Astronauts for SpaceX Crew-2 mission prepare for launch
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. โ Astronauts for the SpaceX Crew-2 mission said they are ready for the launch next month at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. [I] just want to give a shoutout to the NASA and SpaceX training teams [that] have done such a great job. Weโre ready and weโre excited to fly,โ astronaut Megan McArthur, the pilot for NASAโs SpaceX Crew-2 mission said. โWeโre gonna do our very best to represent NASA and ESA and JAXA and SpaceX in the International Space Station,โ Kimbrough said. โItโs an international crew so that in itself can show the possibilities that are out there.โ
SpaceX targeting April to launch 4 astronauts from 3 countries to space station
The members of the SpaceX Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station. Picture from left are NASA astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet. The NASA, European Space Agency and Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) crew are slated to launch atop the Falcon 9 rocket from launchpad 39A no earlier than April 20 and travel to the International Space Station, where four other astronauts, who also arrived via SpaceX, will be waiting. The mission known as Crew-2 will include NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet. Additionally there is another Russian Space Agency Soyuz launch slated for spring with three astronauts headed to the ISS, meaning at some point there could be 11 astronauts on station together at the same time.
Meet the third round of astronauts who will launch on SpaceX Dragon
(NASA via AP)Next, if the splashdown and return home happens on time, three NASA astronauts and a Japanese astronaut will launch on another Crew Dragon spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center. Later NASA added two more crew members, NASA astronaut Shannon Walker and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi. [DRAGON COVERAGE: Have what it takes to fly Crew Dragon? This will be known as Crew-2, the second operational mission to the ISS for the SpaceX astronaut spacecraft. She flew on one space shuttle mission, the fifth and final repair mission for the Hubble Space Telescope.
NASA astronauts wave goodbye to families in 2nd attempt to launch SpaceX Crew Dragon
Hurley and Behnken are the test pilots tasked with flying to the International Space Station on SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft. The families are familiar with a touching moment, as both Behnken and Hurley married former astronauts who have each have had their own rendezvous with space. pic.twitter.com/QjxLLZrCgm NASA (@NASA) May 30, 2020Behnken is married to astronaut Megan McArthur. After their heartfelt goodbye, the astronauts drove off in the backseat of a Tesla to board SpaceXs Crew Dragon space capsule. Once the rocket lifts off, Crew Dragon will take 19 hours to fly to the International Space Station.
Astronauts say good-bye to families in touching moment
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Returning human spaceflight to the U.S. is monumental for all involved, but particularly touching for the families waving goodbye to NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley. Before the two astronauts drove off to Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A, their preparations for lift-off included a heartfelt moment. She was part of the final repair mission for the Hubble Space Telescope and has flown on one space shuttle mission. Astronauts say good-bye to families in touching moment (Copyright 2020 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.) After their heartfelt goodbye, the astronauts drove off in Teslas board SpaceXโs Crew Dragon space capsule.