The crew access arm has retracted. Coming up next, the Dragon launch escape system will be armed.
Month: November 2020
Weather Gets a Boost — Now 80% Chance of Favorable Conditions
Weather has been upgraded from 50% to 80% chance of favorable conditions for liftoff of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission. Launch is slated for 7:27 p.m. EST.
Crew Dragon Spacecraft is ‘Go’ for Launch!
Confirmation was received from Commander Mike Hopkins that Crew Dragon, named Resilience by the crew, is “go” for launch! The next call will come at T-mins 45 minutes from the launch director. Weather looks good and we remain on target for a 7:27 p.m. EST launch.
In about 50 minutes, Resilience, with Hopkins, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialists Shannon Walker and Soichi Noguchi aboard, will lift off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A.
Liftoff Now Just Over an Hour Away
The SpaceX closeout team has left the crew access arm. Launch, set for 7:27 p.m. EST, is now just over an hour away.
Stay with us as the countdown continues. We’ll keep you updated on the key
milestones throughout this historic mission. On NASA Television and the agency’s website, there is continuous live coverage of important Crew-1 activities.
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.
Hatch Reopened, Closed Again After Hatch Seal Check
The hatch is now closed on the Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Resilience by the Crew-1 astronauts. Liftoff for Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Soichi Noguchi is approximately 90 minutes away (7:27 p.m. EST).
The hatch was briefly reopened after a slight drop in pressure was noted. Troubleshooting around the hatch seal led to discovery of a small amount of foreign object debris (FOD) in the seal. Leak check hardware was reconnected and reports are pressure is holding, and the leak check has passed.
The countdown will continue on track.
Communication Checks Completed, Seats Rotated to Launch Position
Launch configuration communication checks have been executed, with no issues. The seats have been rotated into position for launch.
The Boarding Process for Resilience is Underway
Crew-1 astronauts are now boarding the Crew Dragon spacecraft, Resilience. As the astronauts board, their seats are configured in the upright position; later, prior to closure of the spacecraft’s side hatch, the seats will be rotated into a reclined position for flight.
All astronauts signed the inside of the White Room, an area at the end of the crew access arm that provides access to the spacecraft. The term “White Room” dates back to the Gemini program. To honor tradition, the room is still painted white today.
Here are the seating positions: Commander Mike Hopkins, seat 2; Pilot Victor Glover, seat 3; Mission Specialist Shannon Walker, seat 4; and Mission Specialist Soichi Noguchi, seat 1.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 Astronauts Arrive at the Launch Site
NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, and astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have arrived at Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A, where the Crew Dragon spacecraft, Resilience, is ready for them to climb in for launch. Liftoff is slated for 7:27 p.m. EST.
In the next few minutes, they’ll take the elevator up the pad’s fixed service structure and walk down the air-conditioned crew access arm to the White Room, their final stop before climbing aboard.
Astronauts are on Their Way to Launch Pad 39A
NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, and astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are on their way to Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39A after departing the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building across the spaceport. They are right on schedule.
Before leaving, they paused to wave and acknowledge the small group of family, friends and support team members who gathered to see them off. Then they climbed into their customized white Tesla Model X vehicles for the 20-minute ride to the pad.
The crew’s vehicle is traveling in the middle of a convoy, including support team members and security personnel. At the launch site, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Resilience by the crew, are ready for the astronauts’ arrival.
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.