SpaceX, NASA set for historic Crew-1 launch today: everything to know

The The launch has finally taken place. SpaceX Crew Dragon 7:27 p.m. And is heading to IS with four astronauts after a successful launch.

You can read everything you need to know about the successful launch Here.

But it’s been a long time coming. This launch in particular has had a number of postponements and delays. It was originally scheduled to launch back in 2016.

Here are the answers to your most frequently asked questions about the mission.

Wait, what was that about the engines?

The launch date for Crew-1 was pushed back to late October when NASA and SpaceX noticed some unexpected behavior from some Falcon 9 engines used for an unrelated mission. Launch a military GPS satellite. That mission had only two seconds left on the countdown and Ann The investigation came to light later Millions of people blocked the relief valve line. The obstruction caused two rocket engines to try and catch fire quickly, possibly damaging the engines when the lift off did not end automatically.

SpaceX found that the engines in the rocket used for the Crew-1 had a “similar trend.” The launch date was changed to November, the engines were shut down and now both NASA and SpaceX are satisfied that the time has come.

Okay, so why is Karu-1 a big deal?

Part of the crew-1 climb NASA’s commercial do program The work has been that year. For decades, NASA has developed its own rockets and spacecraft exclusively with the help of contractors, but the Commercial Staff Program works to charter a flight. Companies like SpaceX and Boeing have vehicles designed to be used by other customers, and NASA may block them.

This is a major step towards bringing the light of space back to US soil. Since the end of the space shuttle program in 2011 The Demo-2 mission that sent two NASA astronauts to the ISS aboard a crew dragon earlier this year, NASA has relied on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft to orbit its astronauts.

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Demo 2 was considered a successful Crew Dragon demonstration and NASA sees Crew 1 as the first official Crew rotation mission off the coast of the United States since the retirement of the shuttle.

“It’s very interesting, especially since Crew-1 is the first time we’ve ever made four people on a space capsule, like a human being is great.” NASA’s Anthony explained the year, Lead Flight Director for Missions. “It’s also the longest mission ever of a scary American capsule.”

Who are the astronauts flying in the dragon?

In addition to the historic flight, NASA’s crew will be the Dragon Commander Michael Hopkins, Pilot Victor Glover And mission experts Shannon Walker, Joined by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) mission experts Sochi Noguchi To the space station.

Until now, three people in the Soyuz capsule had a small amount of rides, but the crew dragons could accommodate up to seven (in comparison, the space shuttle flew up to eight spacecraft), allowing these four astronauts to travel. Appeared relatively large.

How long is the trip?

Crew-1 members are embarking on a six-month science mission, which is of interest to those involved in the rabies and space sciences as four crew members are available at the station for more hands-on experiments in microgravity. .

“It would be nice to be able to see how much work we can do while we’re there,” Hopkins said Monday.

But first, of course, the astronauts have to get there. The actual ISS journey takes a little over 24 hours to dock with the station from the start of Saturday evening until about 8pm on Sunday.

How do i look

Right here. NASA and SpaceX will stream the launch, PT from launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center (currently delayed by Saturday, due to weather) is scheduled for Sunday, November 15 at 4:30 p.m.

NASA TV will broadcast the launch And docking, and we’re also taking a livestream, which you can catch below.