit and by following the @commercial_crew on Twitter and commercial crew on Facebook.

SpaceX Demo-1: Reviews provide GO for launch

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft rolled out to Launch Complex 39A and went vertical for a dry run to prep for the upcoming Demo-1 flight test. Photo credit: SpaceX

Additional launch readiness reviews today from NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, space station team, and SpaceX’s launch team concluded the teams are still “go” for launch of the first uncrewed test flight of the Crew Dragon on a mission to the International Space Station.

Launch is scheduled for 2:49 a.m. EST Saturday, March 2 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It will be the first time a commercially built and operated American rocket and spacecraft designed for humans will launch to the space station.

At 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, NASA will broadcast a prelaunch briefing from Kennedy, with the following participants:

Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program
Joel Montalbano, deputy manager, International Space Station Program
Hans Koenigsmann, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX
Pat Forrester, chief, Astronaut Office, Johnson Space Center
Melody C. Lovin, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron

More details about the mission and NASA’s commercial crew program can be found in the press kit online athttps://www.nasa.gov/specials/ccp-press-kit/main.html and by following the @commercial_crew on Twitter and commercial crew on Facebook.

Weather Forecast Remains 80 Percent ‘Go’; Prelaunch Briefing Set for Thursday

Three days remain until the planned liftoff of a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket—the first launch of a commercially built and operated American spacecraft and space system designed for humans. Liftoff is targeted for 2:49 a.m. EST on Saturday, March 2, from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Demo-1 mission to the International Space Station serves as an end-to-end test of the system’s capabilities.

The launch weather forecast continues to look promising; meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing predict an 80 percent chance of favorable weather at launch time. Thick clouds or cumulus clouds that would violate launch requirements are the primary weather concerns.

NASA will host a prelaunch briefing at Kennedy at 4 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 28. The briefing will be broadcast live on NASA TV. See the full briefings and events schedule, including briefing participants, at https://go.nasa.gov/2GBCB5A.

The Commercial Crew Press Kit is now online! View it here: https://go.nasa.gov/2GNyYdd

Historic Launch Pad is Liftoff Site for First SpaceX Crew Dragon

SpaceX Demo-1 Static Fire Test — SpaceX Demo-1 static fire test at Launch Complex 39A, Jan. 24, 2019. Photo credit: SpaceX

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Crew Dragon (although without astronauts on this mission) on its Demo-1 flight test to the International Space Station will lift off from the same historic site where astronauts first launched to the moon. Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida is also the site of dozens of space shuttle launches that helped build the orbital laboratory.

Space shuttle Atlantis at Launch Pad 39A on July 7, 2011, one day prior to liftoff on mission STS-135. — Space shuttle Atlantis was poised for liftoff at Launch Pad 39A on July 7, 2011, one day prior to launch on mission STS-135. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Launch Complexes 39A and B were constructed in the 1960s. Both launch pads have a long history of supporting launches for the Apollo and Space Shuttle Programs. Launch Pad 39A was the launch site for 11 Saturn V Apollo missions, including Apollo 11, the first Moon landing. The pad also was the launch site for 82 space shuttle missions, including STS-1, the first shuttle launch, the STS-125 final servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope, and STS-135, the final shuttle mission.

After the space shuttle was retired in 2011, NASA began the process to transform Kennedy Space Center from a historically government-only launch facility into a multi-user spaceport for both government and commercial use. On April 14, 2014, the agency signed a property agreement with SpaceX of Hawthorne, California, for use of the launch site for the next 20 years.

Liftoff of SpaceX CRS-10, a commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station, was the company's first launch from Launch Complex 39A. — Liftoff of SpaceX CRS-10, a commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station, was the company’s first launch from Launch Complex 39A. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Gray

SpaceX upgraded and modified the launch pad to support its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. The company also built a horizontal processing hangar at the base of the pad to perform final vehicle integration prior to flight. The first SpaceX launch from the pad was the company’s 10th commercial resupply services (CRS-10) mission for NASA. A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched a Dragon cargo spacecraft on CRS-10 on Feb. 19, 2017. The Dragon delivered about 5,500 pounds of supplies to the space station, including the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) III instrument to further study ozone in the Earth’s atmosphere. NASA and SpaceX combined have launched more than 100 missions from Pad 39A.

Because of NASA’s partnership with SpaceX within the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, Launch Complex 39A will once again be the site of crewed missions to the space station.

NASA also is partnered with Boeing to return crewed missions to the space station; the company will launch its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket a few miles down the shoreline, from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

By relying on industry trips to low-Earth orbit, NASA can concentrate on developing rockets and spacecraft for missions to the Moon and Mars.

Weather Prediction: 80 Percent ‘Go’ for Saturday Launch

SpaceX is set to launch its Crew Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket, the first launch of a space system designed for humans built and operated by a commercial company through a public-private partnership, on a flight test to the International Space Station (ISS) at 2:49 a.m. EST on Saturday, March 2.

For a launch Saturday, meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing are predicting an 80 percent chance of favorable weather. Weak high pressure in advance of a front moving southeast into the area is expected during the launch window with a low probability for rain and weak surface winds and only slight concerns of any cumulus cloud or thick cloud rule violations during the instantaneous launch window.

More details about NASA’s coverage of the mission are available at: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-spacex-demo-1-briefings-events-and-broadcasts

Partnerships Spur Industry for Flourishing Space Commerce

Throughout NASA’s history, the agency has worked with industry and academia to explore and utilize the space frontier. Contractors built rockets, satellites and spacecraft. Colleges and universities have worked with NASA scientists and engineers to develop technology to support investigations leading to discoveries.

As the 30-year Space Shuttle Program was drawing to a close, NASA again began plans to reach beyond low-Earth orbit. To allow a focus on exploration to the Moon and Mars, NASA has entered into partnerships with industry opening a variety of new opportunities.

A little more than two years after the final shuttle flight, SpaceX’s Dragon and Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft began successfully launching atop their company’s Falcon 9 and Antares rockets to resupply the International Space Station. The companies developed the rockets and spacecraft through public-private partnerships under the agency’s commercial resupply services contracts.

More recently, NASA selected Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser spacecraft to join with Northrop Grumman and SpaceX, in delivering critical science, research and technology experiments to the space station for the agency’s second commercial resupply contracts from 2019 to 2024.

Additionally, NASA formed the Commercial Crew Program (CCP) to facilitate the development of a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability with the goal of achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from the space station and other destinations in low-Earth orbit.

In September 2014, NASA announced the selection of Boeing and SpaceX to transport U.S. crews to and from the space station aboard their CST-100 Starliner and Crew Dragon spacecraft, respectively. This will end the nation’s reliance on Russia to transport crews to the orbiting laboratory. Boeing’s Starliner will launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and SpaceX Falcon 9 will power the company’s Crew Dragon to orbit.

The first uncrewed Demo-1 test flight of the Crew Dragon is slated for March 2, 2019 and the Starliner’s uncrewed Orbital Flight Test is planned for no earlier than April 2019. The inaugural crewed missions of the Crew Dragon and Starliner are set to take place later this year.

The flourishing U.S. space industry continues its growth with Blue Origin building a facility to manufacture and launch reusable rockets from just outside the gates of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. For launch operations, Blue Origin plans to refurbish Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, a no-longer-needed Atlas II launch pad. This is the first time an entire rocket system will be built and processed on Florida’s Space Coast.

Category: SpaceX