NASA’s SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 Mission – On May 30, 2020 at 19:22:45 UTC, Elon Musk’s SpaceX heralded a new chapter in space exploration by becoming the first commercial (private) company to launch astronauts into space. The historic launch took place from launch complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. Two NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken were carried to the International Space Station in the Crew Dragon spacecraft on top of the Falcon 9 rocket.
Operation of Crew Dragon Demo-2 Mission
The actual launch of Crew Dragon Demo-2 Mission was scheduled for May 27, 2020 but this launch was scrubbed due to bad weather conditions, and the liftoff was rescheduled for May 31, 2020.
First Stage
During the launch of the Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission, the first stage main engine was cut off after 2 minutes and 33 seconds of liftoff. The first and second stages separated three seconds later. Falcon 9 rocket used as the first stage rocket was retrieved successfully in the Atlantic Ocean on the autonomous spaceport drone ship, Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY).
Second Stage
The second stage engine ignition started after a few seconds of separation and then the Crew Dragon spacecraft made its way to the International Space Station. After 12 minutes of the takeoff, spacecraft reached Earth’s orbit. From here astronauts revolved around the Earth for 19 hours and tested the manual control of the spacecraft to share their experience with future flights. After orbiting the Earth and the spacecraft approached the International Space Station and docked successfully into the docking port Harmony by using its sensors and cameras.
Welcome Aboard
Once it was successfully docked, both the astronauts were welcomed aboard the International Space Station (the world’s only space-based laboratory, located about 400 km from the earth) and became members of the Expedition 63 crew. Here they will perform tests and research on the Crew Dragon.
Recovery
After all the tests are conducted for which the time is stipulated up to 30-90 days, the astronauts will depart from ISS in the same capsule Crew Dragon. It will splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean after entering into the Earth’s atmosphere. In the end, the astronauts will be recovered by the Go Navigator, a recovery vessel of SpaceX.
Role of SpaceX in Crew Dragon Demo-2 Mission
The entire crew transportation system, including the spacecraft – Crew Dragon, the launch vehicle – Falcon 9, the launch pad – LC-39A, and spacesuits all are designed by SpaceX. The success of this launch is important to get certified for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The Demo-2 mission is also important as it breaks the government’s monopoly in the space sector along with reducing the cost of space travel.
This is called the Demo-2 mission because it is a demonstration flight. Its success will lead to more missions in the coming months.
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NASA’s Historic #LaunchAmerica Campaign
The launch of SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 Mission is equally important for NASA as well. This is the first time NASA launched American spaceship from its own land after a long gap of 9 years.
Earlier to this NASA hitched rides on Russia’s Soyuz Capsule to travel to the ISS, for which it paid a lot of dollars for every single trip.
Space Shuttle Program
NASA in its Space Shuttle program which was last launched on July 8, 2011 (STS-135) completed a total of 135 journeys into space and to ISS. NASA had five orbiters namely Challenger, Columbia, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. Two of these were destroyed in accidents, the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster (1986) and Space Shuttle Columbia disaster (2003), each resulting in the death of 7 astronauts. After the Columbia Accident, US govt. decided to shut down the Space Shuttle program. The remaining 3 Space Shuttle systems were declared to be retired in July 2011. This is when NASA felt the need of private players like SpaceX and Boeing.
The Crew of SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 Flight
Two veteran NASA astronauts Douglas Gerald Hurley (53) and Robert Louis Behnken (49) were selected for the Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission.
Douglas Hurley
Douglas Hurley, an American engineer, and former US Marine Corps pilot had participated in STS-135, STS-127 missions. In the Demo-2 mission, Hurley is responsible for handling the launch, landing, and recovery of the spacecraft.
Robert Behnken
Robert Behnken, a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and former colonel in the U.S. Air Force had participated in STS-123, STS-130 missions. Behnken is responsible for rendezvous, docking, and undocking.
Crew Dragon Demo-2 is the first flight of both of them together.
Dinosaur in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon
Along with the two astronauts, one dinosaur toy was also launched. The reason behind launching a dinosaur toy along with the crew was to indicate zero-gravity and weightlessness once they are out of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Wrapping Up
NASA’s SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 Mission is a major step towards making space research and exploration much more collaborative. After the successful voyage of Demo-2, NASA will be launching some distant missions with the help of SpaceX. NASA’s upcoming missions in the Artemis program will be helped by the experience of such missions.