Crew-1 Astronauts Ready for their Ride to Launch Pad 39A

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts just walked out of the double doors below the Neil A. Armstrong Building’s Astronaut Crew Quarters and made their way out to the customized Tesla Model X cars that will take them to their spacecraft.

Next stop: Kennedy’s historic Launch Pad 39A.

Astronauts Suited, Ready to Depart for Launch Pad

Crew-1 astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Soichi Noguchi put on their SpaceX spacesuits and will soon depart the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building and head out to the pad.

Crew-1 Mission Builds on Success of Demo-2

Demo-2 mission
NASA astronauts Robert Behnken, left, and Douglas Hurley speak to members of the media after arriving at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 20, 2020, ahead of NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

On Saturday, May 30, 2020, at 3:22 p.m. EDT, NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley made their way into the history books. The Demo-2 mission was the first launch with astronauts of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

That paved the way for NASA certification of SpaceX’s crew transportation system, which allows the agency to regularly fly astronauts to the space station, and ends sole reliance on Russia for space station access.

For today’s Crew-1 launch, NASA astronauts Michael HopkinsVictor Glover, and Shannon Walker, and astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), will fly on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifting off on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A in Florida, for a full duration mission on the space station. It is the first crew rotation flight of a U.S. commercial spacecraft with astronauts to the space station following the spacecraft system’s official human rating certification.

Crew-1 astronauts will join the Expedition 64 crew of Commander Sergey Ryzhikov, and Flight Engineers Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and NASA astronaut Kate Rubins. The arrival of Crew-1 will increase the regular crew size of the space station’s expedition missions from six to seven astronauts, adding to the amount of crew time available for research.

Today’s launch is targeted for 7:27 p.m. EST. There remains a 50% chance of favorable weather conditions at liftoff.

Follow along with launch activities and get more information about the mission at: http://www.nasa.gov/crew-1. Learn more about commercial crew and space station activities by following @Commercial_Crew, @space_station, and @ISS_Research on Twitter as well as the Commercial Crew Facebook, ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Crew-1 Astronauts Suiting Up for Mission

Crew-1 suit-up
Crew-1 astronauts are suited up inside the suit room at Kennedy Space Center’s Neil A. Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building.

NASA astronauts Michael HopkinsVictor Glover, and Shannon Walker, and astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are suiting up for today’s launch to the International Space Station. The Crew-1 crewmates are in the suit room in the Astronaut Crew Quarters inside Kennedy Space Center’s Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building.

A team of SpaceX suit technicians will help them as they put on their custom-fitted spacesuits and check the suits for leaks.

Lunch Time: What the Astronauts Ate This Afternoon

The crew’s scheduled wake-up time today was 11:47 a.m. They ate lunch at 12:15 p.m. Here is what they had:

  • Commander Mike Hopkins: NY steak, medium rare with seasoned fries and dirty rice
  • Pilot Victor Glover: Lamb chops, medium, with mashed sweet potato and a salad
  • Mission Specialist Shannon Walker: Juicy medium hamburger on a brioche bun with sweet potato fries and a salad
  • Mission Specialist Soichi Noguchi: Japanese curry rice with chicken and curly fries

Crew-1 Astronauts Handed off to SpaceX

Crew-1 astronauts have received their weather briefing. The NASA team that has worked with Commander Mike Hopkins, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialists Shannon Walker and Soichi Noguchi throughout their quarantine at Kennedy Space Center has handed over the astronauts to the team of SpaceX suit technicians, who will help them suit up.The SpaceX Crew-1 official crew insignia features a dragon in silhouette, a Crew Dragon spacecraft, and the numeral 1 for Crew-1.

Designed for safety and functionality, SpaceX spacesuits also provide modern comfort and style. The spacesuit provides pressurization, protecting from potential depressurization. A port on the suit’s thigh connects to life support systems, including air and power.

The suits also include touchscreen-compatible gloves and a flame-resistant outer layer. The helmet is custom manufactured using 3D printing technology and includes integrated valves, mechanisms for visor retraction and locking, and microphones.

The four astronauts dedicated the official Crew-1 mission patch to their families.

A Look at Today’s Key Milestones for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 Mission

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft stand on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft stand on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A during final preparations for launch on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission. Liftoff is scheduled for 7:27 p.m. EST.

Below are some key milestones for today’s Crew-1 mission. Launch is targeted for 7:27 p.m. EST.

  • 3:12 p.m. Crew weather brief
  • 3:22 p.m. Crew handoff
  • 3:27 p.m. Suit donning and checkouts
  • 4:05 p.m. Crew walkout from Neil Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building
  • 4:12 p.m. Crew transportation to Launch Complex 39A
  • 4:32 p.m. Crew arrives at pad
  • 4:52 p.m. Crew ingress
  • 5:07 p.m. Communication check
  • 5:12 p.m. Verify ready for seat rotation
  • 5:13 p.m. Suit leak checks
  • 5:32 p.m. Hatch close
  • 6:42 p.m. SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
  • 6:45 p.m. Crew access arm retracts
  • 6:49 p.m. Dragon spacecraft launch escape system is armed
  • 6:52 p.m. RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins; first stage liquid oxygen loading begins
  • 7:11 p.m. Second stage liquid oxygen loading begins
  • 7:20 p.m. Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
  • 7:22 p.m. Dragon transitions to internal power
  • 7:26 p.m. Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks;
    propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
  • 7:26 p.m. SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
  • 7:27:12 p.m. Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
  • 7:27:15 p.m. Liftoff!
  • 7:28 p.m. Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
  • 7:29:52 p.m. First stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
  • 7:29 p.m. First and second stages separate
  • 7:30 p.m. Second stage engine starts
  • 7:34 p.m. First stage entry burn
  • 7:36:05 p.m. Second stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
  • 7:36:14 p.m. First stage entry burn
  • 7:36:44 p.m. First stage landing
  • 7:39 p.m. Crew Dragon separates from second stage
  • 7:40 p.m. Dragon nosecone open sequence begins

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 Mission Coverage Starts Now!

Crew-1 rocket and spacecraft on the pad
NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, and astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will fly to the International Space Station  for a six-month science mission. Launch is slated for 7:27 p.m. EST today from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A.

Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission — the first crew rotation flight of a U.S. commercial spacecraft with astronauts to the space station following the spacecraft system’s official human rating certification.

Here at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, topped by the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft — named Resilience by the crew — awaits liftoff later today. NASA astronauts Michael HopkinsVictor Glover, and Shannon Walker, and astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), will fly to the International Space Station for a six-month science mission. Launch is slated for 7:27 p.m. EST from Kennedy’s historic Launch Complex 39A.

The countdown is proceeding according to schedule. At the Florida spaceport’s Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, the astronauts have eaten and will undergo medical checks and get a weather briefing before suiting up.

Stay with us as the countdown continues. We’ll keep you updated on the key milestones throughout this historic mission. Starting at 3:15 p.m. EST, on NASA Television and the agency’s website, there will be continuous live coverage of important Crew-1 activities.

Follow Along for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 Launch Day Coverage!

Crew-1 astonauts
From left, Crew-1 astronauts Soichi Noguchi, Michael Hopkins, Shannon walker and Victor Glover pose for a photo in front of the Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Resilience by the crew, inside the SpaceX hangar at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A on Nov. 8, 2020. Photo credit: SpaceX

Tune in to NASA Television or the agency’s website Sunday, Nov. 15, starting at 3:15 p.m. EST, for a live broadcast featuring continuous comprehensive launch day coverage of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission. From astronaut walkout, to launch, to the postlaunch news conference — NASA has you covered.

NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, and astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will launch to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, named Resilience by the crew, on top of the company’s Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff is targeted for Sunday, Nov. 15, at 7:27 p.m. EST, from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A.

A postlaunch news conference will be broadcast live (on NASA TV and the agency’s website) at the Florida spaceport Sunday, Nov. 15, at approximately 9 p.m. EST. Participants are:

  • NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
  • Kathy Lueders, associate administrator, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
  • Hiroshi Sasaki, vice president and director general, JAXA’s Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate
  • SpaceX representative

Also, follow along right here on the blog for continued updates throughout the day, starting Sunday afternoon, right through the postlaunch news conference.

Launch Readiness Review Complete, Prelaunch News Conference at 6 p.m. EST

Crew-1 rocket and spacecraft on pad
The launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission is now targeted for Sunday, Nov. 15, at 7:27 p.m. EST. Photo credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani

Teams completed the final major review today for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission that will launch from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to the International Space Station. At the conclusion of the review, NASA and SpaceX agreed to target launch for 7:27 p.m. EST Sunday, Nov. 15, due to onshore winds and first stage booster recovery readiness. NASA TV coverage will begin at 3:15 p.m. The Crew Dragon is scheduled to dock to the space station at about 11 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16.

Coming up at 6 p.m. is a prelaunch news conference, live on NASA Television and the agency’s website. Participants are:

  • Steve Stich, manager, Commercial Crew Program, Kennedy
  • Joel Montalbano, manager, International Space Station, Johnson Space Center
  • Kirt Costello, chief scientist, International Space Station Program, Johnson
  • Norm Knight, deputy manager, Flight Operations Directorate, Johnson
  • Benji Reed, senior director, Human Spaceflight Programs, SpaceX
  • Arlena Moses, launch weather officer, U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron

NASA astronauts Michael HopkinsVictor Glover, and Shannon Walker, and astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will head to the International Space Station for a six-month science mission in the Crew Dragon spacecraft, which will launch on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-1 is the first crew rotation flight of a U.S. commercial spacecraft with astronauts to the space station following the spacecraft system’s official human rating certification.

Follow along with launch activities and get more information about the mission at: http://www.nasa.gov/crew-1. Learn more about commercial crew and space station activities by following: @Commercial_Crew@space_station, and @ISS_Research on Twitter as well as the Commercial Crew FacebookISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.