Crew Dragon Exits Station’s Approach Ellipsoid

Black and white infographic depicting the Crew Dragon return timeline from departure to splashdown.
This infographic illustrates the Crew Dragon return timeline from departure through splashdown. Click the image to view larger version. Image credit: SpaceX

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft has exited the approach ellipsoid, an imaginary boundary surrounding the International Space Station. Four kilometers long, two kilometers wide, and two kilometers deep, the approach ellipsoid governs all vehicles coming or going from the orbiting laboratory.

Crew Dragon Exits Station’s Keep Out Sphere

NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley are seated inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on Aug. 1, 2020.
NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley are seated inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft prior to undocking from the International Space Station on Aug. 1, 2020. Photo credit: NASA

The SpaceX Crew Dragon, having undocked from the International Space Station at 7:35 p.m. EDT, is now moving away from the orbiting laboratory. The spacecraft just exited the Keep Out Sphere, an imaginary boundary extending 200 meters out from the station. NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, aboard Crew Dragon, are beginning the return trip to Earth, signaling the upcoming conclusion of the agency’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission, and end-to-end flight test designed to help certify SpaceX’s crew transportation system for regular crewed flights to and from the station under the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

“It’s been a great two months, and we appreciate all you’ve done as a crew to help us prove out Dragon on its maiden flight,” said Hurley, addressing Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy and Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner following Crew Dragon’s departure from the orbiting laboratory.

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.

NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2: Crew Dragon Departing Station

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, carrying NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, undocks from the International Space Station on Aug. 1, 2020. Photo credit: NASA

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft is departing the International Space Station, and NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Benhken are officially beginning their journey home. The spacecraft undocked from International Docking Adapter-2 at the forward end of the station’s Harmony node at 7:35 p.m. EDT. Two short firings of Dragon Endeavour’s Draco thrusters gently push the spacecraft away from the orbiting laboratory. Later, a series of four departure burns will further increase the distance between the two vehicles.

Crew Dragon ‘Go’ for Undocking

Demo-2 mission patchJust 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’s SpaceX Demo-2: Astronauts Ready for Crew Dragon Undocking

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.

Photo of cargo bags packed and staged near the docking adapter connecting the space station to the SpaceX Crew Dragon.
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.

More details about the return can be found in the Top 10 Things to Know for NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 Return and the splashdown weather criteria fact sheet.

 

Bob and Doug ‘Go’ for Suit Donning

NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken familiarize themselves with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
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.

Crew Dragon’s Hatch Officially Closed

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.

NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 Astronauts Prepare to Depart International Space Station

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.
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.

More details about the return can be found in the Top 10 Things to Know for NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 Return and the splashdown weather criteria fact sheet.

NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2: Teams Targeting Gulf of Mexico for Splashdown

NASA astronauts Doug Hurley 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.
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.

More details about the return can be found in the Top 10 Things to Know for NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 Return.

More details about the mission and NASA’s commercial crew program can be found in the press kit online and by following the commercial crew blog@commercial_crew and commercial crew on Facebook.

Learn more about station activities by following @space_station and @ISS_Research  on Twitter as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.