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SpaceX Crew-1

Not to be confused with Crew Dragon Demo-1 or Crew Dragon Demo-2.

SpaceX Crew-1
Resilience docked to the International Space Station.
Names
  • USCV-1 (2012–2019)
  • Crew-1
Mission typeISS crew transport
OperatorSpaceX
COSPAR ID2020-084A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.46920Edit this on Wikidata
Mission duration167 days, 6 hours, 29 minutes, 16 seconds
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftCrew Dragon Resilience
Spacecraft typeCrew Dragon
ManufacturerSpaceX
Launch mass12,519 kg (27,600 lb)
Landing mass9,616 kg (21,200 lb)
Crew
Crew size4
Members
ExpeditionExpedition 64 / 65
Start of mission
Launch date16 November 2020, 00:27:17 (16 November 2020, 00:27:17) UTC (15 November 7:27:17 pm EST)[1]
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5 (B1061.1)
Launch siteKennedy, LC‑39A
End of mission
Recovered byMV GO Navigator
Landing date2 May 2021, 06:56:33 (2 May 2021, 06:56:33) UTC (2:56:33 am EDT)
Landing siteGulf of Mexico, near Panama City, Florida (29°44′50″N 85°59′03″W / 29.747238°N 85.984145°W / 29.747238; -85.984145)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Inclination51.66°
Docking with ISS
Docking portHarmony forward
Docking date17 November 2020, 04:01 UTC[2]
Undocking date5 April 2021, 10:30 UTC
Time docked139 days, 6 hours, 29 minutes
Docking with ISS (relocation)[a]
Docking portHarmony zenith
Docking date5 April 2021, 11:08 UTC
Undocking date2 May 2021, 00:35 UTC[4]
Time docked26 days, 13 hours, 27 minutes

Mission patch[5]

From left: Walker, Glover, Hopkins and Noguchi

SpaceX Crew-1 [6][7] (was also known as USCV-1 or simply Crew-1)[8] was the first operational[b] crewed flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft, and the maiden flight of the Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft. It was also the second crewed orbital flight launch by the United States since that of STS-135 in July 2011. Resilience launched on 16 November 2020 at 00:27:17 UTC[9][c] on a Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A), carrying NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, along with JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, all members of the Expedition 64 crew.[10][11] The mission was the second overall crewed orbital flight of the Crew Dragon.[12]

Crew-1 was the first operational mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in the Commercial Crew Program. Originally designated "USCV-1" by NASA in 2012, the launch date was delayed several times from the original date of November 2016.[13] The mission was scheduled to depart the ISS on 28 April 2021, but due to weather returned to Earth on 2 May 2021.[14][6][15] The capsule splashed down at 06:56:33 UTC, to be reused on Inspiration4.[16] It was the first nighttime splashdown for NASA astronauts since Apollo 8 in 1968.[17] On 7 February 2021, the Crew-1 broke the record for the longest spaceflight by a U.S. crewed vehicle, surpassing the 84-day mark set by an Apollo capsule on the final flight to the Skylab (Skylab-4) space station on 8 February 1974.[18]

Background

[edit]

The first operational mission in the Commercial Crew Program, originally designated "USCV-1" (United States Crew Vehicle-mission 1) by NASA, was initially announced in November 2012, with a launch date set for November 2016.[13] In April 2013, it was announced that the launch would be delayed by one year to November 2017.[13] It was then delayed into 2019 and 2020, pending the success of the uncrewed and crewed demonstration missions, respectively. Following the Crew Dragon Demonstration Mission 2, Crew-1 was tentatively scheduled for September 2020; further delays occurred to align with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and their impact on the schedule of ISS crew rotations and cargo delivery missions,[16] and then again because of concerns about an issue with the gas generators on the Merlin 1D engines.[19]

On 29 September 2020, mission commander Michael Hopkins revealed during a NASA press conference that the capsule's crew had chosen to name it Resilience.[20] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex only allowed a few people to watch the launch in person from the KSC premises.[21]

Crew

[edit]

NASA astronauts Michael S. Hopkins and Victor J. Glover were announced as the crew on 3 August 2018.[22] JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi and the third NASA astronaut, Shannon Walker, were added to the crew on 31 March 2020.[23][24][25]

Prime crew
Position Astronaut
Commander United States Michael S. Hopkins, NASA
Expedition 64/65
Second and last spaceflight
Pilot United States Victor J. Glover, NASA
Expedition 64/65
First spaceflight
Mission Specialist 1 Japan Soichi Noguchi, JAXA
Expedition 64/65
Third and last spaceflight
Mission Specialist 2 United States Shannon Walker, NASA
Expedition 64/65
Second spaceflight
Backup crew
Position Astronaut
Commander United States Kjell N. Lindgren, NASA
Mission Specialist 1 Japan Koichi Wakata, JAXA

Preparations

[edit]

Crew-1's Falcon 9 launch vehicle arrived at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on 14 July 2020.[26] Crew Dragon capsule C207 arrived at SpaceX processing facilities in Florida, on 18 August 2020.[27][28] The successful launch of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) on 5 November 2020 was a milestone leading up to the Crew-1 mission. Falcon 9 successfully deployed a GPS navigation satellite (GPS III-04) for the United States Space Force (USSF), confirming that engineers had resolved an issue with Merlin 1D engines that delayed the GPS mission and the Crew-1 flight.[29]

The crew arrived at Kennedy Space Center via a NASA Gulfstream jet on 8 November 2020 at 13:53 UTC. A Flight Readiness Review (FRR) convened by NASA officials was scheduled on 10 November 2020 to discuss unresolved technical issues, review the status of launch preparations, and give approval for teams to proceed with the Crew-1 mission.[29] NASA officials gave approval on 10 November 2020 for SpaceX to begin regular crew rotation flights to the International Space Station, signaling a transition from development to operations for the human-rated Crew Dragon spacecraft.[30] The launch vehicle was lifted to its vertical position on the pad for a test firing of its Merlin-1D main engines on 11 November 2020 at 20:49 UTC.[31] A dry dress rehearsal (DDR) on 12 November 2020 saw the crew put on their pressure suits and climb into Resilience.[31] SpaceX ran a launch readiness review (LRR) on 13 November 2020.[32]

Mission

[edit]
A window view of Earth from the Dragon 2 capsule during Expedition 64
The crew inside the capsule during the rendezvous process
Launch of the Crew-1 mission

On 15 November 2020, final pre-launch preparations were completed. The hatch of Resilience was closed at 22:32 UTC, but reopened briefly after a slight drop in pressure was detected. Troubleshooting the hatch seal led to discovery of a small amount of foreign object debris (FOD) in the seal. The hatch was then closed again, and mission controllers proceeded with the countdown. No further concerns were noted, and on 16 November 2020 at 00:27:17 UTC, Resilience lifted off successfully. Its Falcon 9 first-stage booster, SN B1061.1, landed on the autonomous spaceport drone ship Just Read the Instructions.[9] The astronauts entered a stable orbit after about nine minutes. For this mission, the crew had chosen a plush toy of "The Child" (also known as "Baby Yoda") from The Mandalorian as a Zero-G indicator.[33] The crew were awakened on the second day of the flight with Phil Collins's "In the Air Tonight".[34]

Resilience docked to the International Docking Adapter (IDA) on the Harmony module on 17 November 2020 at 04:01 UTC.[2] Over the course of the mission, the four astronauts lived and worked alongside the three astronauts of the Soyuz MS-17 mission. Together, the two missions form ISS Expedition 64. Assuming the regular ISS crew rotation schedule is adhered to, the crew transfer to Expedition 65 following the departure of Soyuz MS-17, on 17 April 2021.[needs update]

On 5 April 2021, the Crew-1 astronauts relocated their spacecraft from Harmony forward to Harmony zenith by using the Draco thrusters that are mounted on the side of Dragon Resilience's trunk, to make way for the arrival and docking of the SpaceX Crew-2 spacecraft, launched on 23 April 2021.[35]

In July 2022, it was reported that some of the debris from Crew 1 Dragon crashed into a farm in Australia.[36][37]

SpaceX Crew-1 Promotional poster

Timeline

[edit]
MET Time Date
(UTC) 		Event [38]
EST UTC
−7:40:00 11:47:15 AM 16:47:15 15 November
2020 		Crew wake
−05:30:00 1:57:15 PM 18:57:15 CE (signification?) launch readiness briefing
−05:00:00 2:27:15 PM 19:27:15 Launch shift on console
−04:59:59 2:27:16 PM 19:27:16 Dragon IMU align and configure for launch.
−04:30:00 2:57:15 PM 19:57:15 Dragon propellant pressurization
−04:15:00 3:12:15 PM 20:12:15 Crew weather brief
−04:05:00 3:22:15 PM 20:22:15 Crew handoff
−04:00:00 3:27:15 PM 20:27:15 Suit donning and checkouts
−03:22:00 4:05:15 PM 21:05:15 Crew walk out of Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building
−03:15:00 4:12:15 PM 21:12:15 Crew transportation to Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A)
−02:55:00 4:32:15 PM 21:32:15 Crew arrives at pad.
−02:35:00 4:52:15 PM 21:52:15 Crew ingress
−02:20:00 5:07:15 PM 22:07:15 Communication check
−02:15:00 5:12:15 PM 22:12:15 Verify ready seat rotation
−02:14:00 5:13:15 PM 22:13:15 Suit leak checks
−01:55:00 5:32:15 PM 22:32:15 Hatch close
−01:10:00 6:17:15 PM 23:17:15 ISS state upload to Dragon
−00:45:00 6:42:15 PM 23:42:15 SpaceX launch director verifies go for propellant load
−00:42:00 6:45:15 PM 23:45:15 Crew access arm retracts
−00:37:00 6:49:15 PM 23:49:15 Dragon launch escape system is armed.
−00:35:00 6:52:15 PM 23:52:15 RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins; 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins.
−00:16:00 7:11:15 PM 00:11:15 16 November
2020 		2nd stage LOX loading begins.
−00:07:00 7:20:15 PM 00:20:15 Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
−00:05:00 7:22:15 PM 00:22:15 Dragon transitions to internal power
−00:01:00 7:26:15 PM 00:26:15 Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
−00:00:45 7:26:30 PM 00:26:30 SpaceX launch director verifies go for launch.
−00:00:03 7:27:12 PM 00:27:12 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.
+00:00:00 7:27:17 PM 00:27:17 Liftoff
+00:00:58 7:28:15 PM 00:28:15 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
+00:02:37 7:29:54 PM 00:29:54 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
+00:02:40 7:29:57 PM 00:29:57 1st and 2nd stages separate
+00:02:48 7:30:05 PM 00:30:05 2nd stage engine starts
+00:07:29 7:34:46 PM 00:34:46 1st stage entry burn
+00:08:50 7:36:07 PM 00:36:07 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
+00:08:59 7:36:16 PM 00:36:16 1st stage landing burn
+00:09:29 7:36:46 PM 00:36:46 1st stage landing
+00:12:03 7:39:20 PM 00:39:20 Crew Dragon separates from 2nd stage
+00:12:48 7:40:05 PM 00:40:05 Dragon nosecone open sequence begins
+1/ 9:22 PM 02:22 17 November
2020 		Dragon starts the final phase of the approach to the ISS.[39]
+1/03:33 11:01 PM 04:01 Soft Capture to the ISS.[40]
+1/03:33 11:01 PM 04:01 Dragon docked to the ISS.[41]
+1/05:34 1:02 AM 6:02 Hatch opened.[42]
+167 8:35 PM 01:35 1 May
2021 		Undocked from the ISS.[43]
+167 2:56 AM 7:56 2 May
2021 		Splashed down and recovery in the Gulf of Mexico.[43]
[edit]
SpaceX Crew-1
  • Resilience mated to Falcon 9 for Crew-1
    Resilience mated to Falcon 9 for Crew-1
  • 3 male astronauts and one female astronaut all in white spacesuits smile and wave their hands while walking down the ramp of a building adorned with NASA logos and mission patches
    Crew-1 walkout
  • A tall white rocket lifts off from a launch pad, the rockets base glistening in its flame, as a plume of smoke forms at the launch pad
    Launch of Crew-1
  • A white spacecraft with a partially black body connects at its head to a off-screen coupler
    Resilience docked to the ISS
  • Recovery of Crew-1
    Recovery of Crew-1

See also

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to SpaceX Crew-1.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ From an orbital dynamics perspective, the forward port is easier to approach, and therefore new vehicles use this approach for their first live docking. The Crew Dragon Endeavor made its second docking on Crew-2 on 2 May 2021; therefore, Crew-1 relocated to the zenith port to clear the forward port for Crew-2.[3]
  2. ^ The Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission was the first crewed flight, but was considered as a test flight, not an operational flight
  3. ^ 15 November 2020 19:27:17 Eastern Standard Time (EST), 16 November 2020 00:27:17 UTC

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Astronauts fly with SpaceX in landmark launch for commercial spaceflight". Spaceflight Now. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b Burghardt, Thomas (17 November 2020). "Crew Dragon Resilience successfully docks, expands ISS crew to seven". NASASpaceFlight.com.
  3. ^ Potter, Sean (29 March 2021). "NASA TV to Air U.S. Commercial Crew Port Relocation on Space Station" (Press release). NASA. Retrieved 30 March 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ "Sunday Splashdown Set for Crew-1 During Light Day on Station". Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ "MISSION PATCH: CREW ONE". 21 April 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b NASA (25 May 2020). "CCP - Press Kit". Commercial Crew Program. NASA. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020. The Crew; Victor Glover SpaceX Crew-1; Mike Hopkins SpaceX Crew-1; Soichi Noguchi SpaceX Crew-1; Shannon Walker SpaceX Crew-1 Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ Shireman, Kirk (14 May 2020). "HEO NAC May 2020 International Space Station Status" (PDF). nasa.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020. Fall 2020 – SpaceX Crew-1 Launch and Dock [...] Demo2 in May/2020, Crew-1 in Fall/2020 Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ Glover, Victor [@VicGlover] (12 April 2019). "1st crewed Dragon Mission=DM-2 or Demo-2. 2nd crewed Dragon Mission (and 1st long duration ISS Mission)=Crew-1 or Crew One" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 May 2020 – via Twitter. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ a b Corbett, Tobias; Barker, Nathan (15 November 2020). "With Resilience, NASA and SpaceX Begin Operational Commercial Crew flights". NASASpaceFlight.com.
  10. ^ Heiney, Anna (14 August 2020). "NASA, SpaceX Targeting October for Next Astronaut Launch". blogs.nasa.gov. Retrieved 27 August 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  11. ^ Sheetz, Michael (3 April 2020). "How NASA and SpaceX plan to launch astronauts in May despite a pandemic". CNBC. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  12. ^ "DM2 CCP Press Kit 2020". Commercial Crew Program. NASA. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  13. ^ a b c Bergin, Chris (6 April 2013). "USCV-1: NASA planners slip first ISS commercial crew mission to late 2017". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  14. ^ "April 2021 – Commercial Crew Program". blogs.nasa.gov. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  15. ^ Heiney, Anna (29 January 2021). "NASA, SpaceX to Launch Second Commercial Crew Rotation Mission to International Space Station". nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved 29 January 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  16. ^ a b "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  17. ^ Chang, Kenneth (2 May 2021). "SpaceX Makes First Nighttime Splash Down With Astronauts Since 1968". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Live coverage: SpaceX crew capsule set to move to new space station docking port". Spaceflight Now. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  19. ^ "NASA, SpaceX Crew-1 Launch Update". Commercial Crew Program. NASA. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  20. ^ Gebhardt, Chris [@ChrisG_NSF] (29 September 2020). "Crew-1 has named their Dragon spacecraft. Welcome to the family, Dragon #Resilience" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ "NASA urges COVID caution for spectators of SpaceX Crew-1 astronaut launch". space.com. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  22. ^ Lewis, Marie (3 August 2018). "Meet the Astronauts Flying SpaceX's Demo-2". NASA. Retrieved 3 March 2019. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  23. ^ Clark, Stephen (31 March 2020). "NASA, JAXA assign two more astronauts to second piloted Crew Dragon flight". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  24. ^ Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center (18 March 2019). "Астронавты НАСА Майкл Хопкинс, Виктор Глоувер и Челл Линдгрен приступили к подготовке в ЦПК" [NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Kjell Lindgren begin training at the GCTC] (in Russian). Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  25. ^ Powell, Joel [@ShuttleAlmanac] (19 November 2020). "JAXA has announced long stay visits to the ISS for 2022 and 2023" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ^ Sempsrott, Danielle (16 July 2020). "Falcon 9 Rocket Arrives for NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 Mission". blogs.nasa.gov. Retrieved 18 July 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  27. ^ Groh, Jamie (23 August 2020). "SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule arrives in Florida for next NASA astronaut launch". Teslarati. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  28. ^ Sempsrott, Danielle (21 August 2020). "Preparations Continue for SpaceX First Operational Flight with Astronauts". blogs.nasa.gov. Retrieved 24 August 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  29. ^ a b "Crew Dragon "Resilience" meets Falcon 9 rocket at Florida spaceport". Spaceflight Now. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  30. ^ "NASA formally certifies SpaceX's Crew Dragon for "operational" astronaut flights". Spaceflight Now. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  31. ^ a b "Falcon 9 rocket fires up in crucial test before weekend crew launch". Spaceflight Now. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  32. ^ "Crew launch delayed to Sunday". Spaceflight Now. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  33. ^ "Baby Yoda joins astronauts on SpaceX's Crew Dragon launch as its zero G indicator". The Washington Post. 16 November 2020.
  34. ^ Twitter
  35. ^ Potter, Sean (29 March 2021). "NASA TV to Air U.S. Commercial Crew Port Relocation on Space Station" (Press release). NASA. Retrieved 30 March 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  36. ^ "Possible SpaceX debris falls in Australia from Crew-1 Dragon spacecraft". Space.com. 29 July 2022.
  37. ^ "The Loop: A huge piece of possible space junk lands on an Aussie farm, sexual assault reports at an all-time high, and a $1.5 billion jackpot". ABC News. 29 July 2022.
  38. ^ "Mission Timeline for Launch Sunday, November 15 at 19:27:15 EST" (PDF). NASA. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  39. ^ Garcia, Mark (16 November 2020). "SpaceX Crew-1 Astronauts Approaching Station". blogs.nasa. Retrieved 13 December 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  40. ^ "SpaceX's Crew-1 astronaut launch for NASA: Live updates". Space.com. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  41. ^ Cawley, James (17 November 2020). "Crew Dragon Docks to Station, Hatches Open Soon". blogs.nasa. NASA. Retrieved 13 December 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  42. ^ Cawley, James (17 November 2020). "Hatches Open, Crew Dragon Astronauts Join Expedition 64". blogs.nasa. Retrieved 13 December 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  43. ^ a b "NASA-SpaceX mission crew splash down in Gulf of Mexico, return home from International Space Station". ABC News. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.