Posted on 03/03/2019 8:07:40 PM PST by blueplum
For the first time in history, a commercially-built and operated American crew spacecraft and rocket, which launched from American soil, is on its way to the International Space Station. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft lifted off at 2:49 a.m. EST Saturday on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
“Today’s successful launch marks a new chapter in American excellence, getting us closer to once again flying American astronauts on American rockets from American soil,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “I proudly congratulate the SpaceX and NASA teams for this major milestone in our nation’s space history. This first launch of a space system designed for humans, and built and operated by a commercial company through a public-private partnership, is a revolutionary step on our path to get humans to the Moon, Mars and beyond.”...(snip)
The Crew Dragon is designed to stay docked to station for up to 210 days, although the Crew Dragon used for this flight test will not have that capability. This spacecraft will remain docked to the space station only five days, departing Friday, March 8. After undocking from the station, Crew Dragon will begin its descent to Earth. Live coverage of the undocking will air on NASA Television and the agency’s website beginning at 2 a.m., with deorbit and landing coverage resuming at 7:30 a.m.
Additional spacecraft mission objectives include a safe departure from the station, followed by a deorbit burn and parachute deployment to slow the spacecraft before splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean, off the Florida Space Coast. SpaceX’s recovery ship, Go Searcher, will retrieve Crew Dragon and transport it back to port.
Teams will be closely monitoring the parachute system and entry control system operation, which have been changed from cargo Dragons to provide higher...
(Excerpt) Read more at nasa.gov ...
bttt
They have a robo-rider astronaut named Ripley aboard. Ripley hates aliens. Hidden message?
Good News, looks like success. I know Commercial Space travel will be cheaper than the gubmint kind.
Astronaut Recruiter: We are looking for U.S. pilots who are willing to become astronauts.
Alan Shepard: Astronauts? You mean sit on top of a rocket and launched into space? Sounds dangerous; when do we go?
This earlier FR posting has some pix worth a look
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3731500/posts
thanks, mosesdapoet :)
Ripley hates aliens. Hidden message?
—
yes as we all know there is a queen alien hidden in her ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.