NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission will be launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday morning.
Representatives of the agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed at a pre-launch press conference on Tuesday that they had been set up for a 6:11-hour ET recording of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Crew Dragon Endeavor, indicating the second crew rotation on a commercial spacecraft mission and the first with two international partner astronauts.
NASA’s Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and French astronaut Thomas Pesquet will embark on a six-month voyage aboard the ISS.
From left to right, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet, Japan’s astronaut Exploration Agency (JAXA) Akihiko Hoshide, and NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur are seen preparing for the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout to depart. Built for Launch Complex 39A during a dress rehearsal before the Crew-2 mission, Sunday, April 18, 2021 at the Kennedy Space Center at NASA in Florida. Photo credit: (NASA / Aubrey Gemignani)
(NASA / Aubrey Gemignani)
Once there, International Space Station Manager Joel Montalbano said they would conduct more than 260 scientific experiments and that the fourth crew member would help research and develop the highly anticipated Artemis program and the low commercialization efforts on Earth. increase.
“With the launch of Crew-2, we welcome the European Space Agency, which is sending an astronaut to Dragon for the first time. We also welcome the Japanese Aviation Agency, which is flying on Dragon for the second time,” he added. “So, truly an international program and this is our future where we will have international partners for the future on our vehicles. This is a goal and this is where we plan to be.”
Steve Stitch, manager of the commercial crew program, told Montalbano that the NASA SpaceX team had its first “Readiness Review” and dress rehearsal on Tuesday morning, which led to the conclusion that it was “on course” on Thursday and that – if we accept there are no changes – dock will be presented on Friday around 04:30 ET.
“The most important thing we are watching over the next few days is the weather. You know we have to ‘go’ the weather and also ‘abort’ again along the track to protect the crew in the vehicle. So we are looking at Thursday and Friday and look at the weather over the next few days, ‘he said.
Launching officer Brian Cizek, of the 45th U.S. Space Force 45th Weather Squadron, explained that there is currently an 80% chance of favorable weather on Thursday and a 90% chance of favorable weather on Friday.
According to Cizek, storms and winds remain the biggest concern.
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Benji Reed, SpaceX’s senior director of human space programs, thanked NASA for awarding $ 2.89 billion of commercial human lander to SpaceX and said the company owned by Elon Musk is excited to be able to manage the crew again.
He said the teams will continue to conduct analyzes and data assessments, called ‘paranoia reviews’, until it’s time to fly.
“And in fact, our teams are even doing additional drills, like I mentioned, we want to keep going to make sure everything is going well. And so we’ll continue on the road while we’m ready for Thursday,” Reed said.
Johnson Directorate’s Aviation Operations Directorate, Deputy Manager Norm Knight, called human spaceflight “unforgivable” and praised the teams for their work.
“It’s the vigilance of the teams that guarantees continued safety, and it was definitely present in these reviews this week. And you know you’re stepping back and you’re watching, that is, it’s hard in a normal environment, but you put COVID on top it was extraordinarily impressive what these teams could put together, ‘he said.
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“The cadence is very good for the teams, between SpaceX and NASA people are working well together. We are looking forward to a successful mission. And again, it’s just a very exciting time,” he said.
JAXA ISS Manager Junichi Sakai, ESA ISS Program Manager Frank de Winne and Johnson Space Center ISS Program Chief Scientist Kirt Costello were also present.