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SpaceX, in partnership with NASA, will launch its first Crew Dragon operational mission, designated Crew-1, to the International Space Station (ISS) this weekend.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft, called Resilience, will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Watch the live stream here.
SpaceX x NASA Launch: what you need to know
Launch of crew 1 on the Falcon 9 rocket
SpaceX was scheduled to launch four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) this Saturday, for the first time since the successful manned test flight “Launch America” in May 2020.
Crew 1 astronauts quarantined before their journey to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon capsule. Image via Twitter: @JimBridenstine.
Astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker and Japan’s Soichi Noguchi have been in quarantine since October 31, 2020 and are all members of the Expedition 64 crew.
“Proud of our crew-1 astronauts! I had the opportunity to speak with them today before the launch. Shannon Walker is a guy @RiceUniversity Owl, so I thought we would show our laughter spirit! #LaunchAmerica“
Jim Bridenstine
NASA also confirmed that the first booster stage will be reused to fly astronauts to Crew-2, the second manned operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft on March 30, 2021.
Watch: NASA and SpaceX’s Crew-1 launch on the ISS
Note: NASA TV broadcasts 24/7. Scroll down for Crew-1’s launch schedule, including the dates and times of various mission events and press conferences.
Date and time of the crew-1
The Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft will be launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center LC-39A on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on November 15, 2020 at 7:27 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST).
For SA viewers, Monday morning, November 16, would be Sunday at 2:27 South African Standard Time (SAST). But if you are looking from other parts of the world, it would be:
- 4:27 pm PT (Pacific Time, Nov 15)
- 6:27 pm Central Time (CT, November 15) in the United States
- 1:27 British Summer Time (BST, November 15th)
- 5:57 Indian Standard Time (ISD)
- 8:27 China Standard Time) (CST)
- 9:27 Japan Standard Time (JST)
- 10:27 Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)
- 13:27 (New Zealand summer time).
Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 prior to launch at the hangar at Launch Complex 39A. Images via Twitter: @SpaceX
The mission was nearly jeopardized after Elon Musk confirmed the positive (and negative) test for COVID-19 the same day after undergoing four tests.
In addition, on Friday, November 13, 2020, NASA chief Jim Bridenstine stated that “the protocol excluded the presence of anyone [including Musk] positive result at Kennedy Space Center “.
“When someone tests positive for Covid here at Kennedy Space Center and throughout NASA, it is our policy that that person quarantine and self-isolate. So we expect this to happen. And, you know, we’re looking into SpaceX to do any appropriate contact tracing. “
Jim Bridenstine
SpaceX and NASA’s Crew-1 mission program
Times listed below in South African Standard Time (SAST).
Continuous coverage of the NASA TV launch will begin at 10:15 pm on Sunday evening, November 15. This will also include docking and hatch opening, followed by a press conference.
The post-launch conference, meanwhile scheduled for 4:15 am Monday morning, will also feature NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Federal Aviation Administration Representative Steve Dickson.
Other esteemed guests include NASA Associate Administrator Kathy Lueders as well as JAXA Vice President and CEO Hiroshi Sasaki and a SpaceX representative.
Docking at the ISS
Finally, crew-1 will dock with the International Space Station at 6:00 am on Tuesday morning, followed by a welcome ceremony at 8:40 am and a post-docking press conference at 9:00 am.
On Thursday, November 19, at a time yet to be defined, we will attend a press conference on the Space Station, featuring NASA astronauts Kate Rubins, Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, as well as the JAXA astronaut and Soichi Noguchi.
Also Read: Elon Musk reportedly tested positive and negative for COVID-19, within one day
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