NASA and SpaceX are preparing to send the second operational mission of the commercial crew to the International Space Station and you can watch the preparations, launch and arrival live.
Crew-2 will include NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, Japanese aerospace agency Akihiko Hoshide (JAXA) and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Pesquet. The quartet is expected to remain in the orbiting complex for six months.
Crew-2 is scheduled to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida at 6:11 a.m. EDT (1011 GMT) on Thursday (April 22nd), depending on mechanical and weather conditions. If all goes well, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spaceship is expected to dock with the orbiting lab around 5:30 AM EDT (0930 GMT) on April 23.
Related: Astronauts move the SpaceX capsule to the new dock for the first time
You can watch those big events live on this page and at here on Space.com, courtesy of NASA. You can also watch through NASA TV, NASA application and the agency website and receive updates from NASA social media feeds. Most of the KSC media and public facilities remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and only a small number of media will be on site.
Here is a summary of the Crew-2 media events that NASA and SpaceX plan to hold next week:
Thursday, April 15th
NASA will hold a media conference to assess flight availability at KSC starting with 6 pm EDT (2200 GMT) with the following participants:
- Kathy Lueders, Associate Administrator, Exploration and Human Operations, NASA Headquarters
- Steve Stich, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program, KSC
- Joel Montalbano, manager, International Space Station, Johnson Space Center at NASA
- Norm Knight, Deputy Director, Flight Operations, Johnson
- Representative SpaceX
- Junichi Sakai, Manager, International Space Station Program, JAXA
- Frank de Winne, manager, International Space Station Program, ESA
- Randy Repcheck, Acting Director, Operational Safety, Federal Aviation Administration
Friday, April 16th
Crew-2 astronauts will arrive at KSC at 13:00 EDT (1700 GMT) be greeted safely – following strict quarantine protocols – by the following participants:
- Steve Jurczyk, acting administrator of NASA
- Bob Cabana, center director, KSC
- Junichi Sakai, Manager, International Space Station Program, JAXA
- Frank de Winne, manager, International Space Station Program, ESA
- NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, the commander of the spacecraft
- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, pilot
- JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, mission specialist
- ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, mission specialist
Saturday, April 17
A virtual media engagement of the crew will take place at 9:45 AM EDT (1345 GMT) at KSC with the entire Crew-2 crew. The media will send questions over the phone.
Monday, April 19th
A scientific media teleconference at 13:00 EDT (1700 GMT) will discuss investigations into the mission, along with the implementation of new solar networks. Participants include:
- David Brady, Associate Scientist at the JSC International Space Station Program;
- Liz Warren, senior director of the ISS US National Laboratory program. Warren will discuss tissue engineering, which uses a combination of cells, engineering, and materials to restore, maintain, improve, or replace biological tissues. according to NASA.
- Lucie Low of the US National Institutes of Health. Low will discuss tissue chips, “complex bioengineered 3D models that mimic the structure and function of human organ systems.” according to NASA.
- William Stefanov, ISS scientist for Earth observations;
- Bryan Griffith (NASA Project Manager for ISS Power Growth) and Rick Golden (Boeing Director for ISS Structural and Mechanical Development Project) to discuss the deployment of two new solar networks.
Tuesday, April 20
A pre-launch press conference at the KSC will be held no earlier than one hour after the completion of the review of preparation for launch (most likely in the afternoon or early evening. Participants include:
- Steve Stich, manager, Commercial Crew Program, KSC
- Joel Montalbano, manager, International Space Station, SA
- Kirt Costello, chief scientist, International Space Station Program, SA
- Norm Knight, Deputy Director, Flight Operations Department, SA
- Benji Reed, senior director, Human Spaceflight Programs, SpaceX
- Junichi Sakai, Manager, International Space Station Program, JAXA
- Frank de Winne, manager, International Space Station Program, ESA
- Brian Cizek, Launch Officer, 45th U.S. Air Force Meteor Squadron
Wednesday, April 21
A briefing on the “countdown clock” will take place at 10 am EDT (1400 GMT) at KSC with very limited media participation. Participants include:
- Steve Jurczyk, acting administrator of NASA
- Bob Cabana, KSC director
- Hiroshi Sasaki, Vice President and General Manager, JAXA Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate
- Frank de Winne, manager, International Space Station Program, ESA
- Astronaut NASA, TBD
- Astronaut NASA, TBD
Thursday, April 22
NET 2 morning EDT (0600 GMT) – NASA TV launch coverage begins.
NET 7:30 am (1130 GMT) – Post-launch press conference with the following participants:
- Steve Jurczyk, acting administrator of NASA
- Kathy Lueders, Associate Administrator, Exploration and Human Operations Mission, NASA Headquarters
- Hiroshi Sasaki, Vice President and General Manager, JAXA Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate
- Frank de Winne, manager, International Space Station Program, ESA
- Representative SpaceX, TBD
Friday, April 23
About 5:30 am EDT (0930 GMT) – Docking
About 7:35 am EDT (1135 GMT) – Opening the hatch
Approximately 8:05 am EDT (1205 GMT) – Welcome ceremony from the International Space Station with the following participants on Earth:
- Kathy Lueders, Associate Administrator, Exploration and Human Operations Mission, NASA Headquarters
- Hiroshi Yamakawa, President, JAXA
- Josef Aschbacher, General Manager, ESA
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