Are you ready for #LaunchAmerica? NASA and SpaceX are targeting Nov. 14 for the launch of the agency’s Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Liftoff is scheduled for Nov. 14 6:49 p.m. CT* from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Watch the launch and associated events, on NASA TV.
* On Friday, Nov. 13, Jim Bridenstine issued this update: Due to onshore winds and recovery operations, NASA and SpaceX are targeting launch of the Crew-1 mission with astronauts to the Space_Station at 7:27 p.m. EST Sunday, Nov. 15. The first stage booster is planned to be reused to fly astronauts on Crew-2. #LaunchAmerica
NASA astronauts mission specialist Shannon Walker, pilot Victor Glover, and Crew Dragon commander Michael Hopkins, and mission specialist Soichi Noguchi, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut, will launch on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft–which the Crew-1 astronauts named ‘Resilience.’ This is Glover’s first spaceflight.
‘Resilience’ arrived at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A on Thursday, Nov. 5, with the crew arriving Sunday, Nov. 8.
Center Director Bob Cabana greeted the crew, saying: “I can’t tell you how great it is to welcome a crew here to go to space again. I envy each and every one of you. This whole effort to commercialize low Earth orbit, this is just a gigantic step in making that happen.”
Mike Hopkins, Crew-1 Commander said, “It feels really good to be here. On behalf of the crew of Resilience, we want to say a big thank you to SpaceX and NASA, and the DOD who have been working tirelessly to get us to this point. For the crew, we’re ready.”
Originally scheduled for Oct. 31, the mission was delayed 15 days to allow SpaceX to work out the problems with its Merlin engine which powers the Falcon 9. The Flight Readiness Review will evaluate the overall readiness of all the teams and flight hardware to be cleared for launch–including keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Eta.
Crew-1 is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which has returned human spaceflight capabilities to the U.S. These integrated spacecraft, rockets, and associated systems will carry up to four astronauts on NASA missions, maintaining a space station crew of seven to maximize time dedicated to scientific research on the orbiting laboratory. Crew-1’s mission is the first crew rotational flight of a U.S. commercial spacecraft with astronauts to the ISS.
The ISS is vital for research that helps NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight. As commercial companies focus on providing human transportation services to and from low-Earth orbit, NASA is freed up to focus on building spacecraft and rockets for deep space missions.
After launch, the spacecraft will perform a series of maneuvers, culminating with rendezvous and docking with the space station. Upon their arrival aboard, the Crew-1 astronauts will become members of Expedition 64, joining NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, as well as Expedition 64 commander Sergey Ryzhikov and flight engineer Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, both of the Russian space agency Roscosmos.
This month marks 25 years of continuous human habitation aboard the International Space Station.
