NASA and SpaceX are preparing to send the second operational commercial crew to the International Space Station, and you can watch the preparations, launch and arrival directly.
Crew-2 will include NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, the astronaut exploration agency (JAXA), Akihiko Hoshide, and the astronaut Thomas Pesquet, of the European Space Agency (ESA). The quartet is expected to stay in the track complex for six months.
Crew-2 plans to launch next Thursday (April 22) at 06:11 EDT (1011 GMT) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, subject to mechanical and weather conditions. If all goes according to plan, SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft will arrive at the orbital laboratory on April 23 at around 05:30 EDT (0930 GMT).
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You can watch the big events live on this page and at here on Space.com, courtesy of NASA. You can also watch via NASA TV, the NASA app and the agency’s website and get updates from NASA social media feeds. Most of KSC’s press and public facilities will remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and only a small number of media will be on site.
Here’s an overview of the Crew-2 media events that NASA and SpaceX plan to hold over the next week or so:
Thursday 15 April
NASA holds a media conference on flight readiness at KSC at the beginning of 18:00 EDT (2200 GMT) with the following participants:
- Kathy Lueders, Co-Administrator, Human Exploration and Operations, NASA Headquarters
- Steve Stich, Director, NASA Commercial Crew Program, KSC
- Joel Montalbano, Manager of the International Space Station, NASA’s Johnson Space Center
- Norm Knight, Deputy Manager, Flight Operations Board, Johnson
- SpaceX representative
- Junichi Sakai, Manager, International Space Station Program, JAXA
- Frank de Winne, Manager, International Space Station Program, ESA
- Randy Repcheck, Acting Director, Operational Safety, Federal Aviation Administration
Friday 16 April
The Crew-2 astronauts will arrive at KSC 13:00 EDT (1700 GMT) to be greeted safely – according to strict quarantine protocols – by the following participants:
- Steve Jurczyk, Acting NASA Administrator
- Bob Cabana, Center Director, KSC
- Junichi Sakai, Manager, International Space Station Program, JAXA
- Frank de Winne, Manager, International Space Station Program, ESA
- NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, spacecraft commander
- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur pilot
- JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, mission specialist
- ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, mission specialist
Saturday 17 April
A virtual crew media engagement takes place on 09:45 EDT (1345 GMT) at KSC with the entire Crew-2 crew. Media will submit telephonic questions.
Monday 19 April
A scientific media conference at 13:00 EDT (1700 GMT) will discuss the investigations into the mission, as well as new deployment of solar power. Participants include:
- David Brady, co-program scientist for the International Space Station Program at JSC;
- Liz Warren, senior program director of the ISS American National Laboratory. Warren will discuss tissue engineering, “which uses a combination of cells, engineering and materials to repair, maintain, improve or replace biological tissues,” according to NASA.
- Lucie Low of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Low will discuss tissue chips, “complex bio-engineering 3D models that mimic the structure and function of human organ systems”. according to NASA.
- William Stefanov, ISS Program Scientist for Earth Observations;
- Bryan Griffith (NASA project manager for ISS power augmentation) and Rick Golden (Boeing’s director for the ISS structural and mechanical development project) to discuss the implementation of two new solar power plants.
Tuesday 20 April
A pre-news conference at KSC that does not take place earlier than one hour after the launch announcement (probably in the afternoon or early evening. Participants include:
- Steve Stich, Manager, Commercial Crew Program, KSC
- Joel Montalbano, Manager, International Space Station, JSC
- Kirt Costello, Chief Scientist, International Space Station Program, JSC
- Norm Knight, Deputy Manager, Aviation Operations Directorate, JSC
- Benji Reed, Senior Director, Human Spaceflight Programs, SpaceX
- Junichi Sakai, Manager, International Space Station Program, JAXA
- Frank de Winne, Manager, International Space Station Program, ESA
- Brian Cizek, U.S. Air Force Squadron Weather Officer
Wednesday 21 April
An information clock briefing will take place to 10:00 AM EDT (1400 GMT) at KSC with very limited media participation. Participants include:
- Steve Jurczyk, Acting NASA Administrator
- Bob Cabana, KSC Director
- Hiroshi Sasaki, Vice President and CEO, JAXA’s Directorate of Human Spaceflight Technology
- Frank de Winne, Manager, International Space Station Program, ESA
- NASA astronaut, TBD
- NASA astronaut, TBD
Thursday 22 April
NET 02:00 EDT (0600 GMT) – NASA TV launch begins.
NET 07:30 (1130 GMT) – Post-launch news conference with the following participants:
- Steve Jurczyk, Acting NASA Administrator
- Kathy Lueders, Co-Administrator, Directorate of Human Exploration and Operations Mission, NASA Headquarters
- Hiroshi Sasaki, Vice President and CEO, JAXA’s Directorate of Human Spaceflight Technology
- Frank de Winne, Manager, International Space Station Program, ESA
- SpaceX Representative, TBD
Friday 23 April
About 05:30 EDT (0930 GMT) – Docking
About 07:35 EDT (1135 GMT) – Shutter opening
About 08:05 EDT (1205 GMT) – Welcoming ceremony of the International Space Station with the following participants on earth:
- Kathy Lueders, Co-Administrator, Directorate of Human Exploration and Operations Mission, NASA Headquarters
- Hiroshi Yamakawa, President, JAXA
- Josef Aschbacher, Director General, ESA
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