NASA and SpaceX teams remain “Go” for the return of the agency’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley from the International Space Station following the Return Flight Readiness Review, with the primary factor being weather.
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.
NASA and SpaceX will hold the Return Flight Readiness Review briefing at 3:30 p.m. EDT on NASA TV and the agency’s website from the Johnson Space Center to talk the details of the return of the end-to-end test flight. Participants are:
- NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
- Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
- Joel Montalbano, manager, NASA’s International Space Station Program
- Benji Reed, director, crew mission management, SpaceX
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.
Is the storm going to be an issue?
Mission controllers are monitoring weather conditions very closely.
What happens if a sudden change in weather??
Mission controllers are monitoring the weather very closely and can delay undocking and splashdown if necessary.
At what time is the splashdown scheduled for on Sunday, August 2 ?
Here is the NASA TV schedule for the return to Earth of the SpaceX Crew Dragon… https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-to-provide-coverage-of-astronauts-return-from-space-station-on-spacex-commercial
So excited to watch the return of Dragon, cannot wait.
Good luck everyone
I know it’s not set in stone yet but if the path is correct, is this something that may be viewable from the East coast? If so, how far North? I’ll be near Myrtle!
The SpaceX Crew Dragon’s planned orbital path will take it on a southwest to northeast trajectory over the Gulf of Mexico for a splashdown.
Good luck and best wishes to Doug and Bob on a safe return. From; Jim an avid NASA space follower in Western Australia.
Will the approach for splashdown be from NW to SE or SW to NE. ? Good luck and Best wishes to Bob and Doug.
The approach for splashdown will be from SW to NE.
Where can we go in Florida to watch the splashdown?
Splashdown will be off the coast of Pensacola. It will be very hard to see with the naked eye.
Where can we watch this from in Florida?
Splashdown will be off the coast of Pensacola. It will be very hard to see with the naked eye.
For those of us who live in the Pensacola area, will we be able to see the burn?
The deorbit burn will not be visible.