Do Dragon Flexibility Upon reaching the International Space Station supported by Earth.
NASA TV
Sunday at 7:27 p.m. At the same time, the SpaceX Falcon 9 Booster killed John Fook at the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, with its engines illuminating the Florida coast. The complete launch of the Gramdrop-shaped Crew Dragon spacecraft image – nicknamed Flexibility – Marked A historic moment in American space flight.
Since the end of the space shuttle program in 2011, NASA has sent humans on an active mission to orbit the United States. The start of this special mission was delayed, pushed back and postponed several times – the actual timeline included the November 2016 start date. Four years And some technical stumbling blocks later, Flexibility has now approached the International Space Station.
Michael Hopkins, commander of the Crew-1 spacecraft, said, “Together in these difficult times, you have inspired the nation, the world and any small part of the world to name this unique vehicle, Flexibility.” Michael Hopkins, commander of the space shuttle, said before the launch.
Docking at 8 p.m. Was scheduled to be on and it was right on time. However, the shadows obscured the view of the space station’s crew, and the astronauts decided to make a small catch at a distance of 20 meters from the docking adapter. After “sunset” and waiting for the shadows to go away, Flexibility made contact with the ISS and officially made a “soft capture” at 8:08 p.m., and at about 8:15 p.m.
“This is a new era of flights operating from the Florida coast to the International Space Station,” Hopkins said while docking.
Crew Dragon brings the International Assembly of Astronauts: Hopkins, Victor Glover And Shannon Walker NASA, plus Sochi Noguchi Of the Japanese space agency, Jaxa. After a handful of security checks and a welcome ceremony early Tuesday morning, the team will work on science experiments and maintenance. He is expected to spend the next six months at the station. The dragon is capable of autonomy and the dragon has been given the status of staying on the station for 210 days according to NASA conditions.
The launch was celebrated by NASA and SpaceX representatives at a post-launch conference on Sunday. “This is a great day for the United States and a great day for Japan,” said NASA Administrator Jim Brydenstein. “The big milestone here is that we’re moving from development and testing to functional flights.”
“I’m looking forward to enjoying the new era and coming together for the future,” said Hiroshi Sasaki, Jaxa’s vice president.
Less than 10 minutes after launch, the first phase of the Falcon 9 Booster landed safely on the Just Reed-directed drone at Atlantic. This is the first time a reusable rocket has been used in a mission and is planned to be used on the next operational flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, Crew-2.
Crew-2 is scheduled to launch in March 2021 and will carry four astronauts. This crew will re-use the dragon underwear that was previously used in the SpaceX Demo-2 mission in May.
Through smoke, the first stage of Falcon 9 on droneship in the Atlantic.
NASA
After about 12 minutes, the elastic separated from the second stage and went on its way.
This is not the first time a Falcon 9 rocket has launched a crew dragon into space. In May, NASA astronauts Bob Behkenken and Doug Hurley were The first two were orbited by a SpaceX workhorse rocket. But it was a test mission, with the final box to be selected before work officially began on NASA’s commercial staff program.
Crew-1 signals the return of active flights to United States land and the first flight in the CCP. Recently, NASA was buying flights in Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft. Flying SpaceX will save NASA about 25 25 million per seat.
NASA has also entered into an agreement with Boeing to deliver IS astronauts, but The company’s current spacecraft, Starliner, went on technical issues During its first unrestrained exhibition.
You can See the launch replay below.
Updated November 17: Success of added docking, title changed
