Buzz
NASA astronauts Bob Behnken (left) and Doug Hurley, clad in SpaceX spacesuits, walk along the Crew Access Arm, which connects the launch tower to the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft during a rehearsal at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 17, 2020.In a historic moment, NASA astronauts will once again return to space from U.S. soil for the first time since 2011. Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will launch on May 27, 2020, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, heading towards the International Space Station.
The astronauts will journey aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft, powered by a Falcon 9 rocket, both of which were designed and built by SpaceX, the company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk. If successful, SpaceX will become the first private company to launch astronauts into space.
A Legacy Interrupted
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the news of the flight in April. During a series of virtual press conferences on May 1, Bridenstine, along with other key officials from both NASA and SpaceX, discussed the groundbreaking mission of the Crew Dragon.
"This is a mission of utmost importance for the United States of America," Bridenstine told reporters. "Our country has been without direct access to the International Space Station for nine years, but we’ve continuously had American astronauts aboard the ISS for 20 years straight."
At 357 feet (109 meters) in length, the International Space Station stands as the largest human-made object in Earth's orbit. The station’s crew conducts a wide array of experiments in the unique environment of low gravity.
The International Space Station owes much to NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Approved by President Richard M. Nixon in 1972, this initiative introduced the world to reusable spacecraft. From 1981 to 2011, NASA regularly launched astronauts aboard American-built shuttles, which played a key role in transporting components of the ISS during its construction.
The space shuttle era concluded on July 21, 2011, when the Atlantis orbiter returned from its final mission. Following the program's end, astronauts heading to the International Space Station (ISS) relied on Russian Soyuz rockets.
This shift triggered the law of supply and demand. For nearly ten years, Soyuz rockets were the only means of sending people to the ISS. Astronauts were launched exclusively from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, a spaceport leased to Russia. By April 2020, the Russian government was charging $86 million per seat for foreign astronauts on Soyuz missions.
Another Soyuz rocket launch is set for October, with NASA currently in talks to secure a seat. However, there is hope that SpaceX's Crew Dragon will soon break this spaceflight monopoly.
"We aim to keep the [Russian-American] partnership in space exploration strong," Bridenstine said. "We envision a future where Russian cosmonauts can launch aboard American rockets, and American astronauts can travel on Russian rockets."
An illustration showing the SpaceX Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket during the company's uncrewed In-Flight Abort Test as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.Dragons in Space
SpaceX and the International Space Station have built a strong history together. Since 2012, the company has been delivering supplies to the ISS using unmanned spacecraft.
In March 2019, the Crew Dragon passed a crucial test when it launched from Merritt Island atop a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket, then autonomously docked with the International Space Station. After five days, the Crew Dragon returned to Earth, splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean, about 142.9 miles (230 kilometers) from Florida's coast.
However, during that mission, the only 'passengers' were an Earth-shaped plush toy and a mannequin called 'Ripley.' This time, we will witness the Crew Dragon's performance with actual astronauts aboard.
"The Dragon will operate entirely autonomously," stated SpaceX crew mission director Benjamin Reed during the May 1 conference. "The goal is for it to safely transport the crew to the station and return them home without requiring manual intervention."
Nevertheless, Hurley and Behnken will briefly take control, with NASA deputy manager Steve Stich explaining that they will "do a little bit of manual flying" before the Crew Dragon docks. The astronauts will have the option to steer the spacecraft using either touch screens or physical switches for specific sections of the journey. While in space, they will test systems such as the maneuvering thrusters and environmental control system.
Then there are the spacesuits. Created by SpaceX, these one-piece suits are designed to provide oxygen, regulate temperature, and maintain pressure. "The suits also feature a built-in communications system, allowing the crew to communicate through their helmets," Reed added. The suits connect to the Crew Dragon's seats when the astronauts sit down.
NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley (front) are shown in SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft flight simulator.Prepping for COVID-19 and Beyond
Behnken and Hurley are no strangers to low-Earth orbit. Behnken has spent over 708 hours in space, while Hurley was part of NASA's final shuttle-era crew in 2011. However, each mission comes with its own set of challenges. Like the rest of the world, NASA, SpaceX, and the astronauts have had to adapt during the coronavirus pandemic.
"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking additional precautions for everyone involved in the launch and the entire flight process," explained Steve Stich. Both SpaceX and NASA have introduced social distancing measures (such as maintaining a distance of 6 feet, or 1.82 meters, between workstations) in their respective control rooms.
At the same time, the crew is keeping their distance. "We’ve minimized interaction with [Hurley and Behnken] for weeks now... a lot of training sessions have been conducted virtually," Stich said. The astronauts will also undergo a preflight quarantine from May 16 until their launch on May 27.
"This is not only about the safety of Bob and Doug, but also about the safety of the crew aboard the International Space Station," remarked NASA Commercial Crew program manager Kathy Lueders during the conference.
Currently, there are three astronauts aboard the International Space Station: two Americans and a Russian. The exact duration of Behnken and Hurley's stay at the station will be determined later; it could range from five to 30 days.
When it’s time to return, the Crew Dragon will autonomously undock and safely carry its passengers back to Florida via the Atlantic Ocean.
There’s a long-standing tradition of civilians gathering near the Kennedy Space Center to watch rocket launches. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, NASA is advising people to refrain from doing so this time to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Nonetheless, you may still want to tune in to watch the launch online. For only the fifth time in history, NASA astronauts will be testing a new spacecraft. If Behnken and Hurley succeed in their mission, it could mark the dawn of a new era in space tourism and technological advancement, with private industry stepping into development roles once reserved for governments.
"This is a significant milestone in the commercialization of low-Earth orbit, paving the way for a dynamic low-Earth orbit economy where NASA is just one of many customers," said Bridenstine.
On January 19, 2020, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft for the company’s uncrewed In-Flight Abort Test.
NASA/Tony GrayRipley, the mannequin who took part in last year's uncrewed Crew Dragon demo flight, was named after Ellen Ripley from the "Alien" series. Sigourney Weaver's portrayal of the iconic sci-fi heroine earned her an Oscar nomination in 1987.
