rsp1202 - 4/11/2005 8:55 AM
I didn't know about Melroy. What's the scoop on her, background-wise?
FransonUK - 5/11/2005 4:40 AM
Question of less knowledge alert:
Are all the main NASA astronauts from a Air Force background?
Ben E - 5/11/2005 4:34 PM
Do you by any chance have a link to any of this
Ben E - 5/11/2005 4:34 PM
Has anything leaked out as to why Tani was dropped?
I heard that he had problems with studying of Russian language, but it may be a mistake...
Dogsbd - 5/11/2005 8:44 PM
GO NAVY!!
:)
Ben - 5/11/2005 8:01 PMOh dear...Quote
I heard that he had problems with studying of Russian language, but it may be a mistake...
Yes, and also did not understand the Soyuz systems well enough.
UK Shuttle Clan - 7/11/2005 3:59 PMOh, yes -- of course. If You want it that way, then Andy Thomas would represent Australia, right? So add the UK and Australia to the list. Of course, all three of them are Americans nowadays.
Michael Foale, UK
Piers Sellars, Ex pat UK. ;)
Ben E - 7/11/2005 8:55 PM
Would Salizhan Sharipov - a native of Kyrgyzstan (is that spelt right?) - be another possibility?
Ben
rsp1202 - 8/11/2005 3:41 PMGiven the fact that only 18 or 19 STS flights are scheduled before the end of the program, I would be surprised if any members of the classes of 2000 and 2004 will actually receive a shuttle flight assignment. Uh, well ... the 2000 guys probably, maybe ...
Interesting to note that many of the pilots and mission specialists being mentioned are all young enough now to be assigned to CEV crews if they remain with NASA, especially if development schedule is moved up at all.
rsp1202 - 8/11/2005 9:41 AM
Interesting to note that many of the pilots and mission specialists being mentioned are all young enough now to be assigned to CEV crews if they remain with NASA,
rsp1202 - 8/11/2005 10:13 AM
Numbers have been released as to how many KSC workers will be let go or retire in next five years, but there hasn't been a mention of astronauts leaving the program simply because most of them have probably not decided yet on whether they will stay. In a perfect world they should all get their chance, and I hope NASA continues to retain and attract the best of the best.
nethegauner - 8/11/2005 11:24 AM
Hey, could a Russian board member say something about Sharipov?
Ben E - 8/11/2005 2:43 PM
Anik,
Do you have a link for the Expedition 15 crew announcement? And also the Expedition 13 and 14 press releases, too? I can't seem to find official confirmation anywhere on the net.
Thanks
Ben
Ben E - 8/11/2005 11:43 PM
Do you have a link for the Expedition 15 crew announcement? And also the Expedition 13 and 14 press releases, too?
Ben - 9/11/2005 2:09 AM
The only discrepancy I have with Anik is I have Whitson as FE and Kotov as CDR(?).
anik - 9/11/2005 12:26 PMBarratt, Kopra, Behnken and Stott? Interesting. They are from the 2000 class ...
There are many “TBDs” in these crews, but I know that the following astronauts maybe included in the Expedition 15/16/17 crews:
Sandra Magnus, Gregory Chamitoff, Michael Barratt, Timothy Kopra, Robert Behnken, Nicole Stott, Leopold Eyharts (France), Andre Kuipers (Netherlands), Frank De Winne (Belgium), Robert Thirsk (Canada) and Koichi Wakata (Japan)
Ben E - 9/11/2005 1:31 PM
so if Expedition 13 has a Russian CDR (Tyurin?)
Ben E - 9/11/2005 1:31 PM
I'm aware Kotov is an MD, but is he officially classed as a pilot-cosmonaut or an engineer?
nethegauner - 9/11/2005 5:56 AMQuoteanik - 9/11/2005 12:26 PMBarratt, Kopra, Behnken and Stott? Interesting. They are from the 2000 class ...
There are many “TBDs” in these crews, but I know that the following astronauts maybe included in the Expedition 15/16/17 crews:
Sandra Magnus, Gregory Chamitoff, Michael Barratt, Timothy Kopra, Robert Behnken, Nicole Stott, Leopold Eyharts (France), Andre Kuipers (Netherlands), Frank De Winne (Belgium), Robert Thirsk (Canada) and Koichi Wakata (Japan)
Ben E - 10/11/2005 1:54 AM
I did hear rumours that Grunsfeld may also fly the last Hubble servicing mission. Can anyone confirm or counter that?
Ben E - 23/11/2005 2:02 PM
Does that mean the Expedition 14 roster is Mike Lopez-Alegria (CDR), Mikhail Tyurin (FE) and Garrett Reisman (FE)?
Ben E - 23/11/2005 2:02 PM
If so, what's happened to Clay Anderson and Sunita Williams?
Ben E - 23/11/2005 8:49 PMI don't know. With missions 73, 80, 85, 96 and 100 (if I'm not mistaken) he has already flown five times. With all that talk about four missions being the limit nowadays, I don't think he'll fly again.
Purely speculating here, but in view of the fact that Chief Astronauts generally get plum mission assignments, what mission do you think Kent Rominger will fly next?
Super George - 26/11/2005 10:07 PM
Also, isn't it now policy that the remaining flights of the Shuttle means they will be trying to give as many rookies a flight as possible, restricting the seasoned astronauts expect for in commander and pilot roles?
ADC9 - 5/12/2005 7:07 PMQuoteSuper George - 26/11/2005 10:07 PM
Also, isn't it now policy that the remaining flights of the Shuttle means they will be trying to give as many rookies a flight as possible, restricting the seasoned astronauts expect for in commander and pilot roles?
I'm not so sure about rookies. I would be more inclined to stick with experienced commanders and pilots for the remaining missions and ensure all seasoned and well trained astronauts who are simply waiting in line to fly get their shot. If there's spare places at the end then at least those rookies will have matured into the experienced, well trained astronauts that went ahead of them. That seems only natural to me.
Maybe some more international partners, as token guestures, especially due to the way we appear to be heading with the ISS and our international partners.
ras391 - 10/12/2005 1:32 AM
do we know the makeup of the shuttle crews after the next two?
Ben E - 12/12/2005 3:07 AM
Is there any news from the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel meeting on future ISS expeditions?
Ben E - 21/12/2005 7:27 PM
Is this going to be typical - flying two expedition crew members by Soyuz and then adding the third by Shuttle?
Ben E - 21/12/2005 7:27 PM
Are we going to see no more pre-107-style missions with a four-person Shuttle crew plus an entire expedition crew?
anik - 21/12/2005 2:47 PM
Yeah!… Only one Expedition crewmember (American) will be launched on Shuttle in future…
ras391 - 29/12/2005 7:57 PM
They will be at three when ESA astronaut Reiter arrives on the ISS via the next shuttle, 121.
STS Tony - 30/12/2005 3:45 AM
There will never be another Russian flying on a Shuttle flight?
STS Tony - 30/12/2005 3:45 AM
Because of Columbia?
STS Tony - 30/12/2005 5:10 AM
If this stays the same and there's a problem that sees another delay with the Shuttle, could Russia send up another Soyuz in-between regular Soyuz flights to bring him home?
Martin FL - 2/1/2006 4:17 PM
is there a capability to process and launch THREE Soyuz in close succession?
Ben E - 2/1/2006 8:49 PM
If the Shuttle-launched American will be reliant upon the Soyuz for 99% of his/her expedition anyway, why not just make it 100% and launch/land on it too?
To The Stars - 4/1/2006 4:44 AM
Is NASA paying around the same money for that seat as the tourists?
Jamie Young - 6/1/2006 5:54 PM
Still a bit disapointed that no Russian will ever travel on a Shuttle again.
Flightstar - 20/1/2006 12:40 AMYeah, sure. I can't wait to see it. Ich bin gespannt wie ein Flitzbogen...
The new manifest due out will hold answers.
Sergi Manstov - 7/3/2006 3:43 PMAn interesting news article. Did I get that right? US astronauts are set to command the Soyuz? Wow...
Russian Cosmonauts back on Shuttle flights!
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=4125425&PageNum=0
Sergi Manstov - 7/3/2006 2:43 PM
Russian Cosmonauts back on Shuttle flights!
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=4125425&PageNum=0
Ben E - 13/3/2006 12:04 AM
I thought after Soyuz-25's failed docking to Salyut-6 in 1977, the Russians had declared they'd always have a flight-experienced crew member on each mission from now on?
Jamie Young - 13/3/2006 12:41 PMBy the way, is the Soyuz retiring when the Kliper comes into service?
anik - 11/3/2006 10:55 PM
SFP Marcos Pontes (Brazil)
anik - 11/3/2006 10:55 PM
SFP Sergey Volkov (Russia)
anik - 11/3/2006 10:55 PM
SFP Arisa (or Arishia) Raishiyan (Japan)
Jamie Young - 12/4/2006 8:59 PM
How many Soyuz flights are there a year?
Jamie Young - 12/4/2006 8:59 PM
Is there an increase expected over the coming years?
anik - 13/4/2006 6:12 PMWhat will be the purpose of the third mission? Will it enable an additional research sortie or will the expedition flight duration be reduced from six back to four months in which case a third Soyuz would be required?
There will be three Soyuz flights a year from 2009...
anik - 5/5/2006 10:45 AM
Today at GCTC one of Russian cosmonauts has told to me and Sergey Shamsutdinov (from Novosti-kosmonavtiki magazine) about unofficial assignments of Russian cosmonauts in ISS Expeditions from 15 till 19... :)
Expedition 15 (prime/back-up) crews: Yurchikhin + Kotov / Romanenko + Korniyenko
Expedition 16 (prime/back-up) crews: Malenchenko / Kaleri (but Kaleri does not want to be a back-up again!)
Expedition 17 (prime/back-up) crews: Volkov + Kononenko / Krikalyov + Surayev (instead of Russian may be Canadian!)
Expedition 18 (prime/back-up) crews: Kaleri / Padalka
Expedition 19 (prime/back-up) crews: Krikalyov + Surayev / Sharipov + Skripochka (Krikalyov's seventh flight!)
SMS - 8/5/2006 5:52 PMHey, I started learning Polish today. Niemcy is Germany (or Deutschland, as we say), right? And dublerzy refers to the back-up crew (Ersatzmannschaft). What about ladowanie? Is that a landing (Landung)?
see it, but not official yet:
http://astro.zeto.czest.pl/loty/isscrew1.htm :)
subzero788 - 9/5/2006 3:27 PM
are there going to be any european long-duration stays (besides Reiter's) in the next couple of years?
BIG NEWS!
...well, at least I think it is -- for non-L2-members!
Attention, everybody -- www.spacefacts.de has new or updated flight crew assignments online. Some names have been circulating on L2, so I guess that the info is accurate. I have not yet seen a NASA news release confirming the assignments.
STS-118
Scott, Hobaugh, Mastracchio, Caldwell, Williams, Morgan + Andeson (ISS-15)
STS-120
Melroy, Zamka, Foreman, Parazynski, Wheelock, Nespoli
STS-122
Frick, Poindexter, Schlegel, Love, Walheim + Tani (ISS-16)
That's all there is with respect to the SSP. Here are some updated Expedition crews:
ISS-15
Yurchikhin, Kotov, Anderson
ISS-16
Whitson, Malenchenko, Tani
ISS-17
Volkov, Fincke, Kononenko
ISS-18
TBD, Kaleri, Thirsk
ISS-19
Krikalev, TBD, Surayev
www.spacefacts.de also has back-up crews listed. And don't be afraid: although the project is run by two German speaking individuals, they have all their pages available in English, as well.
The original 2002 news release from NASA announcing the flight crews for STS-118, STS-119 and STS-120 can be found here.
Uppsss -- I forgot a crew...
STS-117
Sturckow, Archambault, Swanson, Reilly, Forrester, Olivas
Half the original crew is now assigned to other flights: Polansky to STS-116, Mastracchio to STS-118 and Higginbotham to STS-116, as well.
nethegauner - 15/5/2006 9:24 AM
STS-118 Scott, Hobaugh, Mastracchio, Caldwell, Williams, Morgan + Andeson (ISS-15)
nethegauner - 15/5/2006 9:24 AM
STS-122
Frick, Poindexter, Schlegel, Love, Walheim + Tani (ISS-16)
astropl - 15/5/2006 11:48 AMOf course You are right! ;)
Scott=Scott Kelly, not Winston Scott or David Scott, of course :)
astropl - 15/5/2006 11:52 AMActually, I was surprised that 1E is now also a crew exchange mission. I thought the crew was limited to six due to weight constraints. Well, if it's seven and if it's Melvin -- fine: that's yet another 98er to get an assignment. Someone on L2 (as the assignments have entered public knowledge, I hope it is OK to mention some quotes from L2) said that Melvin's class would become busy. Seems correct -- Pontes was just the beginning...
Leland Melvin is in that crew, too.
Ben E - 17/5/2006 9:51 PMThat's a good question. Poindexter trained alongside Halsell for the Node-2 mission, while Melroy was training with Kenneth Ham at one point for ISS-ULF2 and later, I think, with Zamka for STS-120. Ham's name has not yet surfaced again.
Why has Zamka been swapped for Poindexter on STS-120?
Ben E - 19/5/2006 1:41 PMThat's FCOD voodoo, I guess... ;)
But if Melroy and Zamka were working together as a CDR-PLT team, why not give them STS-122 instead and keep Poindexter on a mission that he's been training to fly for nearly four years?
dcfowler1 - 5/5/2006 7:26 PM
Sergey Shamstudinov just wrote me, confirming this information. Also worth noting is that Expeditions 15, 16, and 17 will be on old model Soyuz TMAs (vehicles 220, 221 and 222). Expeditions 18 and 19 will be on the new model Soyuz TMA (vehicles 701 and 702).
The Soyuz TMA numerical designations will remain unchanged.
Dave
Spiff - 1/8/2006 5:45 PM
Does anyone know what the differences are between the current Soyuz TMA and the above mentioned new model Soyuz TMA?
aurora899 - 25/8/2006 1:46 PMYes, but they've been listing her for quite a while. What I did not know is that Charmitof (did I write that the correct way?) is also an ISS back-up now...
Hi,
Spacefacts is now listing Sandra Magnus as Dan Tani's back-up for ISS Expedition 16.
aurora899 - 28/8/2006 2:26 PM
Hi Ben,
There has also been a degree of bad-natured rivalry between the US Air Force and NASA pretty much since the agency’s inception. Your 50/50 split between USAF and USN Shuttle Commanders (I haven’t included the other figures) is probably unsurprising given that most astronaut pilot intakes were split along similar lines, with the odd US Marine (or civilian test pilot) sneaking in. But if you were to do your analysis on Chief Astronauts, you might fight that there is a certain bias towards the US Navy (or rather against USAF). I have to be honest and say that I don’t know whether Al Shepard was Chief Astronaut continuously from 1963 to 1974 when John Young took over (someone must presumably have at least covered his duties whilst he was training for, and flew, on Apollo 14). If the sequence is something like Shepard, ?, Young, Brandenstein, Gibson, Cabana, Cockrell, Precourt, Rominger then I reckon that Charlie Precourt is the only USAF officer to have served as Chief Astronaut! Cabana was USMC, of course, but even “civilian” Ken Cockrell had a Navy background! As I said, I’m not entirely sure about the late 1960s/early 1970s and I’m more than happy for someone to correct me but even if there is a missing USAF officer in there, it doesn’t really change the overall picture i.e. NASA favours the US Navy over the US Air Force.
Regards,
David.
aurora899 - 30/8/2006 11:26 AM Jim wrote: office politics. You have to realize the astronaut office isn't any special. Stand back and look at it like any other organization (which it is) and it acts like any organization. Do you know, you’re absolutely right. And that filters through into flight crew selection as well. Shuttle crews aren’t just based on who’s next in line and whose individual skill sets might meet a particular mission’s needs. It’s also about who’s in favour, and who’s lobbying on so and so’s behalf.
True, and also factor in who was willing to do an ISS rotation to earn their shuttle slot. And the "oh no, we hired too many astronauts and we should probably fly them since we included that in their job description, and let's bring some more on board to satisfy PAO in the meantime. We don't need no stinkin experienced or technical guys, we need more "normal" people" type mentality too.
Reason should not be applied if you are trying to figure out crew assignments and nowadays nothing is written in ink, not even months before flight.
Just for some perspective, at one point Bill Mcarthur was supposed to be ISS commander of a three man crew (I think Valeri and Suni were supposed to be the other two)for INC-9 that was supposed to do some of the solar array configuration during the STS-115 stage .................
aurora899 - 31/8/2006 6:24 AM
This does raise the question of who ultimately decides on the make-up of a shuttle crew. Clearly, Bowersox, Rominger - and maybe their respective deputies - sit down and select, or perhaps we should say, “recommend”, a crew. But how many layers of upper management does it then have to pass through? Does it land on the desk of the JSC Center Director, for example? I’m sure I read an article in “Flight International” some years ago which suggested that final approval has to come from NASA HQ in Washington DC.
aurora899 - 30/8/2006 6:24 AM
I’ve just looked up Deke Slayton’s official bio and it states that he became “Co-ordinator of Astronaut Activities” in September 1962 and “was responsible for the operation of the astronaut office”. In November 1963, he assumed the role of Director, Flight Crew Operations. Shepard’s bio states that he was designated Chief of the Astronaut Office around the same time (i.e.1963), so it may well be that the position was only created around that time. I guess you could argue that from 1962-1963 Slayton was effectively Chief Astronaut in all but name.
spacedreams - 11/9/2006 4:59 PM
Pilots/commanders are onloan from the military. They have to follow "orders". Parazynski and Gernhardt on the other hand are civilian NASA employees. Sure, their bosses could unassign them but that is unlikely to happen. Besides, those two are very well connected.
spacedreams - 11/9/2006 11:59 PMSorry, but Your post does not make much sense, I'm afraid...
Pilots/commanders are onloan from the military. They have to follow "orders". Parazynski and Gernhardt on the other hand are civilian NASA employees. Sure, their bosses could unassign them but that is unlikely to happen. Besides, those two are very well connected.
MKremer - 12/9/2006 6:35 PM
If I can just interject -
I'm just happy Pammy Melroy has a chance to command a mission. :) Besides Eileen Collins (who should be a hero to most women regardless), she's the best thing NASA currently has going to encourage young women to reach for their dreams and not be intimidate by the usual male-dominated culture.
I would guess she's reluctant to be put in the spotlight, but even as a guy I've admired her (like Eileen) for her dedication to her chosen career, and succeeding despite that 'glass ceiling' that most women have to deal with.
(I do hope more women are encouraged to apply and be accepted into space-centric companies; and that there are more and more women who won't settle for less than being at the leading edge of space development and exploration) :)
aurora899 - 16/9/2006 5:24 AM
Sounds as though Joe Tanner is resigned to not flying again judging by his comments at the end of yesterday's EVA:
"Well I guess this is it for me, huh?" he said.
aurora899 - 16/9/2006 12:04 PM
I was rather shocked to hear the news about former astronaut Charles Brady. I'd read that he'd died a couple of months ago,
aurora899 - 16/9/2006 12:04 PM
I was rather shocked to hear the news about former astronaut Charles Brady. I'd read that he'd died a couple of months ago, according to some sources from an "extended illness". However, I've just received my latest copy of "Spaceflight" magazine and it is reporting that Brady died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
aurora899 - 17/9/2006 5:50 AM
I think that the STS-122/Columbus crew is very, very typical of how the remaining shuttle crews will look, with a first-time Commander (Frick), a rookie Pilot (Poindexter), a second time Group 16 Mission Specialist (Walheim), two newbies (Melvin and Love) and an International Mission Specialist, whether Canadian, Japanese or European (Schlegel).
Ben E - 12/9/2006 4:50 PM
Does anyone know who the current candidates are for ISS missions? I did hear some time ago that there were a lack of 'takers' and that people with four flights or more might get another shot if they accepted an ISS increment. Don't know how true that might be.
The names I've got for ISS expeditions (US crew members) are: Mike Lopez-Alegria, Suni Williams, Clay Anderson, Dan Tani (I think), Peggy Whitson, Garrett Reisman, Mike Fincke, Greg Chamitoff and Sandy Magnus. I've also seen Patrick, Behnken, Feustel, Barratt and Marshburn mentioned, but am not sure. Are NEEMO assignments a reliable predictor of who will do expeditions?
Does anyone know of any others in 'generic' increment training or assigned as backups/primes for upcoming missions?
Thanks
Jim - 17/9/2006 2:22 PMWas a long duration mission also offered to Mark Lee? Never heard again of him following his deletion from the STS-98 crew due to "conduct unbecoming of an astronaut"...
long duration missions are not a favorite of the astronaut office. Example, it was the only way Dave Wolf got a flight
Ben E - 18/9/2006 11:55 AMJan Davis? No, I don't think so. I didn't even know that the STS-47 honeymooners split up...
Not sure about Mark Lee. Where did you hear that?
"Conduct unbecoming of an astronaut". I heard that about Lee's removal from STS-98, too. Any more info? I heard a rumour it had something to do with his separation from Jan Davis.
Jim - 18/9/2006 11:20 AM
Let's assign crews based only on which astronauts class they are from. Let's go further and assignment crews based on same school, same military service, same sex, same age, same nation, same race, etc, just because it would be cool.
Astronaut class date is meaningless.
They are just people. Do other vocations make a big deal of "selection" or "graduation" class/date? No.
oscar71 - 18/9/2006 12:56 PM
I do believe that all male crews have flown shuttle missions and the upcoming STS-117 crew is all male, therefore the same sex category isn't far fetched.
There have been many shuttle missions flown by an all U.S. born crew, so same nation flights have been done.
I also believe that all white crews have flown missions, that would fall under same race.
spaceshuttle - 22/9/2006 10:11 PM
y'all heard the Heidi P. passed out?
MKremer - 22/9/2006 10:39 PMQuotespaceshuttle - 22/9/2006 10:11 PM
y'all heard the Heidi P. passed out?
So?
Ben E - 23/9/2006 6:21 PM
Now, for sake of argument, let's use the 'available' CDRs and PLTs to fill the remaining slots:
STS-123/ELM-PS: Gorie (CDR), Greg C. Johnson (PLT)
STS-124/Kibo: Jim Kelly (CDR), Ham (PLT)
STS-125/Hubble: Altman (CDR), Greg H. Johnson (PLT)
STS-119/S6: Mark Kelly (CDR), Antonelli (PLT)
STS-126/ULF: Ferguson (CDR), Garan (PLT)
STS-127/ELM-ES: Oefelein (CDR), Virts (PLT)
STS-128/MPLM: Archambault (CDR), Boe (PLT)
STS-129/ULF: Zamka (CDR), Wilmore (PLT)
STS-130/Node-3 and Cupola: Poindexter (CDR), Ford (PLT)
Obviously, I'm speculating and I've picked the CDR-PLT names out of the air, but it makes me think that after JEM-KIBO is installed, there are very few missions remaining. Will NASA continue to refly Polansky, Sturckow, Scott Kelly, Melroy etc until they reach the four-flight maximum or drop them after having done one command in favour of giving as many 'others' (Ferguson, Oefelein, Archambault, Zamka etc) their first commands? Will this mean that, far from 'four' flights being the maximum, most first-time CDRs from now until 2010 will only get one shot at a Shuttle command?
I wonder if the Astronaut Office has any plans about this? Logically, I suppose it might be in the office's best interests to get as many CDR-experienced pilots as possible before the end of the Shuttle. In other words, will they just get one Shuttle CDR slot and then, if they want to stick around and fly up to or beyond four times, be reassigned to CEV or ISS? Furthermore, as my make-believe list shows, it will give as many rookie PLTs (all of Group 17 and most of Group 18) a Shuttle seat and thus spaceflight experience prior to CEV. Mission Specialists, I guess, are not quite so problematic because there are four slots per mission...plenty of room to fly everyone at least once.
Any comments?
Jim - 24/9/2006 8:50 AM
The contingency flights are part of the remaining 15 flights
aurora899 - 24/9/2006 8:12 AM
Thanks Jim, I wasn't aware of that - and I don't think Ben E has included them on his list, so he could have a couple more CDR/PLT combinations.
Just remembered that Hobaugh was Lindsey's PLT on STS-104 so he should be okay for a Command if he wants one!
Ben - 24/9/2006 11:08 AM
Yes, what Henry listed, plus the two makes 17.
aurora899 - 24/9/2006 1:00 PM
Hi Jorge,
I hadn’t misconstrued your statement [re Hobaugh] but was making the point that as flight crew selection seems to have as much to do with astronaut office politics and who’s in favour etc., then Hobaugh and Lindsey, having flown together, should be quite good friends. Admittedly, my remark was slightly tongue in cheek but who knows?
On a slightly different issue, how do people see Lindsey’s future panning out? He was not an architect of the maximum four flight rule/guideline and is presumably not bound by it. I can’t help wondering whether Lindsey might, just might, fancy assigning himself to command the last ever shuttle mission, particularly if it’s one of the contingency flights. He might, of course, decide to command the first manned CEV flight (rather like John young did with the shuttle) but that could be a long wait….a very long wait.
henrycheck - 24/9/2006 12:31 PMQuoteBen - 24/9/2006 11:08 AM
Yes, what Henry listed, plus the two makes 17.
I don’t think anybody should be too dogmatic on this point.
Two-thousand-ten is a long way off, George Bush won’t be President, Mike Griffin probably won’t be Administrator, and the world can change in a morning.
As I understand the legalese, the shuttle flights stop at the end of fiscal 2010 because there is no shuttle line item in the President’s budget after that.
President Hillary Clinton and NASA Administrator Eileen Collins could change that.
Jim --- as our informed man on the scene at KSC, what's your vision for space exploration circa 2010-2020?
Ben E - 24/9/2006 3:16 PM
The practice of flying PLTs once and giving them a command on their second flight was being 'tried' again at the time of STS-107. In fact, STS-107 Commander Rick Husband was on his second mission and NASA had just assigned Scott Kelly to lead STS-118. This was the first time the practice had been attempted since Sid Gutierrez commanded STS-59 in April 1994. I think the 107 and 118 missions were exceptions at the time, but did NASA have plans, even pre-107, to start giving people commands on their second missions? And if so, why?
If Columbia had not been lost, for example, would the Frick-Walheim-Love-Schlegel-Melvin (minus Poindexter of course) team have actually flown together on the 'original' Columbus installation mission? Or was the policy of giving all PLTs a command on their second mission only implemented in the wake of the 'four-flights-and-you're-out' rule?
What was the rationale for giving Rick Husband and Scott Kelly, alone, a command on their second flights? If you look at the pre-107 roster, it would appear that the two-flights-as-PLT rule would still have stayed in place for most missions (Polansky was PLT on STS-117, Hobaugh on STS-118 and Mark Kelly on STS-119), so clearly Husband and Scott Kelly weren't about to set a definite precedent for future PLT-to-CDR assignments. What was special about Husband and Scott Kelly?
aurora899 - 28/9/2006 5:16 AM
Although slightly “off topic”, the crew patch for STS-118 has just been released:
http://www.spacepatches.nl
martynwilliams - 30/9/2006 6:42 PM
It's been a good year for British born astronauts this year...with Piers Sellers on 121 and Nick Patrick on 116. The only British born astro left to fly now is Greg Johnson (I think he was born on a USAF base in the UK) - I dont think there's anyone else originally from the UK in the astro corps at the moment.
Terry Rocket - 30/9/2006 2:38 PM
We had British Aerospace on the design and engineering, with Hotol and Skylon way advanced over anything the US was producing. We had the scientists, we had the astronaut corp from the Top Gun part of the RAF and we had the money.
spaceshuttle - 30/9/2006 5:37 PMThe better question is whether he was selected as an MS (probably not).
precourt question:
for sts-55, charlie was an MS., but for 71-91 he was PLT turned CDR. was he trained as an MS, and later retrained as a pilot?
Ben E - 30/9/2006 5:43 PM
No, Precourt was hired in January 1990 as a PLT. As with Nagel, Griggs, McMonagle, Readdy and Cockrell, he flew as MS2 for his first mission as a 'third PLT'. Usually this was done on missions that required a dual-shift system of operations or necessitated a 'third pilot', such as Spacelab. That's the official rhetoric.
However, Nagel's and Griggs' first missions as MS2 were satellite-deployment flights that were neither dual-shift, nor Spacelab, so I'm honestly not sure why some MS2s were chosen from among PLTs. Also, in view of the fact that most Spacelab missions (21 out of 24 flown between 1983 and 1998) featured MS2s who were drawn from MS ranks, rather than PLT ranks, I don't quite understand the rationale for needing a PLT-qualified MS2 on some Spacelab flights and not others.
Ben E - 30/9/2006 5:43 PM
I can virtually guarantee that Jim will respond with his 'it's all down to office politics' and 'you're looking for logic when there is none' points. I understand his point, but in spite of what I've read in Mullane's book, Burrough's book and others, I'd be intrigued to know why some dual-shift Spacelabs required a PLT-qualified MS2 and others (in fact, most!) could get by with an 'ordinary' Mission Specialist in the MS2 seat. I understand the idea of rookie PLTs 'gaining flight experience' by flying as MS2 first, but with a large available 'pool' of astronauts who'd gone through highly expensive MS training, why reassign an astronaut who'd gone through equally highly expensive PLT training to an MS slot?
aurora899 - 1/10/2006 5:45 AM
And wasn’t there some British research scientist from Eastman Kodak who was in discussions about a possible shuttle flight around the time of 51-L?
hektor - 30/9/2006 8:18 PM
I think the Reagan Thatcher picture was at the G7 summit in London (1984).
Stevo - 18/9/2006 2:00 PM
You wonder if Lee's removal from STS-98 was Abbey's revenge on Lee for roasting him at his going away party as the Director of Flight Crew Operations, as described in "Riding Rockets" by Mike Mullane. Apparently Lee emceed the event and concluded his remarks with "And for those of you who might be feeling a lump in the throat and getting all misty-eyed thinking about George leaving... just remember what an a$$hole he can be!" According to Mullane, as everyone cheered and laughed, Abbey smirked with a look of "...I'll get even with these traitorous *#@!heads if it's the last thing I ever do."
May seem far-fetched but you can't help but wonder given some of the other stories relating to Abbey and the astronaut office over the years.
hektor - 7/10/2006 7:15 AM
I don't think so, the article says "The trio of mini-missions would take the place of one of the existing three, six-month resident slots"
dutch courage - 7/10/2006 12:27 PMA fourth? I do not think so...
Possibly a fourth crew member on ISS in october 2007.
hektor - 7/10/2006 2:15 PMI believe that hektor is right. There was some talk of these mini-expeditions on L2, I remember. That was a while ago. Now the news has been made available to the public domain by that newspaper.
I don't think so, the article says "The trio of mini-missions would take the place of one of the existing three, six-month resident slots"
raj - 19/10/2006 2:47 PMSTS-116's Sunita Williams has an Indian background. She was born in the US, but her parents are from India, I think. She will stay on the ISS and will be an ISS-14/-15 crew member.
I heard that a women from India is now assigned a mission.....is it true?
Ben E - 20/10/2006 3:22 PM"That's simple", I was about to say. But it isn't... ;)
So with STS-120 (Tani-UP) possibly delayed until early September and STS-122 (Tani-DOWN) in mid October, why are they sending him for such a short (45-day-ish?) expedition? Hardly seems worth it.
hektor - 26/10/2006 2:37 PMYes, You are right. That is what I wanted to say. Schlegel's concept requires him to be on that flight and "Tani-DOWN" also on 122.
STS-122 is Eyharts-UP :)
Ben E - 26/10/2006 7:23 PM
Why do they need to fly BOTH Anderson and Tani next year? Couldn't Anderson fly STS-118 in June, come home on STS-122 in October (four months), then be replaced by Eyharts until STS-124 in February 2008 (four months), who would then himself be replaced by Wakata? Wakata would then stay four months, being returned aboard STS-119 in June 2008.
I still don't understand the rationale behind Thirsk's assignment to STS-123 for a mini-expedition that, other than the delivery of Dextre, doesn't really REQUIRE a Canadian long-term expedition member. Long-term stays by Eyharts and Wakata, on the other hand, are entirely logical in this timeframe.
Unless its purely political, I just don't see the logic in all these piddly little expeditions. If they're really getting long-duration expertise to prepare for the Moon, Mars and beyond, aren't six months AND ABOVE the durations they should be aiming for?
hektor - 30/10/2006 12:21 PM
Yvonne and Fernando
TALsite - 31/10/2006 1:32 PMWhy...? ;)
Why not?
TALsite - 31/10/2006 2:46 PMYou bring up an interesting point: is SM-04 -- the fifth SM actually! -- a special mission? SM-01 sure was -- the premiere, the challenge. But SM-04?
I like rookies flying (G.H.Johnson-Creamer), but I think this is a very "special" mission that needs a very experienced crew. I bet no more than two rookies.
TALsite - 31/10/2006 2:46 PM
The answer soon.
TALsite - 31/10/2006 2:46 PMJohnson, Feustel, Good, McArthur -- FOUR! What did I say? Three. OK -- slightly off mark...
nethegauner said:
"I have a feeling that they may send up three rookies"
I like rookies flying (G.H.Johnson-Creamer), but I think this is a very "special" mission that needs a very experienced crew. I bet no more than two rookies.
Ben E - 2/11/2006 8:09 AM
What are Linnehan and Morin doing now?
As EVA veterans, are they up for ISS assembly missions? Expeditions?
Ben E - 2/11/2006 7:09 AM
What are Linnehan and Morin doing now?
Ben E - 2/11/2006 11:12 AM
So is there a hint that Morin will get an Orion mission? Although, born in 1952, he'll be into his sixties by then...
Dante Wynter - 2/11/2006 2:05 PM
. . . Of course, I haven't cross-checked to see if any of the above has stepped down already. Any thoughts? Will any astronaut now be around for Orion? I would think so, but that's just me.
nathan.moeller - 2/11/2006 3:12 PM
..they pick a class of astronauts every two years or so. So we'll have three or four new classes by the time they fly Orion. !
Dante Wynter - 2/11/2006 2:05 PM
Hmm . . . I wonder if *anyone* will be around for Orion, or will they have to get yet another group of astronauts? The following will be around 50 or less when Orion is scheduled to launch (we know how well NASA keeps its schedules, right?):
Bill Oefelein, Soichi Noguchi, Shannon Walker, Stanley Love, Andrew Feustel, Sunita Williams, Robert Satcher, jr., John Olivas, Stephanie Wilson, Douglas Hurley, Edward Fincke, Joseph Acaba, Robert Kimbrough, Dominic Antonelli, Randolf Bresnik, Terry Virts, Jr., Garrett Reisman, James Dutton, jr., Akihito Hoshide, Tracy Caldwell, Karen Nyberg, Christopher Cassidy, Robert Behnken, K. Megan McArthur, and Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger.
. . . Of course, I haven't cross-checked to see if any of the above has stepped down already. Any thoughts? Will any astronaut now be around for Orion? I would think so, but that's just me.
Michael Cassutt said on 2/11/2006 6:08 PM
Well, I think you can assume that the astronauts selected in 04 will be around... health and fate willing. They were told they were being selected for CEV, not for Shuttle -- and I don't expect to see any of them on Shuttle missions. No doubt some of those selected earlier will stick around, but not many.
Twenty astronauts could fly all the CEV Orion missions scheduled prior to 2020, but that won't stop NASA from selecting at least one more group between now and 2010, and no doubt others after that.
nathan.moeller - 2/11/2006 9:12 PMNot quite right. They did not pick one in '02. The next selection comes in '08, I believe.
And remember...they pick a class of astronauts every two years or so.
hektor - 3/11/2006 1:09 PMHektor is right. The Japanese astronauts in the class of '04 are there because of the ISS. If there will be considerable international participation in CEV development, there will be international candidates. But I guess that ESA and Russia will not take part in this. The Japanese maybe? I have no idea...
By the way, I doubt there will be any international astronauts on the CEV.
Dante Wynter - 2/11/2006 11:44 PMQuoteMichael Cassutt said on 2/11/2006 6:08 PM
Well, I think you can assume that the astronauts selected in 04 will be around... health and fate willing. They were told they were being selected for CEV, not for Shuttle -- and I don't expect to see any of them on Shuttle missions. No doubt some of those selected earlier will stick around, but not many.
I was wondering about that. I don't think I would've been very happy being told I'd have to wait ten years for my first flight; but then again, I wouldn't have much choice, would I?.
Didn't something similar happen to Group 6 or 7 astronauts? Getting told that the odds were against them on going to the moon?That's one theory about the apparent over-selection in the 1990s, but I'm not sure how valid it is. In the same way that Slayton "manned up" the astronaut office 1966-67 based on the proposed Apollo/AAP flight rate then in the works, the astronaut office over-selected in 1995-98 based on the requirements of 5-6 Shuttle missions a year, and 4 ISS increments per year starting in 1999.Quote
The seven pilots who transferred from the defunct MOL program in August 1969 (Group 7) were told they had little chance to fly until 1977. Some of them thought they would or should be assigned to Skylab, but that obviously didn't happen. The Group 6 scientist-astros were told they would have few chances at flight, or a long wait, the day they showed up for work in September 1967....QuoteTwenty astronauts could fly all the CEV Orion missions scheduled prior to 2020, but that won't stop NASA from selecting at least one more group between now and 2010, and no doubt others after that.
I seem to recall hearing that selecting more and more astronauts was management's way of controlling them. But, perhaps I'm mis-remembering the story.
Ben E - 5/11/2006 10:38 AM
With the recent selection of the STS-125 crew, I noticed that - had Columbia not been lost - the SM-4 mission was originally scheduled for April 2004. Would the 'same' crew (ie Altman-Johnson-Grunsfeld-Massimino-McArthur-Good-Feustel) have remained attached to the 'original', pre-Columbia HST crew? As of February 1st 2003, even the EVA crew members for SM-4 hadn't been named - giving them (at most) 14 months to train.
Similarly, with the exception of Poindexter (who was, at the time, assigned as PLT of STS-120), would Frick's crew have flown the 'original' Columbus mission?
Or would there have been a different line-up? Or will we never know?
Jorge - 5/11/2006 12:07 PMWhile I do not disagree that the "original" SM-04 crew may have been different, I am not sure you can use the number of rookies aboard as an indicator.
I can just about guarantee you there wouldn't have been four rookies on the "original" SM-04 crew if the accident hadn't occurred; previous policy had been to put one or two rookies on each crew.
Ben E - 5/11/2006 10:38 AM
With the recent selection of the STS-125 crew, I noticed that - had Columbia not been lost - the SM-4 mission was originally scheduled for April 2004. Would the 'same' crew (ie Altman-Johnson-Grunsfeld-Massimino-McArthur-Good-Feustel) have remained attached to the 'original', pre-Columbia HST crew? As of February 1st 2003, even the EVA crew members for SM-4 hadn't been named - giving them (at most) 14 months to train.
Similarly, with the exception of Poindexter (who was, at the time, assigned as PLT of STS-120), would Frick's crew have flown the 'original' Columbus mission?
Or would there have been a different line-up? Or will we never know?
fdasun - 5/11/2006 10:23 PM
After STS and before CEV, perhaps astronaut office will assign certain individuals to COTS (given D option of COTS, crew launch and return, is available by then and accepted by NASA & training completed). If so, those who failed to get a seat on shuttle can fly to space and gain space expereince before CEV.
Hardly to believe that NASA would leave US on the ground for 4 or 5 years when other countries are getting more and more achievements in space.
Ben E - 6/11/2006 12:28 PM
Michael,
It was purely a question out of interest, that's all. I was particularly interested in astronauts such as Walheim, who (I think) was an EVA representative for the Astronaut Office at the time of STS-107, and wondered how far in advance astronauts are 'groomed' for subsequent and specific assignments. Same for Schlegel - it was obvious that an ESA astronaut would get a slot on the Columbus mission, but for a long time the speculation was that it might be Clervoy, and not Schlegel.
Ben E - 7/11/2006 10:50 AMDid that air in the UK? Gosh, You are a lucky one. I heard about that documentary, but it never aired here. I would have loved to watch it -- I saw the launch of STS-72!
I recall watching a TV documentary called "Astronauts" in about 1996-97, which covered the training and flight of the STS-72 crew.
Ben E - 7/11/2006 3:50 AM
Michael,
Yes, in a sense, I agree. I recall watching a TV documentary called "Astronauts" in about 1996-97, which covered the training and flight of the STS-72 crew. At one point, cameras were in the Astronaut Office briefing room when Bob Cabana (then chief) named the crew. Winston Scott was congratulated by (I think) Nancy Currie, who told him that he "didn't say a thing last night [about the assignment]", to which Scott replied "I didn't know last night!"
Michael Cassutt - 9/11/2006 11:27 AMPer NASA:
That said -- has anyone noticed that Bowersox is back on flight status, no longer classed as management?
Captain Bowersox will continue to serve as the Director of FCOD through the upcoming launch and landing of
STS-115. At that time, he will be named to a position on the Center Director's staff pending his retirement from the Navy.
Jim - 10/11/2006 7:01 AM
I bet answer to #1 is just a random occurance
MS1 is not the lead MS or payload commander but the flight engineer for ascent and entry. And on some missions there are different MS1's for ascent and entry.
Ben E - 10/11/2006 3:31 AM
Incidently, I did read that Husband GAVE Chawla the MS2 seat on STS-107 because he wanted to give her a chance to 'prove herself' after the STS-87 Spartan failure.
Thanks
Jim - 10/11/2006 1:06 PM
Let's say that the Spartan didn't fail on its own
Jim - 10/11/2006 1:06 PM
Let's say that the Spartan didn't fail on its own
hektor - 10/11/2006 2:20 PM
If I remember well, a line in the deployment checklist was jumped.
I was very surprised at the time, was very unusual to see an astronaut having been singled out by NASA in such a way, having committed a mistake.
Ben E - 11/11/2006 1:55 AM
dcfowler1,
Actually, I'm not sure about the MS2 as 'always' the flight engineer, particularly in the early days. In 2005, I had the opportunity to interview Vance Brand and asked him who served as flight engineer ('MS2') for ascent and entry on STS-5 - he told me Lenoir did it for ascent and Allen did it for entry. Hence those dramatic shots of Brand and Overmyer during the fiery entry are attributed to 'Joe Allen'. Brand told me he did this to give both men some flight engineer experience.
So maybe the positions DO swap on some missions, although this doesn't appear to have happened anytime recently.
Ben E - 11/11/2006 12:55 AM
dcfowler1,
Actually, I'm not sure about the MS2 as 'always' the flight engineer, particularly in the early days. In 2005, I had the opportunity to interview Vance Brand and asked him who served as flight engineer ('MS2') for ascent and entry on STS-5 - he told me Lenoir did it for ascent and Allen did it for entry. Hence those dramatic shots of Brand and Overmyer during the fiery entry are attributed to 'Joe Allen'. Brand told me he did this to give both men some flight engineer experience.
So maybe the positions DO swap on some missions, although this doesn't appear to have happened anytime recently.
FNG - 15/11/2006 9:40 PM
Ben,
I am sure you right. There would have been three on the flight deck as the ejection seats on Columbia were still in place for STS 9. By the time Columbia flew again on STS 61 C they had been replaced by the 'standard' fixed seats.
FNG
TJL - 13/12/2006 1:14 AMYes, but check L2 for details about why they have not yet been assigned---this is a much discussed topic ...
Are Cagle and Caldeiro still eligible to fly?
tlc125 - 17/12/2006 3:40 PM
Hi all -
First post - but I've been lurking awhile!
I would think with less than a year to go before the launch of STS-123, NASA should be getting ready to make a crew announcemnt soon. Probably for 124 also. Any guesses?
TJL - 19/12/2006 7:35 PM
Was Dominic Gorie selected as CDR on STS-123?
TJL - 20/12/2006 1:35 AM
Was Dominic Gorie selected as CDR on STS-123?
Chris Bergin - 19/12/2006 9:32 PMQuoteTJL - 20/12/2006 1:35 AM
Was Dominic Gorie selected as CDR on STS-123?
Our information says yes.
hektor - 20/12/2006 2:06 AM
Why do they need a back-up for a MS ? For an Expedition crew this is common practice, but this is maybe the first time there is a MS back-up.
hektor - 20/12/2006 7:13 AM
All I can say is that this has never happened for an ESA MS. Nor CNES MS. It did happen for ESA and CNES PS. JAXA and CSA I don't know. Maybe just for Russian MS so far ?
hektor - 20/12/2006 7:13 AM
All I can say is that this has never happened for an ESA MS. Nor CNES MS. It did happen for ESA and CNES PS. JAXA and CSA I don't know. Maybe just for Russian MS so far ?
tlc125 - 20/12/2006 5:14 AM
Foreman is already on the 120 crew. That would be the quickest turnaround ever (I think) if it's true.
hektor - 20/12/2006 8:06 AMMae Jemison had a back-up on STS-47. But although she was an MS, the back-up would have been a PS from the research community. Funny, isn't it?
Why do they need a back-up for a MS ? For an Expedition crew this is common practice, but this is maybe the first time there is a MS back-up.
tlc125 - 20/12/2006 4:14 AM
Foreman is already on the 120 crew. That would be the quickest turnaround ever (I think) if it's true.
shuttlefan - 5/1/2007 8:35 AM
[Do you remember when, in 2002, Pilot Paul Lockart flew on STS-111 in June, and then replaced a pilot on STS-113 in November of 2002? That would be the quickest turnaround, besides STS-83-STS-94. ;)
tlc125 - 5/1/2007 8:04 AM
Lockhart stepped in after 111 to replace Loria who was originally assigned as PLT on 113, and 83/94 was a total reflight of crew and payload.
FNG - 5/1/2007 3:35 PM
With regard to Steve Nagel, the press release for his first flight was dated 17th November 1983 - with launch scheduled for October 1984 and the press release for his second flight - scheduled for September 1985 - is dated 14th February 1984. So at the time of selection there was 11 months scheduled between Nagel's flights.
fdasun - 10/1/2007 3:30 AM
STS-125 Hubble Mission now has been switched to Atlantis with a new launch date --- Sept. 11, 2008.
Any hint of who will be named as the rescue crew of LON-326 for STS-125 ??? ... Since LON-326 is a totally different mission from any other regular ISS or ISS-LON flight, LON-326 crew do need special and rigorous traninings particularly. So, probably the crew should be selected and confirmed as earlier as possible...
TJL - 3/2/2007 4:04 PM
What do you think the chances are of (Group 8 astronaut) Anna Fisher getting assigned to one of the few remaining Shuttle flights?
TJL - 3/2/2007 4:04 PM
What do you think the chances are of (Group 8 astronaut) Anna Fisher getting assigned to one of the few remaining Shuttle flights?
TJL - 3/2/2007 4:04 PM
What do you think the chances are of (Group 8 astronaut) Anna Fisher getting assigned to one of the few remaining Shuttle flights?
Ben E - 4/2/2007 6:32 PM
Fisher is a medical doctor - why was she never considered?
Ben E - 4/2/2007 2:32 AM
So why is she still at the Astronaut Office? She's not listed as 'management', like Lucid et al, which suggests that she's 'active' and not 'doing something else'. It's peculiar that Steve Hawley returned to the Astronaut Office in February 1996, at around the same time as Fisher, and he got an immediate reassignment. February 1996 was seven full years before Columbia, at a time when the Shuttle was expected to continue flying for years and years and years and there were plenty of flight opportunities, even for John Glenn. There was wrangling in 1996-97 over who to send to Mir for long duration missions, with the original emphasis being upon medical doctors - Fisher is a medical doctor - why was she never considered?
Ben E - 4/2/2007 8:49 AM
While on the subject of ISS missions, are the crew members for NEEMO undersea expeditions expected to fly ISS expeditions? I know some have already been assigned and even flown them - Magnus, Whitson, Fincke, Kopra, Chamitoff, Reisman etc - but what of Coleman, Behnken, Dave Williams etc?
Suzy - 7/2/2007 10:36 PM
I don't know if this is the appropriate thread to ask this, but with Sergei Krikalyov's promotion (http://www.energia.ru/english/energia/news/news-2007/news_02-05.html), have the upcoming Soyuz crew flight assignments been rearranged? (He was Soyuz TMA-12 backup and TMA-14 commander)
hektor - 11/2/2007 12:13 AM
Are all the commanders on the top red line?
Satori - 12/2/2007 12:45 AM
And what about the back-up crews for the Expediton 17 and 18 members?
TJL - 12/2/2007 5:15 PM
What surprises me about the scheduled Expedition crews is that Melenchenko, who served as ISS EXP-7 CDR, is returning as Flight Engineer, while Sharipov who served as F.E. on EXP-10 is returning as Flight Engineer once again.
nathan.moeller - 12/2/2007 3:39 PMHey Nathan, I've seen pictures of the Whitson/Malenchenko crew in training, and it's the same Yuri as from Exp-7. Apparently he doesn't mind the 'demotion', if you want to think of it that way, though obviously I don't know. A spaceflight is a spaceflight, eh?QuoteTJL - 12/2/2007 5:15 PM
What surprises me about the scheduled Expedition crews is that Melenchenko, who served as ISS EXP-7 CDR, is returning as Flight Engineer, while Sharipov who served as F.E. on EXP-10 is returning as Flight Engineer once again.
Possibly a different Malenchenko? That would kind of suck to go from CDR to FE. Funny how he was the first guy to get married in orbit. Glad to see some new faces going up and some older ones returning.
flyboy7077 - 10/2/2007 3:16 PM
Here's an interesting article by Homer Hickam
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/4541767.html
jacqmans - 13/2/2007 5:12 AM
Kononenko will command the Soyuz spacecraft that will carry him and
Volkov to the station in spring 2008 and bring them home in fall
2008.
TALsite - 13/2/2007 10:06 PM
Why Kononenko (a flight engineer)? Sergei Volkov is an Air Force Pilot, and a qualified Soyuz Commander
vp. - 13/2/2007 10:11 PM
Where is Kaleri?
TJL - 14/2/2007 2:24 AM
what will be different about the Soyuz TMA (No. 701)?
anik - 14/2/2007 12:07 PMQuoteTJL - 14/2/2007 2:24 AM
what will be different about the Soyuz TMA (No. 701)?
Look at three last messages on this (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=740&start=151) page, please...
anik - 13/2/2007 1:53 PMQuoteTALsite - 13/2/2007 10:06 PM
Why Kononenko (a flight engineer)? Sergei Volkov is an Air Force Pilot, and a qualified Soyuz Commander
Yes, Volkov (not Kononenko) will be the commander of Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft... NASA press-release has a mistake...
Olaf - 15/2/2007 2:43 PM
But Roskosmos also named Kononenko as the commander.
http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2088
anik - 15/2/2007 11:59 AM
Roskosmos website simply has the translated NASA press-release...
hektor - 26/2/2007 1:34 PMI cannot find an exact date, but according to Crippen, it was between late 1977 and early 1978, at the earliest.
How far in advance did they pick Young and Crippen ?
hektor - 26/2/2007 1:34 PM
How far in advance did they pick Young and Crippen ?
Malderi - 22/3/2007 3:27 PM
Any idea which expedition # will feature more than 3 crewmembers, and when they'll announce those crews?
Also, how will those crew titles be used? Will it be CDR and 5 FE's, or will there be more specific roles/titles for the expedition crews?
Ben E - 26/3/2007 9:39 AM
Going back to the point about when the first ISS crew of more than three members will fly...I have a query.
Is there going to be a Soyuz TMA launch in the January 2009 timeframe?
The reason I ask is because I was under the impression that there would be a Soyuz launch in October 2008 (Sharipov/Fincke) and another in April 2009 (Krikalev/Surayev), with Chamitoff launching on STS-128 in January 2009 and staying till mid-2009 and Thirsk launching on STS-129 in April for a three-month expedition. Now, if there is not a Soyuz going up in January 2009, there will only be one Soyuz available from April 2009 = not enough seats for Krikalev, Surayev, Chamitoff and Thirsk should they need them. And if there IS a Soyuz going up in January 2009, who are its crew?
Ben E - 26/3/2007 8:39 AM
Going back to the point about when the first ISS crew of more than three members will fly...I have a query.
Is there going to be a Soyuz TMA launch in the January 2009 timeframe?
The reason I ask is because I was under the impression that there would be a Soyuz launch in October 2008 (Sharipov/Fincke) and another in April 2009 (Krikalev/Surayev), with Chamitoff launching on STS-128 in January 2009 and staying till mid-2009 and Thirsk launching on STS-129 in April for a three-month expedition. Now, if there is not a Soyuz going up in January 2009, there will only be one Soyuz available from April 2009 = not enough seats for Krikalev, Surayev, Chamitoff and Thirsk should they need them. And if there IS a Soyuz going up in January 2009, who are its crew?
Chris Bergin - 25/5/2007 4:09 PM
Oefelein to "leave" NASA with immediate effect (officially he ends his time with NASA June 1).
Ford Mustang - 25/5/2007 10:02 PM
If I can ask.. Why is he leaving?
shuttlefan - 26/5/2007 4:30 PM
So Anderson was added to the picture using digital photography, correct? I assume a whole new crew portrait wasn't taken.....?
John2375 - 25/7/2007 8:07 AM
Who should command the last shuttle flight?? And are they any astronauts that should be deserving of being a part of the last flight?
It might not seem like much, but I think the last flight should be as the program will have been around nearly 30 years and done so much - everyone (most everyone, maybe not John Q. Public) remembers the first crew.. the last crew should be remembered too -
pippin - 25/7/2007 1:35 PM
Hmmm.
A few month ago they had "who was the last man on the moon" on "Who wants to be a millionaire" here in Germany.
It was the 1 million Euro question...
brihath - 25/7/2007 7:33 AMQuoteJohn2375 - 25/7/2007 8:07 AM
Who should command the last shuttle flight?? And are they any astronauts that should be deserving of being a part of the last flight?
It might not seem like much, but I think the last flight should be as the program will have been around nearly 30 years and done so much - everyone (most everyone, maybe not John Q. Public) remembers the first crew.. the last crew should be remembered too -
I imagine it will be whoever is Chief of the Astronaut Office. After all he won't be too busy determining crew assignments for a while. The incumbent has commanded key missions in the past hasn't he? I'm thinking Bob Cabana for the first ISS mission was one example.
Cornwallus - 25/7/2007 3:37 PM
Really Glad I found this place. So much information on here! I'll be busy for a few days for sure.
How about John Young? Be neat to see the first shuttle commander be the last one also. Not sure if his age now would be an issue.
pippin - 25/7/2007 9:47 AMQuoteCornwallus - 25/7/2007 3:37 PM
Really Glad I found this place. So much information on here! I'll be busy for a few days for sure.
How about John Young? Be neat to see the first shuttle commander be the last one also. Not sure if his age now would be an issue.
John Glenn.
His last flight is not as far back as Young's.
Jim - 25/7/2007 3:56 PMC'mon, he would be only 89 or so by then...Quotepippin - 25/7/2007 9:47 AMQuoteCornwallus - 25/7/2007 3:37 PM
Really Glad I found this place. So much information on here! I'll be busy for a few days for sure.
How about John Young? Be neat to see the first shuttle commander be the last one also. Not sure if his age now would be an issue.
John Glenn.
His last flight is not as far back as Young's.
Age would be an issue for a CDR
Andy L - 26/3/2007 11:13 PM
I wonder who'll get the final crew of the Shuttle age. That'll be some flight to get.
shuttlefan - 28/7/2007 2:51 PMQuoteAndy L - 26/3/2007 11:13 PM
I wonder who'll get the final crew of the Shuttle age. That'll be some flight to get.
When will they start naming crewmembers to the last flight? Eileen Collins for CDR would get my vote!
ShuttleDiscovery - 28/7/2007 11:32 AMQuoteshuttlefan - 28/7/2007 2:51 PMQuoteAndy L - 26/3/2007 11:13 PM
I wonder who'll get the final crew of the Shuttle age. That'll be some flight to get.
When will they start naming crewmembers to the last flight? Eileen Collins for CDR would get my vote!
Either her or Pam Melroy for me. Nothing like a bit of girl power in the CDR seat! ;)
Trekkie07 - 25/7/2007 11:47 PM
I was just wondering if NASA has announced any crew assignments after STS-125? I noticed on wikipedia (which I know is not always 100% accurate) that they have posted crew assignments throguh STS-127. Thanks in advance.
shuttlefan - 28/7/2007 8:51 AMQuoteAndy L - 26/3/2007 11:13 PM
I wonder who'll get the final crew of the Shuttle age. That'll be some flight to get.
When will they start naming crewmembers to the last flight?
Ben E - 28/7/2007 2:18 PM
It also depends if Melroy even sticks around after 120. Wasn't she offered the chance to return to the Air Force after 92, but turned it down, then after 112, but turned it down? Maybe now she's got her command, she'll leave soon?
martynwilliams - 30/9/2006 1:59 PMwhuch greg johnson box or ray J
It's been a good year for British born astronauts this year...with Piers Sellers on 121 and Nick Patrick on 116. The only British born astro left to fly now is Greg Johnson (I think he was born on a USAF base in the UK) - I dont think there's anyone else originally from the UK in the astro corps at the moment.
Endeavour118 - 11/8/2007 5:46 AMQuotemartynwilliams - 30/9/2006 1:59 PMwhuch greg johnson box or ray J
It's been a good year for British born astronauts this year...with Piers Sellers on 121 and Nick Patrick on 116. The only British born astro left to fly now is Greg Johnson (I think he was born on a USAF base in the UK) - I dont think there's anyone else originally from the UK in the astro corps at the moment.
tonyq - 25/8/2007 3:59 PM
Thirsk appears elsewhere as provisionally assigned to STS-128
Ben E - 26/8/2007 3:38 AM
Will Thirk occupy the third seat on Soyuz TMA-15, alongside a Russian and an American, or will he accompany a Russian and a tourist?
dcfowler1 - 27/8/2007 10:06 AM
"Both Fossum and Bowen are sheduled to perform EVAs on STS-124, so I doubt they would be removed from the flight."
A source in CB indicated to me that Bowen is likely to be the one to take the fall.
D.
Ben E - 30/8/2007 2:31 AM
If I recall correctly from the book, no reasons were given for Mark Lee's removal from the STS-98 crew and at one of the Monday meetings Coleman asked something about how fellow astronauts could avoid future incidents occurring in future. I doubt that the corps would be THAT cloak-and-dagger, though.
Ben E - 11/8/2007 2:48 PM
Is Mike Foale still an active astronaut?
Endeavour118 - 10/9/2007 6:38 PM
anyone know's what happened to vegas kelly?
aurora899 - 21/9/2007 6:41 AM
I see that Spacefacts in now reporting that the following astronauts have been assigned to the STS-126 Crew:
Chris Ferguson
Eric Boe
Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
Joan Higginbotham
Stephen Bowen
Robert Kimbrough
Sandy Magnus
This may be on L2 but I don't subscribe.
texas_space - 22/9/2007 9:35 AMQuoteaurora899 - 21/9/2007 6:41 AM
I see that Spacefacts in now reporting that the following astronauts have been assigned to the STS-126 Crew:
Chris Ferguson
Eric Boe
Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
Joan Higginbotham
Stephen Bowen
Robert Kimbrough
Sandy Magnus
This may be on L2 but I don't subscribe.
Is Kimbrough actually assigned to the flight? If so, he'd be the first of the 2004 class to fly. Interesting since supposedly the class was told they wouldn't get to fly on the shuttle, but only on Orion.
BigRIJoe - 22/9/2007 3:31 PM
Piper gets to fly again?
BigRIJoe - 22/9/2007 3:43 PM
And what about Ochoa? Nothing?
Trekkie07 - 22/9/2007 2:41 PMQuoteBigRIJoe - 22/9/2007 3:31 PM
Piper gets to fly again?
Yes. Why do you ask? She's a qualified astronaut with prior EVA training.
aurora899 - 21/9/2007 6:41 AM
I see that Spacefacts in now reporting that the following astronauts have been assigned to the STS-126 Crew:
Chris Ferguson
Eric Boe
Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
Joan Higginbotham
Stephen Bowen
Robert Kimbrough
Sandy Magnus
This may be on L2 but I don't subscribe.
Jorge - 28/7/2007 1:21 PM
Calling wikipedia "not always 100% accurate" is extremely generous, especially in the case of unannounced NASA crew assignments. In my experience, they've almost always been uninformed speculation.
Mark Max Q - 23/9/2007 5:55 AMQuoteJorge - 28/7/2007 1:21 PM
Calling wikipedia "not always 100% accurate" is extremely generous, especially in the case of unannounced NASA crew assignments. In my experience, they've almost always been uninformed speculation.
Here's a small video clip that should always be posted when Wiki is mentioned ;)
Imagine the scene at JSC, when told that a crew, they hadn't even assigned yet, turns up on Wikipedia..........
TJL - 1/10/2007 5:40 PM
QUOTE...I think it's really bad that they're flying Kimbrough (2004) when Cagle and Caldeiro (1996) still haven't flown after more than 10 years now...
I don't believe Cagle or Caldeiro are still on (shuttle) flying status.
It's not that common that an astronaut is chosen to fly before an astronaut from a prior selection, but it does happen.
Most recently, on STS-118 Drew (Class of 2000) flew before more than half of the astronauts selected in 1998.
Real Madrid - 7/10/2007 12:53 PMFYI, this is redundant as Chris posted this press release last week just a few posts back in the thread:
information founded on http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/oct/HQ_07217_STS-126_Crew.html
TJL - 7/10/2007 12:16 PM
Believe it or not, astronauts chosen in the last 3 groups (17 - 1998, 18 - 2000, and 19 - 2004), are progressively getting chances to fly on the shuttle sooner.
First Group 17 to fly on shuttle waited 8 years.
First Group 18 to fly on shuttle waited 7 years.
First Group 19 scheduled to fly in 2008...4 year wait.
Thought that was kind of interesting in that astronauts selected in 2004 were not expected to get assignments on the shuttle.
"ANIK: 27/08/2007 pag.34
Expedition 21A
Launch: Soyuz TMA-18 (No. 701), March 2010
CDR Kaleri (back-up is TBD [Russia])
FE-1 TBD [Russia] (TBD [Russia])
FE-2 TBD [USA] (TBD [USA])"
"TJL
I read recently that Scott Kelly, who recently flew as CDR on STS-118, was "in-line" to fly as commander aboard an upcoming ISS increment.
I know he was assigned as back-up F.E. for Expedition 5, a few years back."
TALsite - 8/10/2007 12:04 PMQuote"ANIK: 27/08/2007 pag.34
Expedition 21A
Launch: Soyuz TMA-18 (No. 701), March 2010
CDR Kaleri (back-up is TBD [Russia])
FE-1 TBD [Russia] (TBD [Russia])
FE-2 TBD [USA] (TBD [USA])"Quote"TJL
I read recently that Scott Kelly, who recently flew as CDR on STS-118, was "in-line" to fly as commander aboard an upcoming ISS increment.
I know he was assigned as back-up F.E. for Expedition 5, a few years back."
Based on that info, I wonder if the crew for Soyuz TM-18 could be Kaleri (assigned as Exp. 21A CDR), Kondratyev (now assigned as TM15- Exp 19B Backup) and Scott Kelly (just returned from STS-118)?
This “3K-crew” were team-mates on Expedition 5 Backup, and I suppose they got along well, and passed their examinations…
Skylon - 11/10/2007 10:28 PM
STS 119 crew on spacefacts.de:
TJL - 13/10/2007 8:14 AM
I've read that Group 18 astronaut Michael Barratt has been chosen as back-up to Michael Fincke as EXP-18 Commander. If for some reason Fincke cannot fly, will they really have a rookie take command of the ISS?
John2375 - 14/10/2007 10:57 AMProbably more a question of timing -- it may not be "official" until the public announcement from NASA.
i'm not on L2.. what is the official STS-119 crew??
PS - do NOT tell me to do a search - I saw a crew listed but someone said it wasn't official as it came from spacefacts.de (why - are they wrong sometimes??)
Chris Bergin - 1/10/2007 12:47 PMFox News is reporting that Joan Higginbotham has chosen to resign from NASA, effective Nov. 30, and has been replaced by Don Pettit aboard STS-126.
STS-126 crew announcement:
Veteran space flier Navy Capt. Christopher J. Ferguson will command Endeavour. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric A. Boe will serve as the pilot. The mission specialists are Navy Cmdr. Stephen G. Bowen, NASA astronaut Joan E. Higginbotham, Army Lt. Col. Robert S. Kimbrough and Navy Capt. Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper.
kimmern123 - 2/11/2007 3:02 AM
Has this happened before, an astronaut resigning from a flight assignment and NASA to go into private industry?
collectSPACE - 2/11/2007 3:39 AMQuoteChris Bergin - 1/10/2007 12:47 PMFox News is reporting that Joan Higginbotham has chosen to resign from NASA, effective Nov. 30, and has been replaced by Don Pettit aboard STS-126.
STS-126 crew announcement:
Veteran space flier Navy Capt. Christopher J. Ferguson will command Endeavour. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric A. Boe will serve as the pilot. The mission specialists are Navy Cmdr. Stephen G. Bowen, NASA astronaut Joan E. Higginbotham, Army Lt. Col. Robert S. Kimbrough and Navy Capt. Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper.
jmjawors - 3/11/2007 8:54 PM
The link is embedded in the text. But here it is again:
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4809498&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
kimmern123 - 2/11/2007 3:02 AM
Has this happened before, an astronaut resigning from a flight assignment and NASA to go into private industry?
TJL - 4/11/2007 8:40 AM
QUOTE>>>Mary Cleave declined a spot on STS-42 and later resigned.
Who replaced Cleave on STS-42?
Thanks
TJL - 3/11/2007 7:40 PMgroup 13:Newman is Management - NASA Visiting Professor, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California.and wolf is still active
Which of these astronauts are still considered eligible for future assignments on the shuttle?
Group 13: Newman, Wolf
Group 14: Clervoy, Coleman, Gernhardt, Hadfield, Lawrence, Smith
Group 15: Hire, Kavandi, Noriega
Group 16: Cagle, Caldiero, J. Kelly, Morin, Guidoni
Thank you...
TJL - 3/11/2007 9:35 PM
John Fabian was already assigned to STS-61G, when he resigned.
FNG - 4/11/2007 6:44 PMQuoteTJL - 3/11/2007 9:35 PM
John Fabian was already assigned to STS-61G, when he resigned.
Fabian was also assigned to STS 61D Spacelab Life Sciences 1, so effectively resighed two flights.
kimmern123 - 4/11/2007 5:01 AMwould the ESA have a new astronaut selection group since they only have like under 10 people left in the corps
I sure hope so to. I also hope Pambo, Zambo and Wheels will get a new flight assignment after 120. I guess Scott with his 5 spaceflights won't be selected for another flight.
I think Christer Fuglesang is first in line from the ESA-crowd though. I remember it was announced he was ESA's prime candidate for a flight assignment.
Endeavour118 - 5/11/2007 6:49 PMQuotekimmern123 - 4/11/2007 5:01 AMwould the ESA have a new astronaut selection group since they only have like under 10 people left in the corps
I sure hope so to. I also hope Pambo, Zambo and Wheels will get a new flight assignment after 120. I guess Scott with his 5 spaceflights won't be selected for another flight.
I think Christer Fuglesang is first in line from the ESA-crowd though. I remember it was announced he was ESA's prime candidate for a flight assignment.
OV-107 - 6/11/2007 2:02 PM
They are searching for 4 new. It will be an astronaut selection somtime in the later parts of next year.
For now, they have only 6 at flight status. Nespoli is in space right now, Schlegel and Eyharts is on next flight, De Winne and Kuipers are in training for ISS long time missions and Fuglesang will be selected in one of the upcoming flight crew selections so they really longed for the new astronaut selection.
OV-107 - 6/11/2007 3:02 PM
I personally prefer Jim Kelly instead but I wonder if he really will fly on the shuttle again when he is not selected but Mark Kelly, Chris Ferguson and Lee Archambault who flew after him has been promoted already?
I belived for a while that he was going to command sts 125 but Altman took the hubble-ride again.
Kel - 6/11/2007 11:00 PMQuoteOV-107 - 6/11/2007 2:02 PM
They are searching for 4 new. It will be an astronaut selection somtime in the later parts of next year.
For now, they have only 6 at flight status. Nespoli is in space right now, Schlegel and Eyharts is on next flight, De Winne and Kuipers are in training for ISS long time missions and Fuglesang will be selected in one of the upcoming flight crew selections so they really longed for the new astronaut selection.
Is Thomas Reiter still active? I believe he is ESA?
OV-107 - 6/11/2007 12:10 AMBut he said in an interview, that he hopes to fly again in a couple of years,...QuoteKel - 6/11/2007 11:00 PMQuoteOV-107 - 6/11/2007 2:02 PM
They are searching for 4 new. It will be an astronaut selection somtime in the later parts of next year.
For now, they have only 6 at flight status. Nespoli is in space right now, Schlegel and Eyharts is on next flight, De Winne and Kuipers are in training for ISS long time missions and Fuglesang will be selected in one of the upcoming flight crew selections so they really longed for the new astronaut selection.
Is Thomas Reiter still active? I believe he is ESA?
Thomas Reiter is an ESA-astronaut but he has begun work for Germanys space agency DLR.
geminy007 - 7/11/2007 3:31 AMQuoteOV-107 - 6/11/2007 12:10 AMBut he said in an interview, that he hopes to fly again in a couple of years,...QuoteKel - 6/11/2007 11:00 PM
Is Thomas Reiter still active? I believe he is ESA?
Thomas Reiter is an ESA-astronaut but he has begun work for Germanys space agency DLR.
OV-107 - 6/11/2007 2:10 PMQuoteKel - 6/11/2007 11:00 PMQuoteOV-107 - 6/11/2007 2:02 PM
They are searching for 4 new. It will be an astronaut selection somtime in the later parts of next year.
For now, they have only 6 at flight status. Nespoli is in space right now, Schlegel and Eyharts is on next flight, De Winne and Kuipers are in training for ISS long time missions and Fuglesang will be selected in one of the upcoming flight crew selections so they really longed for the new astronaut selection.
Is Thomas Reiter still active? I believe he is ESA?
Thomas Reiter is an ESA-astronaut but he has begun work for Germanys space agency DLR.
DwightM - 9/11/2007 7:46 PMQuoteOV-107 - 6/11/2007 2:10 PMQuoteKel - 6/11/2007 11:00 PMQuoteOV-107 - 6/11/2007 2:02 PM
They are searching for 4 new. It will be an astronaut selection somtime in the later parts of next year.
For now, they have only 6 at flight status. Nespoli is in space right now, Schlegel and Eyharts is on next flight, De Winne and Kuipers are in training for ISS long time missions and Fuglesang will be selected in one of the upcoming flight crew selections so they really longed for the new astronaut selection.
Is Thomas Reiter still active? I believe he is ESA?
Thomas Reiter is an ESA-astronaut but he has begun work for Germanys space agency DLR.
What about Vittori, Duque, & Ewald?
Ben E - 9/11/2007 10:34 AM
Is it Ken Cockrell?
Olaf - 9/11/2007 7:25 AMcan you or anyone who has a nasa astronaut insider confirm that?
I´ve just heard that Brent Jett is the new Director Flight Crew Operations, does anyone know who is his deputy?
Endeavour118 - 9/11/2007 3:50 PMQuoteOlaf - 9/11/2007 7:25 AMcan you or anyone who has a nasa astronaut insider confirm that?
I´ve just heard that Brent Jett is the new Director Flight Crew Operations, does anyone know who is his deputy?
Trekkie07 - 9/11/2007 4:23 PM
What about Morgan getting another flight?
Andy_Small - 9/11/2007 10:24 PMQuoteTrekkie07 - 9/11/2007 4:23 PM
What about Morgan getting another flight?
I could see her getting another flight that is Transfer intensive. She seemed to really shine when it came to it!
FNG - 9/11/2007 4:07 PMif that is Ken cockrell he has gotten real oldQuoteBen E - 9/11/2007 10:34 AM
Is it Ken Cockrell?
Ben, yes I think it is.
The British Interplanetary Society's December issue of Spaceflight magazine is reporting that Douglas Hurley is about to complete his tour of duty as NASA's Director of Operations at Star City and be assigned to a shuttle crew.
I guess he could be assigned to STS 127, perhaps along with Hobaugh, Caldwell, Morin and a couple of the 2004 class. Just my thoughts. Any views?
Endeavour118 - 9/11/2007 1:54 PMQuoteFNG - 9/11/2007 4:07 PMif that is Ken cockrell he has gotten real oldQuoteBen E - 9/11/2007 10:34 AM
Is it Ken Cockrell?
Ben, yes I think it is.
The British Interplanetary Society's December issue of Spaceflight magazine is reporting that Douglas Hurley is about to complete his tour of duty as NASA's Director of Operations at Star City and be assigned to a shuttle crew.
I guess he could be assigned to STS 127, perhaps along with Hobaugh, Caldwell, Morin and a couple of the 2004 class. Just my thoughts. Any views?
Endeavour118 - 9/11/2007 4:51 PM
will we see jett down in fla for sts-122 when they launch during crew walk out u know how steve lindsey always walks out with them?
DwightM - 9/11/2007 4:57 PMIf you view the high-res version of that photo, you can just about make out his nametag: Smith Johnston, M.D., who is indeed a flight surgeon.
That's not Ken Cockrell. Truth is, I don't recognize him - could be a Flight Surgeon.
collectSPACE - 10/11/2007 1:43 AMQuoteEndeavour118 - 9/11/2007 4:51 PM
will we see jett down in fla for sts-122 when they launch during crew walk out u know how steve lindsey always walks out with them?
The chief astronaut (Lindsey) rides with the crew on the astrovan, not the FCOD director (Jett). That said, I recall seeing Jett at the STS-120 walkout, he was off to the side watching.
kimmern123 - 9/11/2007 8:48 PMQuotecollectSPACE - 10/11/2007 1:43 AMQuoteEndeavour118 - 9/11/2007 4:51 PM
will we see jett down in fla for sts-122 when they launch during crew walk out u know how steve lindsey always walks out with them?
The chief astronaut (Lindsey) rides with the crew on the astrovan, not the FCOD director (Jett). That said, I recall seeing Jett at the STS-120 walkout, he was off to the side watching.
Actually, I think both of them ride with the astroanuts. In Christer Fuglesan's book (boy, am I reading a lot of astronaut books) he mentions that Steve Lindsey and Ellen Ochoa were also on the astrovan. Ochoa, even pulled a prank on the rookies when she started asking for their shuttle boarding cards. Beamer and Roman dutifully took out very official looking boarding cards from their pockets while the rookies, thinking this was something necessary, panicked when they couldn't find their own card.
kimmern123 - 10/11/2007 3:48 AM
In Christer Fuglesan's book .
jacqmans - 10/11/2007 3:11 AMFuglesang has written two books since returning from space:
What's the title of the book, and is the book in English?
Ben E - 22/11/2007 7:19 PM
So will Pettit literally take over Higginbotham's responsibilities (ie robotics and transfer work) or will he put his EVA experience to use as well?
Endeavour118 - 22/11/2007 3:16 PM
anyone know what happened to jeff ashby? and his first flight was to be sts-85 and he resigned from that mission to take care of his 1st wife who died from cancer correct?
Skylon - 22/11/2007 11:33 PMQuoteEndeavour118 - 22/11/2007 3:16 PM
anyone know what happened to jeff ashby? and his first flight was to be sts-85 and he resigned from that mission to take care of his 1st wife who died from cancer correct?
Didn't know that why he didn't fly STS-85. That's really tragic.
Last I checked he was still on a detached assignment to the USAF Academy.
Endeavour118 - 22/11/2007 8:16 PM
anyone know what happened to jeff ashby? and his first flight was to be sts-85 and he resigned from that mission to take care of his 1st wife who died from cancer correct?
apollo13 - 25/11/2007 2:09 PM
Anybody have the crew assignments for STS-127?
apollo13 - 25/11/2007 7:09 PM
Anybody have the crew assignments for STS-127?
apollo13 - 25/11/2007 7:22 PM
Wikipedia has flight crew assignments for 127..but they tok them off.
Charlie Hobugh was CDR, and MS 1 was Tracy Caldwell, and MS 2 was Jose Hernandez..but I think it was fake...
apollo13 - 25/11/2007 5:19 PM
Question on wikipedia they have the STS-124 page, it says they are launching Greg Chamitoff for Expedition 17 and STS-127 says launching: Greg Chamitoff for E18.
That's weird...
TJL - 28/11/2007 6:31 PM
Even if Jim Kelly was "marked" for Orion, wouldn't you think there was enough (training) time between the end of STS-127 and the beginning of Orion flying its first manned flight?
Ben E - 29/11/2007 11:51 AM
I still can't imagine a scenario other than giving as many first-time CDRs a chance before 2010. Hence, there are enough flights to give all of the Group 17 pilots their first command and fly the Group 18 and 19 pilots in the right seat. Look at the number of flights available and the number of unflown CDRs - if ULF-4 and ULF-5 fly, there are precisely enough flights to give every Group 17 PLT their first command. If I were Steve Lindsey, I'd want as many CDR-qualified astronauts as possible to carry over to Orion operations to compensate for any attrition from the corps after 2010. I personally don't see people with previous command experience getting another flight before Orion - but could be (and probably will be) proved wrong!
Skylon - 30/11/2007 4:14 AMQuoteBen E - 29/11/2007 11:51 AM
I still can't imagine a scenario other than giving as many first-time CDRs a chance before 2010. Hence, there are enough flights to give all of the Group 17 pilots their first command and fly the Group 18 and 19 pilots in the right seat. Look at the number of flights available and the number of unflown CDRs - if ULF-4 and ULF-5 fly, there are precisely enough flights to give every Group 17 PLT their first command. If I were Steve Lindsey, I'd want as many CDR-qualified astronauts as possible to carry over to Orion operations to compensate for any attrition from the corps after 2010. I personally don't see people with previous command experience getting another flight before Orion - but could be (and probably will be) proved wrong!
Didn't realize that about the CDR slots, but you are right.
I'm going to guess we'll be seeing rookie CDR's up through STS 130. STS 132 will likely get a veteran CDR given that it's the last assembly flight. If STS 131 and 133 are flown, I'll guess 131 will be commanded by a rookie CDR and 133 with a veteran as it's the last flight. Among the possible vets to end up with late flights: probably, Polansky, Sturckow and Melroy.
There would be some symmetry to Sturckow flying the last assembly mission, as he flew the first (STS-88).
Also, unless we hear a decision about STS 131 and 133 soon, I would not be surprised if Jim Dutton and Randy Bresnik fly their first missions as MS's.
Skylon - 30/11/2007 3:14 AM
There would be some symmetry to Sturckow flying the last assembly mission, as he flew the first (STS-88).
ETEE - 1/12/2007 9:15 AMQuoteSkylon - 30/11/2007 3:14 AM
There would be some symmetry to Sturckow flying the last assembly mission, as he flew the first (STS-88).
Is this the right basis to select pilots for a mission?
OV-107 - 1/12/2007 9:00 AM
Yeah maybe they will fly as mission specialists on the shuttle (if they fly the shuttle at all) and then pilot and commanding orion missions.
If they will pilot the shuttle I think Virts, Ford, Hurley and Wilmore will be selected before them.
ShuttleDiscovery - 1/12/2007 6:41 PM
I also hope James Kelly gets STS-127. As there now seems to be at least one MS flying with the CDR both from a same previous flight, that would make sense for Noguchi to fly with him (but Furukawa or Yamazaki is more likely).
MKremer - 1/12/2007 2:16 PM
Crew selection is a sort of "black art" NASA closely restricts to a select few people, and something we mere mortals on the 'outside' aren't privy to and will never totally understand. :laugh:
Ben E - 8/12/2007 6:39 AM
I imagine some astronauts will stick around, as the four-year Shuttle-to-CEV gap is (supposedly) shorter than the six-year Apollo-to-Shuttle gap, but what will happen when the CEV is finally operational? Looking at the schedule, it'll only be flying a few times manned in the next decade anyway, mostly with crews of two or (at most) four. Even with six-month ISS missions, that only allows for an extra four US seats for the station per year. Unlike the optimistic late 1970s when the Shuttle was envisaged to fly regular missions with crews of seven, I can't see many astronauts wanting to stick around...in fact, the only available carrot would surely be a chance to walk on the Moon.
anik - 4/11/2005 7:05 AMGood plan is good plan, though it's old,we can get much thing from it.
It is a very old plan (May 2005)... There might be changes since then...
hektor - 13/12/2007 2:15 PM
What do you believe will be the crew of the STS-3xx rescue mission for the LAST Shuttle mission ?
(very stupid question, but I couldn't help !)
faustod - 14/12/2007 12:59 PM
Now a simple question:
After the departure of Curbeam, has NASA already named a new
Deputy Director of Flight Operations?
OV-107 - 14/12/2007 10:46 PM
Do you think Sunita Williams will be the second women to command a long duration ISS mission ?
hektor - 14/12/2007 9:34 PM
Spacefacts.de has copied word for word the entry I wrote about Nik Halik in the English language wikipedia. ;)
nethegauner - 17/12/2007 4:15 AMQuotehektor - 14/12/2007 9:34 PM
Spacefacts.de has copied word for word the entry I wrote about Nik Halik in the English language wikipedia. ;)
I seriously start to consider Spacefacts to be a dubious webpage …
What a bummer! I like the concept of that website — but pooling together uncredited information and presenting Wiki clippings is kind of sappy …
bothwell - 24/12/2007 11:39 AM
Spacefacts.de is a great site with a lot of usefull information.
Endeavour118 - 5/1/2008 8:24 AM
when will they come out with sts-127's crew?
Ben E - 11/1/2008 5:12 PM
Fair enough. It's interesting that there's no Japanese involvement on the final JEM flight.
Ben E - 11/1/2008 12:12 PM
Fair enough. It's interesting that there's no Japanese involvement on the final JEM flight.
ShuttleDiscovery - 11/1/2008 7:43 PM
I guess the way things are going James Kelly won't get another flight as CDR :( ...
STS-121/STS-124 - Mark Kelly
STS-115/STS-126 - Ferguson
STS-116/STS-127 - Polansky
STS-117/STS-128 - Archambault?
STS-118/STS-129 - Hobaugh?
STS-120/STS-130 - Zamka?
STS-122/STS-131 - Poindexter?
..you get my drift.
kimmern123 - 11/1/2008 7:10 PM
Archambault is CDR on STS-119, not STS-128. That crew is still not announced ;)
Ben E - 11/1/2008 11:12 AMJAXA's Kibo logos released last year hinted at this, as their STS-127 emblem listed ISS crewmember Koichi Wakata as their mission representative.
It's interesting that there's no Japanese involvement on the final JEM flight.
ShuttleDiscovery - 11/1/2008 1:43 PM
I guess the way things are going James Kelly won't get another flight as CDR :( ...
apollo13 - 11/1/2008 9:25 PM
STS-116/STS-127 - Polansky
He is going back?
I haven't heard that the crew had been selected...
Ben E - 11/1/2008 11:12 AM
Fair enough. It's interesting that there's no Japanese involvement on the final JEM flight.
dember - 15/1/2008 7:07 PM
This is not a confirmed assignment on wikipedia but here are some names for 127: Polansky, Hurley, Wolf, Payette, Cassidy, Marshburn, Kopra, Wakata(Returning from iss).
Chris Bergin - 18/1/2008 12:05 PM
E-mail from someone at NASA:
Administrator's Answers
From: Anonymous
Date: 16-Jan-2008
Question(s):
Given that College Professors were precluded from the previous Educator Astronaut selections (only K-12 Educators considered), will there be any attempt by NASA in the future to consider them for inclusion into the Educator Astronaut ranks?
Response:
I have no plans to conduct a further selection of Educator Astronauts
Skylon - 26/1/2008 6:14 AM
Transparency in flight crew assignments? What ever would George Abbey think?
Jim - 31/1/2008 2:32 PM
I was just stating reality. I am all for it
OV-107 - 2/2/2008 8:56 AMyes he is still a NASA astronaut
Is Piers Sellers still in the astronaut corps?
I´ve not heard anything about him since STS 121.
Thirsk also will serve as a flight engineer and will return to Earth on STS-129
OV-107 - 12/2/2008 10:59 PM
So it will be 6 astronauts onboard STS 129 on the launch day and 7 on the landing day?
Or will they have an astronaut from expedition 20 with them to the station?
OV-107 - 12/2/2008 10:59 PM
And will Souyz TMA 16 have the russian space flight participant instead of TMA 14 or is it a new participant seat?
ShuttleDiscovery - 13/2/2008 6:11 PM
Could someone possibly post a list of all the active astronauts please?
jacqmans - 13/2/2008 6:15 PMQuoteShuttleDiscovery - 13/2/2008 6:11 PM
Could someone possibly post a list of all the active astronauts please?
look here:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_activemgmt.html
Lonchakov and De Winne will serve as flight engineers on the station and return on the Soyuz with Stott
anik - 12/2/2008 11:30 PMQuoteOV-107 - 12/2/2008 10:59 PM
And will Souyz TMA 16 have the russian space flight participant instead of TMA 14 or is it a new participant seat?
New spaceflight participant, I think... That is why Thirsk will land on STS-129, instead of Soyuz TMA-14...
catfry - 14/2/2008 5:49 PM
Mark Polansky gets to fly very soon after his last flight doesn't he? I mean 2006 is not that long ago and surely there are other commander material waiting their turn?
ShuttleDiscovery - 14/2/2008 7:15 PM
I think he was selected again because he has only had 1 flight, because he never had a mission as PLT. If this hadn't been the case I reckon James Kelly (PLT 114) would have got the flight...
Skyrocket - 14/2/2008 7:34 PMQuoteShuttleDiscovery - 14/2/2008 7:15 PM
I think he was selected again because he has only had 1 flight, because he never had a mission as PLT. If this hadn't been the case I reckon James Kelly (PLT 114) would have got the flight...
Nonsense - He certainly had a flight as PLT - on STS-98
BTW: The only Shuttle comander without orbital flight experience was Joe Engle on STS-2
TJL - 18/2/2008 11:10 PM
If you were to guess as to who would be selected as CDR on STS-128, who would get your vote?
Jim Kelly or Charlie Hobaugh
TJL - 18/2/2008 11:10 PM
If you were to guess as to who would be selected as CDR on STS-128, who would get your vote?
Jim Kelly or Charlie Hobaugh
ShuttleDiscovery - 19/2/2008 11:55 AM
I hope I am wrong though! Kelly really deserves a flight in the CDR seat! It is almost as if NASA is ignoring STS-114 crew and reassigning astronauts from STS-121 onwards... :o
ShuttleDiscovery - 13/2/2008 12:31 PMQuotejacqmans - 13/2/2008 6:15 PMQuoteShuttleDiscovery - 13/2/2008 6:11 PM
Could someone possibly post a list of all the active astronauts please?
look here:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_activemgmt.html
Thanks!
DaveJ576 - 19/2/2008 4:43 PMQuoteShuttleDiscovery - 13/2/2008 12:31 PMQuotejacqmans - 13/2/2008 6:15 PMQuoteShuttleDiscovery - 13/2/2008 6:11 PM
Could someone possibly post a list of all the active astronauts please?
look here:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_activemgmt.html
Thanks!
I'm getting into this a little late, but going off the list above, my vote is for Vance Brand! Let's get him back in the left seat!! Also, isn't Gordon Fullerton still in flight test out at Dryden?
Dave
TJL - 18/2/2008 11:10 PM
If you were to guess as to who would be selected as CDR on STS-128, who would get your vote?
Jim Kelly or Charlie Hobaugh
Davejfb - 18/2/2008 11:31 PM
Jim Kelly for sure.
dcfowler1 - 18/2/2008 11:44 PM
One could guess that; But I think they might be wrong.
D
kimmern123 - 19/2/2008 11:48 AM
I'd say either Hobaughg or Zamka.
dcfowler1 - 19/2/2008 9:05 PM
One of those is correct.
D
I'm getting into this a little late, but going off the list above, my vote is for Vance Brand! Let's get him back in the left seat!! Also, isn't Gordon Fullerton still in flight test out at Dryden?
Dave
Ben E - 21/2/2008 9:24 AMWelcome to the club -- I've already joined ... ;)
I'm slowing coming round to Jim's reasoning that there really is no logic in the crew selection process...or at least a logic that we are not privy to.
Ben E - 21/2/2008 3:24 AM
"I think STS-127 ended up with a veteran CDR (Polansky) only due to the somewhat high-profile nature of the final Japanese component going up."
And yet the highest-profile Japanese mission of all - the PM - will be led by a first-time CDR (Kelly)? Similarly, Columbus is the highest-profile European mission and was also led by a first-time CDR( Frick). I'm slowing coming round to Jim's reasoning that there really is no logic in the crew selection process...or at least a logic that we are not privy to.
kimmern123 - 26/2/2008 1:06 PM
Did anyone catch Mike Griffin saying Pam might have another flight assignment coming up? Was this just him commenting on Pam's wish to fly again, or is she actually in the pipeline for another flight??
nethegauner - 21/2/2008 1:05 PMQuoteBen E - 21/2/2008 9:24 AMWelcome to the club -- I've already joined ... ;)
I'm slowing coming round to Jim's reasoning that there really is no logic in the crew selection process...or at least a logic that we are not privy to.
I’m currently reading Mike Mullane’s “Riding Rockets” and only now do I truly understand. As other reviewers have noted, the book contains some great stuff about George Abbey and the whole flight crew assignment process. Okay, so most of it relates back to the 1980s but given the results of the recent astronaut health survey (which highlighted the lack of transparency in the crew assignment process and deficiencies in individual performance feedback) it seems that little has changed in over 20 years!
A great book by the way; I wish I’d read it earlier!
Ben E - 28/2/2008 3:20 AM
I think Coleman is a backup expedition crew member for one of the flights next year, so I'd expect her to fly an expedition in 2010-2011. As for her experience with RMS, I wasn't aware she'd done RMS ops on her missions - her first mission was a Spacelab and her second an IUS deploy. I could be wrong, though, but I agree she more than deserves another flight.
faustod - 1/3/2008 12:17 PM
Dave Williams of Canada is leaving the Astronaut Corp of CSA.
Sorry, I think he was in line for a long duration mission on ISS.
faustod - 1/3/2008 1:40 PM
I thought D. Williams was in line after Thirsk and Hadfield.
From an article on this Web Site (April 24,2007)
"A few, perhaps, to keep an eye on for possible future long- duration missions could include: Canadians Dave Williams and Soyuz-qualified Chris Hadfield, together with NASA astronauts
Nick Patrick, John 'Danny' Olivas, Tom Marshburn, Bob Behnken, Catherine 'Cady' Coleman, Doug Wheelock and Rex Walheim."
Riley1066 - 23/2/2008 12:02 PM Its a shame that Joan Higginbotham left NASA too.
Aw, no!! Joan is one of my favorites. She had another mission lined up (STS-126) after all those years of waiting for her first flight, but she's now left to pursue "private industry" opportunities? Must have been some offer to make her give up a guaranteed second flight!
If I were an Astronaut, I'd want to fly at least two missions to make all those years of training and waiting worth it before moving on from what is essentially a calling, as well as a profession. I hope Barbara Morgan can get one more mission, though I'm not holding my breath.
Ben E - 3/3/2008 2:56 AM
If we assume Orion will be similar to Soyuz, in that MS-qualified crew members can command, the need for PLT experience to command an Orion mission is no longer there..
MATTBLAK - 1/3/2008 9:40 PMQuoteRiley1066 - 23/2/2008 12:02 PM Its a shame that Joan Higginbotham left NASA too.Aw, no!! Joan is one of my favorites. She had another mission lined up (STS-126) after all those years of waiting for her first flight, but she's now left to pursue "private industry" opportunities? Must have been some offer to make her give up a guaranteed second flight!
If I were an Astronaut, I'd want to fly at least two missions to make all those years of training and waiting worth it before moving on from what is essentially a calling, as well as a profession. I hope Barbara Morgan can get one more mission, though I'm not holding my breath.
Jim - 3/3/2008 5:49 AMQuoteBen E - 3/3/2008 2:56 AM
If we assume Orion will be similar to Soyuz, in that MS-qualified crew members can command, the need for PLT experience to command an Orion mission is no longer there..
I wouldn't make take assumption. The "rated" astronaut contingent has some "political" pull with in the office
I don't think a Hubble mission would necessarily preclude G.C.Johnson from an ISS command. After all, Scott Kelly flew a Hubble mission, then an ISS command.
Ben E - 8/3/2008 3:27 PM
Out of curiosity, what's happening after STS-128 with regards to crew size? Nicole Stott is the last ISS crew member to fly uphill on the Shuttle, so will NASA opt for a seventh crew member, a la Drew on STS-118, or simply stick to crews of six after STS-128? There must be some crew-loading documentation available on these flights by now?
Ben E - 8/3/2008 3:27 PM
Out of curiosity, what's happening after STS-128 with regards to crew size? Nicole Stott is the last ISS crew member to fly uphill on the Shuttle, so will NASA opt for a seventh crew member, a la Drew on STS-118, or simply stick to crews of six after STS-128? There must be some crew-loading documentation available on these flights by now?
Ben E - 8/3/2008 9:27 PM
Out of curiosity, what's happening after STS-128 with regards to crew size? Nicole Stott is the last ISS crew member to fly uphill on the Shuttle, so will NASA opt for a seventh crew member, a la Drew on STS-118, or simply stick to crews of six after STS-128? There must be some crew-loading documentation available on these flights by now?
ShuttleDiscovery - 8/3/2008 5:42 PM
I would be surprised if they didn't go for 7 crew members as they want to get as many people flown ASAP due to lack of seats on Orion...
ShuttleDiscovery - 8/3/2008 4:42 PMQuoteBen E - 8/3/2008 9:27 PM
Out of curiosity, what's happening after STS-128 with regards to crew size? Nicole Stott is the last ISS crew member to fly uphill on the Shuttle, so will NASA opt for a seventh crew member, a la Drew on STS-118, or simply stick to crews of six after STS-128? There must be some crew-loading documentation available on these flights by now?
I would be surprised if they didn't go for 7 crew members as they want to get as many people flown ASAP due to lack of seats on Orion...
Delta7 - 8/3/2008 6:05 PM
I think the rationale for 7 crewmembers would be to have as many hands as possible, in order to get things done according to the time-line. These missions are complex and jam-packed to the last hour and minute. They'd probably send up 10 if they could.
Ben E - 8/3/2008 8:04 PM
Wasn't that the reason for Drew being added to STS-118 - to provide and extra 'pair of hands'? Obviously, his 450 lb of payload was balanced out by the needs of a heavy logistics flight.
Also, does STS-132/Node-3 have the same loading as STS-120/Node-2? If it does, or similar, then STS-120 managed to fly a 7-up/7-down complement. Is there another reason why STS-132 couldn't support a 7-member crew?
Jim - 8/3/2008 5:28 PMQuoteDelta7 - 8/3/2008 6:05 PM
I think the rationale for 7 crewmembers would be to have as many hands as possible, in order to get things done according to the time-line. These missions are complex and jam-packed to the last hour and minute. They'd probably send up 10 if they could.
That is not a valid reason. An extra person costs over 450lbs of payload
Delta7 - 8/3/2008 9:27 PMQuoteJim - 8/3/2008 5:28 PMQuoteDelta7 - 8/3/2008 6:05 PM
I think the rationale for 7 crewmembers would be to have as many hands as possible, in order to get things done according to the time-line. These missions are complex and jam-packed to the last hour and minute. They'd probably send up 10 if they could.
That is not a valid reason. An extra person costs over 450lbs of payload
It's been a valid reason all along, at least in the view of NASA. Standard shuttle crews have gone from the original one or two Mission Specialist /Payload Specialist that were anticipated early on in the program, to 3, 4 and 5. NASA seems willing and ready to fill every seat when space and load permit.
Jim - 8/3/2008 8:57 PMQuoteDelta7 - 8/3/2008 9:27 PMQuoteJim - 8/3/2008 5:28 PMQuoteDelta7 - 8/3/2008 6:05 PM
I think the rationale for 7 crewmembers would be to have as many hands as possible, in order to get things done according to the time-line. These missions are complex and jam-packed to the last hour and minute. They'd probably send up 10 if they could.
That is not a valid reason. An extra person costs over 450lbs of payload
It's been a valid reason all along, at least in the view of NASA. Standard shuttle crews have gone from the original one or two Mission Specialist /Payload Specialist that were anticipated early on in the program, to 3, 4 and 5. NASA seems willing and ready to fill every seat when space and load permit.
And your source is? Do you speak for NASA?
Delta7 - 8/3/2008 10:48 PM
We shall see when the remaining shuttle flight crew assignments come out over the next year/year-and-a-half.
Ben E - 9/3/2008 9:09 AM
7 crew members (Kelly, Ham, Nyberg, Garan, Fossum, Hoshide and Bowen) were originally assigned to STS-124, which was originally a non-rotating mission.
All I was asking was that, by now, the crew-loading for STS-128 and possibly a few others should have been baselined. Are we to assume, therefore, if there are no more rotating missions after STS-128 that 129 and beyond will all have crews of 5-6?
This is an open forum, Jim. There's little enough enthusiasm for spaceflight out there, without ridiculing members' questions.
TJL - 9/3/2008 9:55 AM
QUOTE: "It's not confirmed, but I've read that Jeff Williams is now scheduled to be launched on STS-129 instead of Soyuz TMA-16 (To begin his tour as Expedition 20 CDR).
What would be the reason of launching Williams on the shuttle?
Wouldn't NASA be paying for Williams seat on Soyuz?
Will Russia still be sending "space participants" to ISS during the more intense 6 person increments?
Thank you.
Ben E - 9/3/2008 11:47 AM
If Williams is going up on STS-129, won't that be during (but not at the end of) the Expedition-19 increment (July/August 2009)? If that's the case, won't Padalka still be in command? If that's the case, will Williams start off as a flight engineer from July-October and then take command in October when Padalka goes home?
Ben E - 10/3/2008 8:23 PM
Am I right in thinking this makes South Korea the second nation after Great Britain to have a woman as its first national in space?
Ben E - 10/3/2008 2:23 PM
Am I right in thinking this makes South Korea the second nation after Great Britain to have a woman as its first national in space?
Ben E - 16/3/2008 2:15 AM
Does anyone have any knowledge of astronauts who have either begun, or are about to begin, training for future long-term ISS expeditions?
Obviously, we know of expeditions up to Expedition-19 and some possible Expedition-20 crew members (Jeff Williams, TJ Creamer etc), plus Scott Kelly for a later expedition. However, have any others recently begun expedition training?
Jorge - 16/3/2008 6:59 PMQuoteBen E - 16/3/2008 2:15 AM
Does anyone have any knowledge of astronauts who have either begun, or are about to begin, training for future long-term ISS expeditions?
Obviously, we know of expeditions up to Expedition-19 and some possible Expedition-20 crew members (Jeff Williams, TJ Creamer etc), plus Scott Kelly for a later expedition. However, have any others recently begun expedition training?
You might have better luck asking in the Flight Crew Assignments thread...
Ben E - 18/3/2008 4:37 PM
Wasn't the same true of Tracy Caldwell, also? I was surprised to see her on a Shuttle flight and not an expedition.
Delta7, you mentioned an 'Expedition Corps' within the Astronaut Office - I've never heard of this corps, but presumably it must exist.
Ben E - 18/3/2008 3:37 PM
Wasn't the same true of Tracy Caldwell, also? I was surprised to see her on a Shuttle flight and not an expedition.
Delta7, you mentioned an 'Expedition Corps' within the Astronaut Office - I've never heard of this corps, but presumably it must exist. Do you have any more info? Does it have a branch chief astronaut?
Delta7 - 18/3/2008 8:40 PMQuoteBen E - 18/3/2008 3:37 PM
Wasn't the same true of Tracy Caldwell, also? I was surprised to see her on a Shuttle flight and not an expedition.
Delta7, you mentioned an 'Expedition Corps' within the Astronaut Office - I've never heard of this corps, but presumably it must exist. Do you have any more info? Does it have a branch chief astronaut?
I've seen it referred to on a number of occasions, but I haven't seen anything official on it. It may be used as a general term for those in training for ISS missions, or may actually be part of the organizational structure of the ISS program. Unfortunately, as with other subjects, it's hard to find a definite answer on the NASA Human Spaceflight web site.
I seem to recall that Mike Foale was listed as head of the "Expedition Corps" or something to that effect in his official NASA bio a number of years ago.
Michael Cassutt - 19/3/2008 11:19 AM
The astronaut office is determined to shorten the current 4+ year training regime to two -- eliminating the need for expedition crewmembers to be fully qualified on both EVA and RMS, for example.
Ben E - 9/4/2008 5:02 AM
Were there any insights into how future ISS crews would have panned out in pre-Columbia days?
Delta7 - 6/3/2008 6:33 PM
I'll go out on a limb and make predictions for the CDR/PLT assignments for STS 128 - 133:
STS-128: Hobaugh/Virts
Ben E - 7/3/2008 1:21 AM
My money's on:
128: Hobaugh/Virts
TALsite - 7/3/2008 2:36 PM
My money is on:
128: Hobaugh/Virts
ShuttleDiscovery - 18/5/2008 7:18 AM
I hope James Kelly gets a flight as CDR soon!! But after the past few shuttle assignments, the trend definately points to Hobaugh commanding STS-128...
Ben E - 19/5/2008 7:17 AM
I thought Olivas was training for an expedition?
Delta7 - 18/5/2008 12:28 PM
Seems plausible, but Wiki still shows STS-128 crew "TBD" when I checked..
Pardon me if this has been addressed before.
Do backup crew members still rotate to prime crew after the next flight?
I noticed Doug Wheelock as backup for Expedition 20. Met him a few years ago, he's a nice fellow and I would like to see him get another flight.
Just wondering...
Does any one know when we can expect flight crew assignments for STS-128 and beyond announced?
I really hope that Christer Fuglesang gets his second flight assignment soon.
Does any one know when we can expect flight crew assignments for STS-128 and beyond announced?
I really hope that Christer Fuglesang gets his second flight assignment soon.
Ironically, we've just got the master EVA training schedule on L2, and I'm asking about relation to assignments.
i.e. Fuglesang is scheduled for training with Behnken in the NBL on Node 3. Could be a clue, but we're looking into it.
Now that Yuri Lonchakov has moved from Soyuz TMA-15/Expedition 19 to Soyuz TMA-13/Expedition 18, who will replace him on the former? I guess one good bet would be his backup for that Mission, Dimitri Kondratiev. Maxim Suraev could also be a possibility.
I just hope that Jeff Ashby and Pam Melroy both get a fourth flight on the shuttle as well. Jeff Ashby did make a comment on CNN news during the STS-114 launch coverage that he hopes he can get another flight on the shuttle before it is retired.
I wish they'd hurry up and announce the crew for STS-128! Or maybe they're waiting a bit so they can announce the STS-128 and STS-129 crews together perhaps...Crews are normally announced about a year before the scheduled launch, which in the case of 128 is mid-July.
QuoteShuttleDiscovery - 18/5/2008 7:18 AM
I hope James Kelly gets a flight as CDR soon!! But after the past few shuttle assignments, the trend definately points to Hobaugh commanding STS-128...
I think if Jim Kelly was in line for a CDR slot on shuttle, he would have been assigned already. IMO he will get the first manned Orion CDR position.
Thanks Jim,
I´ve seen on the the Astronaut Biographies page that NASA has "won" five active astronauts, because the astronauts, who lead the Flight Crew Operation Directorate (Jett, Kavandi and Lopez-Alegria) and the Astronaut Office (Lindsey and Suni Williams) now count again as Active astronauts and not as Management astronauts. Is this a sign for the Flight crew assignments for the last shuttle flights?
I´ve seen on the the Astronaut Biographies page that NASA has "won" five active astronauts, because the astronauts, who lead the Flight Crew Operation Directorate (Jett, Kavandi and Lopez-Alegria) and the Astronaut Office (Lindsey and Suni Williams) now count again as Active astronauts and not as Management astronauts. Is this a sign for the Flight crew assignments for the last shuttle flights?
No. For one thing, astronauts can be moved from "management" to "active" status with a phone call. There's no necessity to re-classify these five now for that reason.
More likely explanation: NASA is phasing out management status in anticipation of the end of Shuttle assignments (last ones will be made within a year), some major attrition and the incoming 09s. ("Pilot" and "mission specialist" designations end with Shuttle, too.)
Michael Cassutt
About the remaining Educator Mission Specialists, I find very interesting that during the STS-119 mission next year, the scheduled third EVA, will be performed by a couple of EMSs,
( Acaba and Arnold).
About the remaining Educator Mission Specialists, I find very interesting that during the STS-119 mission next year, the scheduled third EVA, will be performed by a couple of EMSs,
( Acaba and Arnold).
Why do you say you find this interesting? The Educator Mission Specialists are fully trained Mission Specialists who just happen to also be educators. And Mission Specialists are the astronuats who perform our EVAs.
Anyone hear anything about Group 17 astronaut Neil Woodward leaving NASA?
Thank you.
Anyone hear anything about Group 17 astronaut Neil Woodward leaving NASA?
Thank you.
According to this site:
http://astro.zeto.czest.pl/loty/fmanned.htm
The crew for STS-129 will probably see:
Zamka?, Ford?, Melvin? and Anna Fisher?.
Hoping this will be true.
How accurate is that website?
Here is the crew for STS-128 and part of the crew for STS-129
this is all based on assumption as, so far, nothing has been made public to who the crew will be.
I think there may be internal political pressure in Russia to fly Gruzdev in 2009. The US and IPs may not be agreeable to this, because it would lead to a shortfall of 1 person on ISS from October 2009 to March 2010 and also remove 1 person from STS-129 crew (as one space would be taken by Bob Thirsk who is returned on this mission).
I think there may be internal political pressure in Russia to fly Gruzdev in 2009. The US and IPs may not be agreeable to this, because it would lead to a shortfall of 1 person on ISS from October 2009 to March 2010 and also remove 1 person from STS-129 crew (as one space would be taken by Bob Thirsk who is returned on this mission).
But if Gruzdev will fly on Soyuz and Thirsk will be returned on STS 129, as NASA said, why cannot be launched a ISS-crewmember on STS 129?
You are right, but the missing slot is for a Russian cosmonaut.
Can anyone confirm the crew of STS-128 yet?
I'm surprised that, if rumour is correct, there are only five 'core' crew members (excluding Stott) on such a logistics-heavy mission (17A/MPLM). I was expecting a crew of seven.
Can anyone confirm the crew of STS-128 yet?
I see there's plenty of EVA experience on this flight. Who do you think will do the EVAs and how many do you think each of them gets? I really hope Christer gets at least two!There are only 2, possibly 3 EVA's scheduled for this mission. It could be a mix of Forrester, Olivas, & Fuglesang or just two of them (Doi had EV experience yet didn't perform any on 123, same goes for Pettit & Phillips). Just have to wait & see.
Wasn't Nick Patrick assigned to Cap Com duty the past couple of shuttle flights?
And Nick Patrick remains the only from the shuttle-part of the STS-116 crew still with NASA not assigned to a new flight.
And Nick Patrick remains the only from the shuttle-part of the STS-116 crew still with NASA not assigned to a new flight.
Patrick and Polansky are the only ones available (from 116) for future assignments.
I think there may be internal political pressure in Russia to fly Gruzdev in 2009. The US and IPs may not be agreeable to this, because it would lead to a shortfall of 1 person on ISS from October 2009 to March 2010 and also remove 1 person from STS-129 crew (as one space would be taken by Bob Thirsk who is returned on this mission).
But if Gruzdev will fly on Soyuz and Thirsk will be returned on STS 129, as NASA said, why cannot be launched a ISS-crewmember on STS 129?
You are right, but the missing slot is for a Russian cosmonaut.
Sturckow's assignment is presumably good news for Pam Melroy. She now seems likely to get another command - if she wants it, although she seemed indifferent to flying again in an interview several months back. I think we had speculated that the remaining shuttle missions were all likely to be led by first time Commanders. This now appears not to be the case.
QuoteBen E - 7/11/2006 10:50 AMDid that air in the UK? Gosh, You are a lucky one. I heard about that documentary, but it never aired here. I would have loved to watch it -- I saw the launch of STS-72!
I recall watching a TV documentary called "Astronauts" in about 1996-97, which covered the training and flight of the STS-72 crew.
As expected Woodward has finally left NASA.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_former.html
As expected Woodward has finally left NASA.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_former.html
Why was it expected?
Re: Flight crew assignmentsloria was assigned a flight sts-113 but resigned from that mission
« Reply #956 on: Today at 11:31 AM » Reply with quote
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It's interesting that we've seen more astronauts leaving the corps in the last few years without ever having made a flight than at any point since the 60s. Every member of Group 7-15 got at least one mission and yet from Group 16 we've seen Cagle, Caldeiro and Loria and Woodward from Group 17 not even having been assigned a flight, much less flown one. Is there a reason? Presumably they all passed ASCAN training? Eitherway, it is unusual.
*
Not that unusual when you realize that NASA simply hired too many astronauts in 1996-98, based on the projection of earlier and more frequent ISS rotations -- very much like the over-hiring in 1966-67 based on very optimistic projections about the number of Apollo Applications flights.
If you have people waiting 7-10 years for first flights, it's more likely some of them will develop physical conditions that prevent assignment -- or have greater opportunity to make career-threatening errors.
Michael Cassutt
I think "fired" would be a more apt description....
Dave
I think "fired" would be a more apt description....
Dave
I heard once upon a time there was a falling out between him and Weatherbee. I read earlier that he suffered three herniated lumbar discs and that grounded him indefinitely.
Without going into details, you're on the right track with Loria and Wetherbee.
D
Did STS 51L pilot Mike Smith have an official assignment on the final shuttle test flight...STS 4 (ie: ASP, CAPCOM)?
NASA Astronaut Biographie page now lists Barbara Morgan as Former Astronaut.
On this page http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/000833.html was an information that Mr. Tryggvason will leave CSA in June.
Is there any conformation that he did this?
With STS 129 assigned as a 6 person (up) crew, are the remaining shuttle flights scheduled to be 6 or 7 crew members?
Thanks.
Any idea who the STS-130 crew selection might be?? Also who thinks Pam Melroy will get another command??
Interesting Steve Lindsey Quote: “One of my objectives is to get everyone in the office flown by 2010,” Lindsey said. “And my current projection is we’re going to be easily able to do that.”
See full article at: http://www.space.com/news/080916-nasa50-spacecorps-future.html
That essentially confirms that Caldiero and Cagle won't be flying.
That essentially confirms that Caldiero and Cagle won't be flying.
Do we need a confirmation about that?
That essentially confirms that Caldiero and Cagle won't be flying.
Do we need a confirmation about that?
No.
I ask you if Naoko Yamazaki (Japan) is in line for a seat on the Shuttle, for one of the 2010 flights.
Are there any rules on the number of rookies on a particular flight, in terms of mission complexity etc?No. Because there are no rules and no logic. You keep asking and the answer is always the same
Any educated guesses on the flight crew for STS-130?
The only info for STS-130 is that there will be an Italian astronaut from ESA.
Do you think that the election of Barack Obama could change the situation of Yvonne Cagle and allow her to fly in space ?
Any educated guesses on the flight crew for STS-130?
Any educated guesses on the flight crew for STS-130?
CDR will most likely be Zamka.
Any educated guesses on the flight crew for STS-130?
CDR will most likely be Zamka.
PLT will probably be either Dutton or Virts. They're the only two unflown pilots who aren't currently assigned to an upcoming flight. Although, I could see Garan getting a slot since he flew as an MS on STS-124. But those are just my $.02.
Garan won't get turned around that quickly.
My 130/131 CDR/PLT picks are Zamka/Virts and Poindexter/Dutton.
Do you think that the election of Barack Obama could change the situation of Yvonne Cagle and allow her to fly in space ?
Any educated guesses on the flight crew for STS-130?
CDR will most likely be Zamka.
PLT will probably be either Dutton or Virts. They're the only two unflown pilots who aren't currently assigned to an upcoming flight. Although, I could see Garan getting a slot since he flew as an MS on STS-124. But those are just my $.02.
Garan won't get turned around that quickly.
My 130/131 CDR/PLT picks are Zamka/Virts and Poindexter/Dutton.
Garan won't get turned around that quickly.
My 130/131 CDR/PLT picks are Zamka/Virts and Poindexter/Dutton.
Never said I thought Garan was the likely choice ;) But yes, I think Virts and Dutton are the most likely picks for the flight. I guess they won't recycle any pilots until 132/133.
Any educated guesses on the flight crew for STS-130?
CDR will most likely be Zamka.
PLT will probably be either Dutton or Virts. They're the only two unflown pilots who aren't currently assigned to an upcoming flight. Although, I could see Garan getting a slot since he flew as an MS on STS-124. But those are just my $.02.
Garan won't get turned around that quickly.
My 130/131 CDR/PLT picks are Zamka/Virts and Poindexter/Dutton.
I remember Steve Nagle flying as MS on STS 51 G in June 1985 and flying as PLT on 61 A in November of the same year...just 5 months later.
The biggest name missing is Jim Kelly. He's long overdue for CDR assignment. Some say he's been involved with Orion, but isn't that too far into the future? Has he taken himself out of consideration, or are there other reasons why he hasn't flown since his second PLT slot on 114?
That's correct. Lindsey has stated his goal is to get everyone in the office assigned by 131.
The biggest name missing is Jim Kelly. He's long overdue for CDR assignment. Some say he's been involved with Orion, but isn't that too far into the future? Has he taken himself out of consideration, or are there other reasons why he hasn't flown since his second PLT slot on 114?
He's been highly involved with Orion and its development. His name is probably the first you'll think of when you wonder who will be flying on Orion. It's not a stretch to think he'd give up a CDR slot to reserve a seat on Orion in advance.
Has a reason been stated as to why Cagle hasn't received a flight assignment?
I don't believe so.
I agree with Michael's astute perception--that Orion is way too far off and that any worthy test pilot/astronaut type would not pass up a CDR spot for what is unpredictable many years down the road. When picked the goal of every pilot is to fly, and to fly as a CDR. A more pointed question is: has Jim Kelly somehow fallen out of graces with the powers that be? Has something happened or has he done something which cost him an assignment? Everything I've read indicates he performed well on his two PLT flights and has not done anything to adversely affect his position. Isn't Chief of the Capcom Branch a favorable assignment, one that would normally lead to being named to a crew?
Look for all we know about this situation, Jim Kelly may be the next surprise CDR assignment, there's up to 5 flights left.
Not agreeing entirely with that. If they fly STS-134, think the CDR/PLT assignments will go something like this:
STS-130: Zamka/Virts, Dutton as MS
STS-131: Poindexter/Garan
STS-132: Melroy/Bresnick
STS-133: Frick/Dutton
STS-134: Lindsey/Ham
Who will be 'next up' for a CDR slot from STS-132? I was under the impression that Johnson (with Gorie et al) will be busy until May 2009 providing STS-400 support, so presumably he can't start CDR Upgrade until he is 'stood down' from that mission?
So can we expect Melroy, Frick or Ham on STS-132?
Who will be 'next up' for a CDR slot from STS-132? I was under the impression that Johnson (with Gorie et al) will be busy until May 2009 providing STS-400 support, so presumably he can't start CDR Upgrade until he is 'stood down' from that mission?
So can we expect Melroy, Frick or Ham on STS-132?
I'm not going to speculate on 132 or whatever, but I will note that Box Johnson could very easily start CDR upgrade training -- if he hasn't already. Note that he would have been "trained" for STS-400 by early October.... he faces six months of refresher training, which should hardly keep him so busy he can't get ready for his next assignment.
Michael Cassutt
I think they would probably just postpone the launch or bring in an alternate with up-to-date experience on a similar mission.
A few examples:
* STS-33 was postponed by three months when Dave Griggs was killed, providing extra training time for his replacement, John Blaha.
* John Creighton came down with a cold a few days before the STS-36 launch in February 1990...and the flight was postponed until he was recovered. [...]
* I may be mistaken, but I think STS-42 was postponed from 1991 until 1992 when Sonny Carter was killed. [snip]
does this mean every unflown astro on flight status now has an assignment?The exception would be Satoshi Furukawa, who is currently the backup to Soichi Noguchi on Expedition 22/23. That should eventually roll to a primary assignment.
does anyone think there is a chance of a Russian flying on STS 132, which is scheduled to deliver the MRM?
does anyone think there is a chance of a Russian flying on STS 132, which is scheduled to deliver the MRM?
There is no chance. It is obviously.
does anyone think there is a chance of a Russian flying on STS 132, which is scheduled to deliver the MRM?
There is no chance. It is obviously.
How is it obvious?
I only ask because each ISS Shuttle flight that had a main task related to the Russian end of the station, carried up at least one cosmonaut: STS 96 (the Strela Crane was launched), STS 101 and 106 (outfitting of Zarya and Zvezda).
I only ask because each ISS Shuttle flight that had a main task related to the Russian end of the station, carried up at least one cosmonaut: STS 96 (the Strela Crane was launched), STS 101 and 106 (outfitting of Zarya and Zvezda).
All three interim assembly flights took place prior to the arrival of the Shepherd-Gidzenko-Krikalev crew. With 132, Russian expedition crew members will already be aboard ISS -- why would it be necessary to bring an extra cosmonaut there for 8-9 days?
Michael Cassutt
Lonchakov was on STS-100I only ask because each ISS Shuttle flight that had a main task related to the Russian end of the station, carried up at least one cosmonaut: STS 96 (the Strela Crane was launched), STS 101 and 106 (outfitting of Zarya and Zvezda).
All three interim assembly flights took place prior to the arrival of the Shepherd-Gidzenko-Krikalev crew. With 132, Russian expedition crew members will already be aboard ISS -- why would it be necessary to bring an extra cosmonaut there for 8-9 days?
Michael Cassutt
They did with Lonchakov on STS-101.
How is it obvious?
How is it obvious?
There is no need at all to pay US for useless flight of the Russian on STS-132. All tasks related to MRM-1 can be easily done by US astronauts. I hope it is more understandable now.
I know this may not be the right thread, but is there anyway to find out who's doing the EVA's on the future flights that have been assigned crews?Ben E is correct, with the addition of Stott performing EVA 3 with Olivas on 128. When the EVA's are known, anik will post them in this thread:
Sorry I'm not good with English language...
I only wanted to say, that (I think) is better to wait, and flight as PLT.
It's only my oppinion.
Seems to me like it was a numbers game with Dutton and Bresnik. There was a goal by the Astronaut Office to have everyone fly by STS-131. If so, considering the PLT numbers, that means flying one of them as an MS.
I don't see why they couldn't have held back on assigning Bresnik until STS 132
I also suppose there is a worry that a new President could just pull the plug on those two, even if the flight hardware has been built, like Apollo 18 and 19.
Any predictions on who the sts 132 crew might be?
My vote for sts 132 CMD is (Pam Melroy) and PLT (Ken Ham),and i will go ahead and predict some of the mission specialists,(Stan Love),(Al Drew),(Piers Sellers),(Dan Burbank),and(Anna Fisher).
Is there any information that Garan has switched gears towards training for an expedition?
JAXA has announced yesterday (http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2008/12/20081217_iss_j.html) Satoshi Furukawa will perform six-month spaceflight on ISS since spring of 2011.
That should be everyone now! All astros on flight status have flown or have an assignment. Great job!
JAXA has announced yesterday (http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2008/12/20081217_iss_j.html) Satoshi Furukawa will perform six-month spaceflight on ISS since spring of 2011
About Jim Kelly, now JSC Astronaut Biographies web page reports him in this position:
Management - Chief, Astronaut Office CAPCOM Branch
In fact, Kelly has been chief of the capcom branch for at least a couple of years.
In fact, Kelly has been chief of the capcom branch for at least a couple of years.
As noted by Michael in the 11/01/08 reply (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=740.msg328732#msg328732) to this thread (as quoted above), Kelly has been chief of the capcom branch for some time.
According to JSC, Astronaut Biographies Web Page, now Stephen Frick has taken a Management position into the Constellation Program.
According to JSC, Astronaut Biographies Web Page, now Stephen Frick has taken a Management position into the Constellation Program.
According to the same source Lee Morin has taken a Management position in the Astronaut office.
How many crew members will 132 and 133 have? Have they done crew-size planning yet?
Is there a chance Scott Parazynski or Mike Foale will get assigned to one of the last three shuttle missions?I doubt Mike Foale will get another assignment. He's already had six trips to space including two long-duration missions. If he were to get another trip, I would expect it would be a long-duration mission.
Is there a chance Scott Parazynski or Mike Foale will get assigned to one of the last three shuttle missions?Parazynski's also a long shot, since he's already flown 4 flights, and their seems to be an unspoken 4-flight max rule post Columbia, may be wrong though
Is there a chance Scott Parazynski or Mike Foale will get assigned to one of the last three shuttle missions?Parazynski's also a long shot, since he's already flown 4 flights, and their seems to be an unspoken 4-flight max rule post Columbia, may be wrong though
please comment and critique
STS-132 STS-133 STS-134
CDR: Greg Johnson CDR: Pam Melroy CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Ron Garan PLT: Ken Ham PLT: Eric Boe
I’d like to see Peggy WHITSON in one of the latest shuttle flights. She has flied twice but only in Soyuz.
Just for tasting a smooth landing… ;)
please comment and critique
STS-132 STS-133 STS-134
CDR: Greg Johnson CDR: Pam Melroy CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Ron Garan PLT: Ken Ham PLT: Eric Boe
I think they never repeat the same pair (Ferguson-Boe) of CDR/PLT, except for the STS83 / STS94 reflight.
I’d like to see Peggy WHITSON in one of the latest shuttle flights. She has flied twice but only in Soyuz.
Just for tasting a smooth landing… ;)
Tom Henricks and Kevin Kregel flew as a repeat commander/pilot pairing (STS-70 and STS-78?) I think this was a deliberate exercise to see whether such an approach could improve flight crew efficiency or something. It was never adopted though.
These are very rough predictions and are just for fun, worried about too much EVA experience on some flights, please comment and critique
STS-132 STS-133 STS-134
CDR: Greg Johnson CDR: Pam Melroy CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Ron Garan PLT: Ken Ham PLT: Eric Boe
MS: Stan Love MS: Steve Bowen MS: Rex Walheim
MS: Anna Fisher MS: Karen Nyberg MS: Peggy Whitson
MS: Al Drew MS: Mike Fossum MS: Shane Kimbrough
MS: Garrett Reisman MS: Dan Tani MS: Piers Sellers
MS: Janet Kavandi MS: Roberto Vittori MS: Greg Chamitoff
Think this is relatively accurate, not sure about Ron Garan because of Expedition rumors, and wouldn't be surprised to see Mark Kelly on STS-134 if it flies, since Scott Kelly would be starting his Expedition tour around that time period.
I doubt Janet Kavandi will get another flight considering she is in management.These are very rough predictions and are just for fun, worried about too much EVA experience on some flights, please comment and critique
STS-132 STS-133 STS-134
CDR: Greg Johnson CDR: Pam Melroy CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Ron Garan PLT: Ken Ham PLT: Eric Boe
MS: Stan Love MS: Steve Bowen MS: Rex Walheim
MS: Anna Fisher MS: Karen Nyberg MS: Peggy Whitson
MS: Al Drew MS: Mike Fossum MS: Shane Kimbrough
MS: Garrett Reisman MS: Dan Tani MS: Piers Sellers
MS: Janet Kavandi MS: Roberto Vittori MS: Greg Chamitoff
Think this is relatively accurate, not sure about Ron Garan because of Expedition rumors, and wouldn't be surprised to see Mark Kelly on STS-134 if it flies, since Scott Kelly would be starting his Expedition tour around that time period.
STS-132 Crew Assignments:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/atlantis-ready-launch-countdown-sts-132-crew-assigned/
STS-132 Crew Assignments:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/atlantis-ready-launch-countdown-sts-132-crew-assigned/
Nobody has done this for awhile so I guess I will try and start it: Two possible shuttle flights left (STS-133 and STS-134), whose the crew? Think it will be some combination of this:
Lee Archambault - CDR
Ron Garan - PLT - don't believe he's been officially assigned to an ISS crew yet
Jim Kelly - CDR
Lee Archambault - CDR
Ron Garan - PLT - don't believe he's been officially assigned to an ISS crew yet
Jim Kelly - CDR
Lee Archambault - CDR
Ron Garan - PLT - don't believe he's been officially assigned to an ISS crew yet
Jim Kelly - CDR
If Garan has an "official" (that is, announced) backup ISS assignment, he has a prime assignment, too. (And it's Exp 27.) Anyone going into the ISS training flow (which is still two years or more) is there to fly.
(This is for NASA astronauts. Chris Hadfield was an Exp 20 backup and has no official prime crew assignment yet.)
Michael Cassutt
That was then. Now, 'backup' crewmembers are folks in training for future increments. As Michael said - "Anyone going into the ISS training flow (which is still two years or more) is there to fly."Lee Archambault - CDR
Ron Garan - PLT - don't believe he's been officially assigned to an ISS crew yet
Jim Kelly - CDR
If Garan has an "official" (that is, announced) backup ISS assignment, he has a prime assignment, too. (And it's Exp 27.) Anyone going into the ISS training flow (which is still two years or more) is there to fly.
(This is for NASA astronauts. Chris Hadfield was an Exp 20 backup and has no official prime crew assignment yet.)
Michael Cassutt
Michael...looking over previous back-up assignments I noticed that ISS 4 back-up crew member Steve Robinson was never assigned as a prime crew member for an ISS crew.
Roberto Vittori will return to NASA JSC by January 5, 2009.
He will train for a probable future Shutte flight.
Vittori has told this a few days ago, at Naples, Italy.
Roberto Vittori will return to NASA JSC by January 5, 2009.
He will train for a probable future Shutte flight.
Vittori has told this a few days ago, at Naples, Italy.
Roberto Vittori will fly a Shuttle mission as an ASI astronaut, yes he is an ESA astronaut but he will fly for the Italian Space Agency... That is what I heard two days ago in Paris...the rumor is that he will fly STS-130...
So is it possible that he will be added to the STS-130 crew to bring Node-3 up ??
Or will he fly on 133 or 134 ??
According to www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/ Stefanyshyn-Piper has retired from NASA.
NASA may not be in too big of a hurry to assign the 133 and 134 crews. Under all three of the Sally Ride options proposed to the Augustine Commission, the two flights could possibly be two years away.I imagine they'll be planning for the 'what is' instead of the 'what if'. There is precedent for that - Lindsey wanted to ensure that all rookies flew by 131 seeing at that time 132 and 133 were still officially listed as contingency flights even though it looked likely that they would fly.
Can anybody tell me where to find the list of the management astronauts?
Today the Dutch newspaper "Telegraaf" reports that Andre Kuipers will fly in space again. launch with a Soyuz in december 2011:
Roberto Vittori (I) is awaiting confirmation of his assignment to an ASI-owned flight opportunity on board the NASA Shuttle, possibly in the second half of 2010.
Today the Dutch newspaper "Telegraaf" reports that Andre Kuipers will fly in space again. launch with a Soyuz in december 2011:And from this thread:
Today the Dutch newspaper "Telegraaf" reports that Andre Kuipers will fly in space again. launch with a Soyuz in december 2011:And from this thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=4962.0
it looks like Don Pettit will be his crewmate on Expedition 30/31.
Mike Fossum is assigned to Expedition 28/29.
esa waking up ;)
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMDZZUHYXF_index_0.html
Surely, if ISS expedition training requires at least 2 years, Gerst won't be available for the German slot. If Nespoli flies in 2010 and Kuipers in 2011, then the German will go in ?2012? That must mean Schlegel, as Gerst might not be ready by then?
In view of the fact that there are (so far) only one or two more CDR/PLT slots available for Shuttle, are there any Shuttle pilots (other than Garan) under consideration for ISS expeditions?
Surely, if ISS expedition training requires at least 2 years, Gerst won't be available for the German slot. If Nespoli flies in 2010 and Kuipers in 2011, then the German will go in ?2012? That must mean Schlegel, as Gerst might not be ready by then?
Are there any more Canadians scheduled to fly? I assume that Hadfield is next in line for an expedition.
Satoshi Furukawa has already been assigned to Expedition 28/29 as a flight engineer
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2008/12/20081217_iss_j.html
Why was Garan the flight engineer when he was trained as a pilot?
STS-134
CDR: Gregory H. Johnson
PLT: Eric A. Boe
MS: Daniel C. Burbank
MS: Daniel M. Tani
MS: Gregory E. Chamitoff
MS: Michael T. Good
Here are my guesses:
STS-134:
CDR:Greg H. Johnson
PLT:Eric Boe
MS1:Dan Burbank
MS2:Megan McArthur
MS3:Stan Love
MS4:Shane Kimbrough
MS5:Rex Walheim
Other possibilities are:Greg Chamitoff,Peggy Whitson,Mike Good,Drew Feustal,and Roberto Vittori.
Why was Garan the flight engineer when he was trained as a pilot?
Lindsey's goal was to get all shuttle astronauts assigned by STS-131 because at the time 134 didn't exist and 132/133 were "contingency" logistics flights that weren't guaranteed to happen. There were more pilots than PLT slots. So he offered MS2 slots to PLTs and Garan accepted.
Wait you know, I have to know if you know who it is, don't mean to sound annoying, but i gotta to know
STS-134
CDR: Greg H. Johnson
PLT: Doug Hurley
MS1: Mike Good
MS2: Peggy Whitson
MS3: Drew Feustel
MS4: Roberto Vittori
STS-133
CDR: Mark Kelly
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS1: Mike Gernhardt
MS2: Anna Fisher
MS3: Shane Kimbrough
Please respond ASAP
Why was Garan the flight engineer when he was trained as a pilot?
Lindsey's goal was to get all shuttle astronauts assigned by STS-131 because at the time 134 didn't exist and 132/133 were "contingency" logistics flights that weren't guaranteed to happen. There were more pilots than PLT slots. So he offered MS2 slots to PLTs and Garan accepted.
Wait you know, I have to know if you know who it is, don't mean to sound annoying, but i gotta to know
STS-134
CDR: Greg H. Johnson
PLT: Doug Hurley
MS1: Mike Good
MS2: Peggy Whitson
MS3: Drew Feustel
MS4: Roberto Vittori
STS-133
CDR: Mark Kelly
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS1: Mike Gernhardt
MS2: Anna Fisher
MS3: Shane Kimbrough
Please respond ASAP
We don't know yet, but this is a possibility. Doubtfully will we see Mike Gernhardt because he has 4 flights logged as is. Your STS-134 manifest is an entirely possible option, but Morin or Walheim could be part of that lineup and these two crews could be intermingled (ie. Good/Whitsen/Kimbrough/Fisher or some other combination). The pilot for STS-134 theoretically could be Barry Wilmore, but likely it'll be Doug.
Why was Garan the flight engineer when he was trained as a pilot?
Lindsey's goal was to get all shuttle astronauts assigned by STS-131 because at the time 134 didn't exist and 132/133 were "contingency" logistics flights that weren't guaranteed to happen. There were more pilots than PLT slots. So he offered MS2 slots to PLTs and Garan accepted.
Which other PLT's were asked, any idea? (Besides Bresnik)
OK, that's enough teasing for now.
One more clue: There is only one crewmember on 134 that *nobody* here guessed recently (either explicitly for 134, or for 133 or "other possibilities").
Jorge's hinting that he knows, forgot to tag his quote to the post, sorry
He work for NASA?
OK, that's enough teasing for now.Oh geez, I'll bite. My guess for 134:
One more clue: There is only one crewmember on 134 that *nobody* here guessed recently (either explicitly for 134, or for 133 or "other possibilities").
We don't know yet, but this is a possibility. Doubtfully will we see Mike Gernhardt because he has 4 flights logged as is.
Can somebody explain to me why so many people in this thread think Anna Fisher´s going to fly?
We don't know yet, but this is a possibility. Doubtfully will we see Mike Gernhardt because he has 4 flights logged as is.
Two astronauts did manage to slip past the "five flight" rule in recent history: Scott Parazynski and John Grunsfeld. With everyone assigned now, that rule could be out the window.
We don't know yet, but this is a possibility. Doubtfully will we see Mike Gernhardt because he has 4 flights logged as is.
Two astronauts did manage to slip past the "five flight" rule in recent history: Scott Parazynski and John Grunsfeld. With everyone assigned now, that rule could be out the window.
Then that seat could be given to Andy Thomas, as well, no?
One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew. Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.
One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew. Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.
Maybe the twin brother thing could happen, but the married couple thing? Never. It's against policy and for good reason. NASA would forever be dealing with questions and "theories" about the "200 Mile High Club". They still have to deny that silly urban legend about STS-75 that was started 8 years *before* the flight even flew with an all-male crew.
One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew. Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.
Maybe the twin brother thing could happen, but the married couple thing? Never. It's against policy and for good reason. NASA would forever be dealing with questions and "theories" about the "200 Mile High Club". They still have to deny that silly urban legend about STS-75 that was started 8 years *before* the flight even flew with an all-male crew.
Married couple has flown before, however they weren't together at the time the crew was selected. STS-47, Jan Davis and Mark Lee: sidenote, airlock and Spacelab flight, plenty of spaces with potential for "privacy", haha
What was the "silly urban legend about STS-75"?
One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew. Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.
Maybe the twin brother thing could happen, but the married couple thing? Never. It's against policy and for good reason. NASA would forever be dealing with questions and "theories" about the "200 Mile High Club". They still have to deny that silly urban legend about STS-75 that was started 8 years *before* the flight even flew with an all-male crew.
Married couple has flown before, however they weren't together at the time the crew was selected. STS-47, Jan Davis and Mark Lee: sidenote, airlock and Spacelab flight, plenty of spaces with potential for "privacy", haha
Nope, dual shift crew so there were always people working around those spaces. And the couple was on opposite shifts.
Thanks, I was wondering what STS-75 might have to do with married couples in space, given that it was an all-male mission. Some people have way too much free time...What was the "silly urban legend about STS-75"?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Document_12-571-3570
What was the "silly urban legend about STS-75"?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Document_12-571-3570
One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew. Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.
Maybe the twin brother thing could happen, but the married couple thing? Never. It's against policy and for good reason. NASA would forever be dealing with questions and "theories" about the "200 Mile High Club". They still have to deny that silly urban legend about STS-75 that was started 8 years *before* the flight even flew with an all-male crew.
Married couple has flown before, however they weren't together at the time the crew was selected. STS-47, Jan Davis and Mark Lee: sidenote, airlock and Spacelab flight, plenty of spaces with potential for "privacy", haha
Nope, dual shift crew so there were always people working around those spaces. And the couple was on opposite shifts.
Wasn't that also a unique case: namely, Mark Lee and Jan Davis got hitched during training? They weren't assigned to the flight as a married couple.
Any more word on the STS-133 crew?
We don't know yet, but this is a possibility. Doubtfully will we see Mike Gernhardt because he has 4 flights logged as is.
Two astronauts did manage to slip past the "five flight" rule in recent history: Scott Parazynski and John Grunsfeld. With everyone assigned now, that rule could be out the window.
Then that seat could be given to Andy Thomas, as well, no?
One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew. Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.
OK, that's enough teasing for now.
One more clue: There is only one crewmember on 134 that *nobody* here guessed recently (either explicitly for 134, or for 133 or "other possibilities").
Yup, I think green013 mentioned that above.
Any more word on the STS-133 crew?
No.
There is only one crewmember on 134 that *nobody* here guessed recently (either explicitly for 134, or for 133 or "other possibilities").
There is only one crewmember on 134 that *nobody* here guessed recently (either explicitly for 134, or for 133 or "other possibilities").
Sunita Williams?
Here's my guess for the 134 crew…
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori
Here's my guess for the 134 crew…
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori
Aw, you cheated... :)
If Ender and/or Jorge say it is, then it is.Here's my guess for the 134 crew…
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori
Aw, you cheated... :)
Wait....these are real?
Here's my guess for the 134 crew…
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori
Aw, you cheated... :)
Jorge,
So Ham has not only skipped over Johnson for a second flight, but Ham also gets a command and Johnson stays a PLT? Was this Johnson's choice - can't imagine a PLT would want to NOT upgrade to CDR.
Jorge,
So Ham has not only skipped over Johnson for a second flight, but Ham also gets a command and Johnson stays a PLT? Was this Johnson's choice - can't imagine a PLT would want to NOT upgrade to CDR.
Ooops.
I like being correct.Here's my guess for the 134 crew…
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori
Aw, you cheated... :)
I think for STS-134 Eric Boe will get Command of.
For STS-133 I think Doug Hurley or Ray J Johnson will get that one.
Why? It seems that the PLT's from almost every mission starting with 115 got assigned with a CDR mission starting with STS-124.
Mark Kelly was PLT on 121, CDR on 124.
Christopher Ferguson was PLT on 115, CDR on 126
Mark Polansky was CDR on 116, CDR on 127 But I think Bill Oefelein would have commanded 127 if wasn't involved in that love triangle thing.
Lee Archambault was PLT on 117, CDR on 119.
Charles Hobaugh was PLT on 118, going to be CDR on 129.
George Zamka was PLT on 120, going to be CDR on 130.
Alan Poindexter was PLT on 122, going to be CDR on 131
Skipped over 123 it seems,
Ken Ham was PLT on 124, going to be CDR on 132.
So that means it wouldn't be surprising to see Eric Boe CDR of 134,
that means either Ray J Johnson or Doug Hurley will get the last flight. 'Course this is all just speculation but I found the slight pattern interesting.
What's the chance for Christer Fuglesang to stay for 6 months on ISS?
Here's my guess for the 134 crew…did you know all along?
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori
I was also informed that the spacewalkers from the Hubble mission have a good chance on getting on the last two shuttle flights. I think Mike Good will be on STS-133 and I think Chris Ferguson and Greg"RayJ" Johnson might be the pilot. I could be wrong, but??It probably will be Mike Good. Mike Massimino could fit this description, but that would be his 3rd flight and Good could have the 2nd flight in this event of his career. We may see both, but I doubt it. Obviously, as far as I'm concerned, Grunsfeld is out in terms of the mission specialist perspective.
Peggy's first flight to the ISS was up and down on Shuttle.
MSP 2/FE: Peggy Whitson (3rd flight; 1st on shuttle)
This is what I know...
Mike Good is replacing Karen Nyberg as MS-2 on STS-132 due to personal reasons which I will not mention as I don't know if they are public knowledge yet.
STS-134 crew looks like this from what I saw in an email today...
CDR -Mark Kelly
PLT -Greg Johnson
MS-1 Mike Fincke
MS-2 Greg Chamitoff
MS-3 Roberto Vittori
MS-4 Drew Feustel
Is Karen Nyberg married to Doug Hurley, heard that somewhere, not sure if it's true or not
Surely, if ISS expedition training requires at least 2 years, Gerst won't be available for the German slot. If Nespoli flies in 2010 and Kuipers in 2011, then the German will go in ?2012? That must mean Schlegel, as Gerst might not be ready by then?
The Germans were pushing very hard to get the "Kuipers" slot in 2011... I think they wanted Schlegel to fly first becouse of his age...
Mike Good is replacing Karen Nyberg as MS-2 on STS-132 due to personal reasons which I will not mention as I don't know if they are public knowledge yet.
Is Karen Nyberg married to Doug Hurley, heard that somewhere, not sure if it's true or not
I was hoping that Greg'Ray J" Johnson would get the last command of the shuttle program but I was told that it is basically too late for him to get the command. I think he might get the last pilot slot for STS-133. STS-133 will be the last flight of the shuttle program and I think it will be an all Navy pilot crew(commander and pilot) just like STS-1 was an all Navy pilot crew. I think Mike Good has a good chance as well as some others for the mission specalist slots. It will be a crew of five.
Any idea about the crew of STS-335 ? Will they assign a specific crew, or will they take a subset of a previous crew, such as STS-132 or STS-134 ?
MS2: Peggy Whitson (3rd flight; 1st on shuttle)
MS3: Rex Walheim (3rd flight; 1st on shuttle)
MS2: Peggy Whitson (3rd flight; 1st on shuttle)
MS3: Rex Walheim (3rd flight; 1st on shuttle)
Huh? Whitson flew on the shuttle and Walheim flew on the shuttle. What makes You think they have not yet?
____________________________________________________________
Speaking of Nick Patrick, why hasn't he gotten a second flight?
____________________________________________________________
Speaking of Nick Patrick, why hasn't he gotten a second flight?
Nick Patrick is assigned to STS-130.
Here's my guess for the 134 crew…did you know all along?
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori
Knowing and being well informed are not the same in my book. I didn't know for a long period of time. I suspect Jorge knew before I did.Here's my guess for the 134 crew…did you know all along?
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori
What´s up with an assignment of Frank Caldeiro? Selected in 1996.
What´s up with an assignment of Frank Caldeiro? Selected in 1996.
What´s up with an assignment of Frank Caldeiro? Selected in 1996.
If you look back through the thread, you'll find it asserted that Caldeiro and Yvonne Cagle's fate have been repeatedly discussed on the forums, but a search for Caldiero or Cagle doesn't turn it up. Perhaps it's on the L2 forums; I don't have access.
I can only speculate:
1. Cagle and Caldiero are always lumped together.
2. The general opinion seems to be that neither will ever fly.
3. No one wants to talk about it.
4. A book of dubious origin links Cagle to a minor scandal: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=7771.msg134206 (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=7771.msg134206)
So it seems that both are in the doghouse, and beyond a Dave-Wolf-style redemption. I've seen no suggestion that their fates are connected in any way.
...come to think on it, perhaps the reason I cannot find the relevant posts is that they were deleted, out of concern for privacy. That doesn't seem to make much sense, since it only leads to speculation, but again, I don't know the details.
By "clumped together" do you mean "often associated" (not correcting your word choice just I wanted to see what you meant).
By Dave-Wolf-Style, how do you mean?Dave Wolf was implicated in a scandal, then arrested for public intoxication. From what I've read, he was pretty blameless on both counts, just in the wrong place in the wrong time. A cloud settled over him.
Lastly, you have no details on Frank C.?
Awful for Karen Nyberg
Dan Burbank is assigned to Expedition 29/30.
Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank
I think this is possible, at least judging by what NASA said about Karen Nyberg that she might get assigned to another missions. Orion or 133.
Commander: Steven W. Lindsey
Pilot: Eric A. Boe
Mission Specialist 1: Karen Nyberg (if her condition isn't to serious)
Mission Specialist 2: Thomas Marshburn
Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank
I think this is possible, at least judging by what NASA said about Karen Nyberg that she might get assigned to another missions. Orion or 133.
Commander: Steven W. Lindsey
Pilot: Eric A. Boe
Mission Specialist 1: Karen Nyberg (if her condition isn't to serious)
Mission Specialist 2: Thomas Marshburn
Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank
How can Lindsey serve as a commander because he's not working directly as an astronaut, is he? Also, since he makes the crews, wouldn't it be a bit weird to assign yourself?
I think this is possible, at least judging by what NASA said about Karen Nyberg that she might get assigned to another missions. Orion or 133.
Commander: Steven W. Lindsey
Pilot: Eric A. Boe
Mission Specialist 1: Karen Nyberg (if her condition isn't to serious)
Mission Specialist 2: Thomas Marshburn
Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank
How can Lindsey serve as a commander because he's not working directly as an astronaut, is he? Also, since he makes the crews, wouldn't it be a bit weird to assign yourself?
Lindsey could easily assign himself as commander for a mission to be launched a year from now. Plenty of time to get ready. He's been chief astronaut for three years, and that is close to the maximum tour. He could be up for a job change.
"Weird to assign yourself"? You ought to do more research in this subject.
Michael Cassutt
I think this is possible, at least judging by what NASA said about Karen Nyberg that she might get assigned to another missions. Orion or 133.
Commander: Steven W. Lindsey
Pilot: Eric A. Boe
Mission Specialist 1: Karen Nyberg (if her condition isn't to serious)
Mission Specialist 2: Thomas Marshburn
Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank
How can Lindsey serve as a commander because he's not working directly as an astronaut, is he? Also, since he makes the crews, wouldn't it be a bit weird to assign yourself?
Lindsey could easily assign himself as commander for a mission to be launched a year from now. Plenty of time to get ready. He's been chief astronaut for three years, and that is close to the maximum tour. He could be up for a job change.
"Weird to assign yourself"? You ought to do more research in this subject.
Michael Cassutt
That's not entirely what I meant. I am saying would he actually do that? I'm not saying that he can't but I'm just saying that with all of the speculation (in and out of NASA) wouldn't it be awkward in this situation?
I think this is possible, at least judging by what NASA said about Karen Nyberg that she might get assigned to another missions. Orion or 133.
Commander: Steven W. Lindsey
Pilot: Eric A. Boe
Mission Specialist 1: Karen Nyberg (if her condition isn't to serious)
Mission Specialist 2: Thomas Marshburn
Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank
How can Lindsey serve as a commander because he's not working directly as an astronaut, is he? Also, since he makes the crews, wouldn't it be a bit weird to assign yourself?
Lindsey could easily assign himself as commander for a mission to be launched a year from now. Plenty of time to get ready. He's been chief astronaut for three years, and that is close to the maximum tour. He could be up for a job change.
"Weird to assign yourself"? You ought to do more research in this subject.
Michael Cassutt
That's not entirely what I meant. I am saying would he actually do that? I'm not saying that he can't but I'm just saying that with all of the speculation (in and out of NASA) wouldn't it be awkward in this situation?
What speculation?
Why would it be more awkward for Lindsey than it was for Deke Slayton, John Young, Dan Brandenstein, Hoot Gibson, Bob Cabana, and Ken Cockrell? (And that's probably not even a complete list of chief astronauts (FCOD chief in Slayton's case) who named themselves to flights at the end of their tenure as chief.)
I think it's highly *unlikely* he'll name himself, but it's not rare for it to happen.
Awful for Karen Nyberg
everyone is guessing that her temporary condition is bad, but for all we know she could be pregnant, she's entitled to her privacy
I think this is possible, at least judging by what NASA said about Karen Nyberg that she might get assigned to another missions. Orion or 133.
Commander: Steven W. Lindsey
Pilot: Eric A. Boe
Mission Specialist 1: Karen Nyberg (if her condition isn't to serious)
Mission Specialist 2: Thomas Marshburn
Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank
How can Lindsey serve as a commander because he's not working directly as an astronaut, is he? Also, since he makes the crews, wouldn't it be a bit weird to assign yourself?
Lindsey could easily assign himself as commander for a mission to be launched a year from now. Plenty of time to get ready. He's been chief astronaut for three years, and that is close to the maximum tour. He could be up for a job change.
"Weird to assign yourself"? You ought to do more research in this subject.
Michael Cassutt
That's not entirely what I meant. I am saying would he actually do that? I'm not saying that he can't but I'm just saying that with all of the speculation (in and out of NASA) wouldn't it be awkward in this situation?
What speculation?
Why would it be more awkward for Lindsey than it was for Deke Slayton, John Young, Dan Brandenstein, Hoot Gibson, Bob Cabana, and Ken Cockrell? (And that's probably not even a complete list of chief astronauts (FCOD chief in Slayton's case) who named themselves to flights at the end of their tenure as chief.)
I think it's highly *unlikely* he'll name himself, but it's not rare for it to happen.
I was informed that Anna Fisher will not probably get another flight on the shuttle. I could be wrong. The STS-133 commander will be a shuttle veteran commander, but not sure who? Jim Kelly is waiting for the Orion flights from what I heard from other members.
So I can understand people want to play this game one last time.
If they were assigned together, it would surely bring a lot of press coverage - especially if it was the final Shuttle flight.
Guys, guys -- isn't this getting out of control?
;)
My guess:
CDR: Youg
PLT: Hurley
MS1: Nyberg
MS2: Cagle
MS3: Woodward
MS4: Caldiero
Sorry, I know: I am a party pooper ...
Seriously, You could permute all the names that are still in the game and come up with endless possibilities on who will be on the final shuttle -- but is this still fun? I guess the final crew will not look ike anything posted here.
Well, whoever it's gonna be: I hope for Fisher! I really do! Hoping is allowed, or is it not?
Edit: Now if Ender0319 or Jorge make a posting and claim that two or three of the names are right on the money, then I gonna eat my hat. Or watch a Star Trek marathon ...
One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew. Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.
Maybe the twin brother thing could happen, but the married couple thing? Never. It's against policy and for good reason. NASA would forever be dealing with questions and "theories" about the "200 Mile High Club". They still have to deny that silly urban legend about STS-75 that was started 8 years *before* the flight even flew with an all-male crew.
Married couple has flown before, however they weren't together at the time the crew was selected. STS-47, Jan Davis and Mark Lee: sidenote, airlock and Spacelab flight, plenty of spaces with potential for "privacy", haha
Nope, dual shift crew so there were always people working around those spaces. And the couple was on opposite shifts.
Wasn't that also a unique case: namely, Mark Lee and Jan Davis got hitched during training? They weren't assigned to the flight as a married couple.
Also, who do you mean for CDR?
Hurley and Nyberg would not fly like this; this was actually discussed earlier in the post about Walker and Thomas (I wondered the same thing).
Mark Lee and Jan Davis were a married couple that went into space, but they got married during training, after the fact, and worked separate SPACEHAB shifts.
It's a good thought though. Don't want to kill the joy, but you're thinking logically.
Well said, Jorge. Well said.
...as there is no 'logic' to flight crew assignments, I would not be surprised to see the first Orion crew named next week!
Can I repeat a few questions about Mike Fincke - or in fact about any astronauts who go back from ISS-side to Shuttle-side training or vice-versa (eg Chamitoff, Reisman, Anderson etc).
How long does it take for an astronaut to 'decondition' (not sure if that's the right word) from a long-duration mission and be ready for reassignment to a new mission? Foale moved from Mir to HST SM-3 in about 10 months (October 1997 landing vs August 1998 assignment) and obviously Fincke has now done it in much less time. I was always under the impression that long-duration astronauts went through up to six months of physical reconditioning after long flights. Is this inaccurate or has it been relaxed?
Coupled with this, how long does it take to 're-train' (again, if that is the right term) an astronaut who has previously been up to speed on ISS/Soyuz systems and returns to train Shuttle systems as a PLT or dedicated MS? (Or vice-versa).
Finally (sorry): It might be far too early to ask, but in view of the five years or so that the early Shuttle crews trained, the first Orion assignments may come out soon. Has NASA decided how long an Orion crew training cycle will last? One year (like most STS missions)? Two to four years (like ISS expeditions)? Longer? or much shorter?
Sorry to repeat questions, and apologies if these sound juvenile and simplistic, but they've been nagging at me...
Say you were Steve Lindsey,and you could assign any active astronaut no matter how many flight they have, who would you assign to STS-133? This is who I would assign. Just for fun.
STS-133:
CMD:Dom Gorie
PLT:Greg C.Johnson
MS:Mike Foale
MS:Mike Gernhardt
MS:Anna Fisher
Say you were Steve Lindsey,and you could assign any active astronaut no matter how many flight they have, who would you assign to STS-133? This is who I would assign. Just for fun.
STS-133:
CMD:Dom Gorie
PLT:Greg C.Johnson
MS:Mike Foale
MS:Mike Gernhardt
MS:Anna Fisher
After all, I am starting to love this thread more than ever before!Also, who do you mean for CDR?
I said, Young -- and that's what I meant. But do not check: he is retired as well (at least, I think so) ...
Don't You know John Young? The Young of "Old and Crippled" fame? STS-1?
;)Hurley and Nyberg would not fly like this; this was actually discussed earlier in the post about Walker and Thomas (I wondered the same thing).
... and that's why I actually listed Hurley and Nyberg. Say, You noticed that my initial posting was intended not to be taken too seriously, didn't You? I just wanted to make a little fun of this vibrant name game.
Sorry!
:DMark Lee and Jan Davis were a married couple that went into space, but they got married during training, after the fact, and worked separate SPACEHAB shifts.
Right, but that was on Spacelab. S/HAB modules were not even flying when STS-47 was launched. Just for historical correctness ...It's a good thought though. Don't want to kill the joy, but you're thinking logically.
Me? Thinking logically? No, don't You scare me ...
:D
And now to something completely different ...Well said, Jorge. Well said.
I concur.
After all, I am starting to love this thread more than ever before!Also, who do you mean for CDR?
I said, Young -- and that's what I meant. But do not check: he is retired as well (at least, I think so) ...
Don't You know John Young? The Young of "Old and Crippled" fame? STS-1?
I'll probably get corrected for this too, but the two are conceptually similar.
I'll probably get corrected for this too, but the two are conceptually similar.
You could say that both enlarge the habitable volume available for shutte missions, so they are indeed conceptually similar. They both are non-deployable and "feed" on orbiter ressources. Spacelab however is better suited for lab functionality, while the S/HAB basically augments the middeck and aptly accomodates locker-type experiments -- and space station logistics of course.
So I see no need for corrections!
;)
Huh? This is getting off-topic ...
To the STS-133 discussion, I would like to add one thing: I really think NASA will select a crew roster just like for any other mission. Although I would love to see Fisher fly or any other old-time veteran (Young!Young!Young!), I expect this to be an ordinary crew -- if that adjective can be applied to a shuttle crew at all ...
Keep in mind: when STS-133 is assigned, it might be regarded as the final one. But politics could eventually decide to extend the program, of course. So there is no gurantee that the supposedly final crew will indeed be the last one to fly.
Just my two cents ...
I'd guess Ferguson or Archambault for CDR and Boe or Johnson for PLT.
Chief Astronauts who got assigned missions during their tenure:
Al Shepard - Apollo 14
John Young - STS 1, STS 9, STS 61-J (later canceled)
Dan Brandenstein - STS 32, STS 49
Hoot Gibson - STS 71
Bob Cabana - STS 88
Ken Cockrell - STS 98 (or was he assigned well after leaving his position?)
In the case of Shepard and Young, flight crews didn't originate with them. They originated with the FCO Director. Slayton and Abbey respectively. In "Dragonfly" its noted Brandenstein ticked many in the Astronaut Office off for giving himself STS 32 and 49, both plum assignments. When Gibson took over he tried to avoid taking STS 71, submitting it to Abbey with Steve Nagel as CDR...which was rejected.
I have a flight crew assignment question, but not pertaining to STS-133.
Why is it that Marcos Pontes never flew as a full-fledged shuttle or station astronaut (I don't count spaceflight participant status in this instance)? I think I know the obvious answer but can an expert just verify it for me?
I have a flight crew assignment question, but not pertaining to STS-133.
Why is it that Marcos Pontes never flew as a full-fledged shuttle or station astronaut (I don't count spaceflight participant status in this instance)? I think I know the obvious answer but can an expert just verify it for me?
Pontes didn't fly as a spaceflight participant, he did fly as a flight engineer on a Soyuz transfer flight, just like Pedro Duque. He was supposed to fly on the shuttle when it delivered the Brazilian built ELC, but due to delays and ultimately Columbia, the Brazilian government opted to pay Russia for a seat on a Soyuz. Think he may also still be with the astronaut office though
Actually, Pontes never had an official assignment. But in 2004 several sites reported that he was supposed to fly on STS-128. Again, that was not official information.I have a flight crew assignment question, but not pertaining to STS-133.
Why is it that Marcos Pontes never flew as a full-fledged shuttle or station astronaut (I don't count spaceflight participant status in this instance)? I think I know the obvious answer but can an expert just verify it for me?
Pontes didn't fly as a spaceflight participant, he did fly as a flight engineer on a Soyuz transfer flight, just like Pedro Duque. He was supposed to fly on the shuttle when it delivered the Brazilian built ELC, but due to delays and ultimately Columbia, the Brazilian government opted to pay Russia for a seat on a Soyuz. Think he may also still be with the astronaut office though
Oh. I see that, but do you have any idea which flight that was and when he was scheduled to fly pre-Columbia? Not that I'm suggesting his flight was before Feb. 1, 2003, but that his assignment was made before that date.
Actually, Pontes never had an official assignment. But in 2004 several sites reported that he was supposed to fly on STS-128. Again, that was not official information.I have a flight crew assignment question, but not pertaining to STS-133.
Why is it that Marcos Pontes never flew as a full-fledged shuttle or station astronaut (I don't count spaceflight participant status in this instance)? I think I know the obvious answer but can an expert just verify it for me?
Pontes didn't fly as a spaceflight participant, he did fly as a flight engineer on a Soyuz transfer flight, just like Pedro Duque. He was supposed to fly on the shuttle when it delivered the Brazilian built ELC, but due to delays and ultimately Columbia, the Brazilian government opted to pay Russia for a seat on a Soyuz. Think he may also still be with the astronaut office though
Oh. I see that, but do you have any idea which flight that was and when he was scheduled to fly pre-Columbia? Not that I'm suggesting his flight was before Feb. 1, 2003, but that his assignment was made before that date.
When Gibson took over he tried to avoid taking STS 71, submitting it to Abbey with Steve Nagel as CDR...which was rejected.
When Gibson took over he tried to avoid taking STS 71, submitting it to Abbey with Steve Nagel as CDR...which was rejected.
I'm surprised Hoot Gibson didn't want to take a trip to Mir ––– I would imagine that taking the first trip to Mir aboard a shuttle would be an honorable assignment.
Also, I am curious as to why Steve Nagel's application for this flight was denied ––– he would have been an ideal candidate wouldn't he have? Apparently not, but there was a perfect time in between spaceflights and getting the CDR seat for the second time instead of the third may have made more sense. Maybe it was a matter of Hoot Gibson having more experience, though.
I'm surprised Hoot Gibson didn't want to take a trip to Mir ––– I would imagine that taking the first trip to Mir aboard a shuttle would be an honorable assignment.
Also, I am curious as to why Steve Nagel's application for this flight was denied ––– he would have been an ideal candidate wouldn't he have? Apparently not, but there was a perfect time in between spaceflights and getting the CDR seat for the second time instead of the third may have made more sense. Maybe it was a matter of Hoot Gibson having more experience, though.
When I heard Gibson speak at a presentation 2 years ago, he stated that he had not planned on flying again after becoming chief of the astronaut office, but said that the Russians wanted the head astronaut flying the first docking due to concerns mainly over safety.
I'm surprised Hoot Gibson didn't want to take a trip to Mir ––– I would imagine that taking the first trip to Mir aboard a shuttle would be an honorable assignment.
Also, I am curious as to why Steve Nagel's application for this flight was denied ––– he would have been an ideal candidate wouldn't he have? Apparently not, but there was a perfect time in between spaceflights and getting the CDR seat for the second time instead of the third may have made more sense. Maybe it was a matter of Hoot Gibson having more experience, though.
When I heard Gibson speak at a presentation 2 years ago, he stated that he had not planned on flying again after becoming chief of the astronaut office, but said that the Russians wanted the head astronaut flying the first docking due to concerns mainly over safety.
This makes sense from a Russian POV.
Burrough's in "Dragonfly" insinuates that Gibson's assignment over Nagel to STS-71 was done by George Abbey to force Gibson to step down as Chief of the Astronaut Office. They'd butted heads over flight crew assignments since Abbey returned to JSC as the center's director.
I'm surprised Hoot Gibson didn't want to take a trip to Mir ––– I would imagine that taking the first trip to Mir aboard a shuttle would be an honorable assignment.
Also, I am curious as to why Steve Nagel's application for this flight was denied ––– he would have been an ideal candidate wouldn't he have? Apparently not, but there was a perfect time in between spaceflights and getting the CDR seat for the second time instead of the third may have made more sense. Maybe it was a matter of Hoot Gibson having more experience, though.
When I heard Gibson speak at a presentation 2 years ago, he stated that he had not planned on flying again after becoming chief of the astronaut office, but said that the Russians wanted the head astronaut flying the first docking due to concerns mainly over safety.
This makes sense from a Russian POV.
Burrough's in "Dragonfly" insinuates that Gibson's assignment over Nagel to STS-71 was done by George Abbey to force Gibson to step down as Chief of the Astronaut Office. They'd butted heads over flight crew assignments since Abbey returned to JSC as the center's director.
When I heard Gibson speak at a presentation 2 years ago, he stated that he had not planned on flying again after becoming chief of the astronaut office, but said that the Russians wanted the head astronaut flying the first docking due to concerns mainly over safety.
Do you believe it though?
Do you believe it though?
George Abbey probably took advantage of a request by the Russians to have the Chief Astronaut command the flight. If he could have fought it, he didn't.
Since Abbey seldom shared why the heck he did anything in terms of crew assignments it would have appeared as George playing his games to everyone else.
I think, if the story in Burrough's Dragonfly is to be believed, Gibson feared the fallout in the astronaut corps of appearing to take a plum assignment for himself.
As for Nagel, I've always wondered why, after being dropped from consideration for STS-71, he didn't get a subsequent Shuttle-Mir command.
Do you believe it though?
George Abbey probably took advantage of a request by the Russians to have the Chief Astronaut command the flight. If he could have fought it, he didn't.
Since Abbey seldom shared why the heck he did anything in terms of crew assignments it would have appeared as George playing his games to everyone else.
Yeah, that's what I figured… Rosaviakosmos logically asking for an experienced commander was a perfect opportunity to get Hoot out of the Cheif position.
Now, I just became aware about Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper's retirement, and I am again going to steer the subject from one crew assignment to another (which I must say, I have asked many questions, sorry, but I joined to ask them)… If you ask me, if she was active at NASA she was a realistic candidate for STS-133 or possibly another mission following it if the program were to be extended. Was her "retirement" more of a dismissal? By this, I mean was she "requested" to return to the Navy and leave NASA for reasons that may not be discussed, possibly the loss of the $100K crew lock bag, like Bill Oefelein? Is it that she was dismissed because of something, or did she legit retire from NASA? I'm just thinking along the lines of Bill because he was given a place back in the armed forces, and Heide retired rather suddenly. From what I gathered, she enjoyed NASA. I don't know if it's just a simple retirement.
When Gibson took over he tried to avoid taking STS 71, submitting it to Abbey with Steve Nagel as CDR...which was rejected.
I'm surprised Hoot Gibson didn't want to take a trip to Mir ––– I would imagine that taking the first trip to Mir aboard a shuttle would be an honorable assignment.
Also, I am curious as to why Steve Nagel's application for this flight was denied ––– he would have been an ideal candidate wouldn't he have? Apparently not, but there was a perfect time in between spaceflights and getting the CDR seat for the second time instead of the third may have made more sense. Maybe it was a matter of Hoot Gibson having more experience, though.
When Gibson took over he tried to avoid taking STS 71, submitting it to Abbey with Steve Nagel as CDR...which was rejected.
I'm surprised Hoot Gibson didn't want to take a trip to Mir ––– I would imagine that taking the first trip to Mir aboard a shuttle would be an honorable assignment.
Also, I am curious as to why Steve Nagel's application for this flight was denied ––– he would have been an ideal candidate wouldn't he have? Apparently not, but there was a perfect time in between spaceflights and getting the CDR seat for the second time instead of the third may have made more sense. Maybe it was a matter of Hoot Gibson having more experience, though.
Dare I say it but was STS-71 just too high profile a mission to be commanded by an Air Force guy i.e. Nagel? Surely it was always going to be a Navy officer in the front left hand seat??!!!
Of course, I jest. But I thought I'd throw it into the mix anyway!
George Abbey probably took advantage of a request by the Russians to have the Chief Astronaut command the flight. If he could have fought it, he didn't.
Since Abbey seldom shared why the heck he did anything in terms of crew assignments it would have appeared as George playing his games to everyone else.
Dare I say it but was STS-71 just too high profile a mission to be commanded by an Air Force guy i.e. Nagel? Surely it was always going to be a Navy officer in the front left hand seat??!!!
Of course, I jest. But I thought I'd throw it into the mix anyway!
Dare I say it but was STS-71 just too high profile a mission to be commanded by an Air Force guy i.e. Nagel? Surely it was always going to be a Navy officer in the front left hand seat??!!!
Of course, I jest. But I thought I'd throw it into the mix anyway!
I'm sure that was what some in the Astronaut Office were thinking. "Oh, Abbey's back and once again giving the plum assignments to the Navy guys." His apparent favoritism of Navy Astronauts that colored his tenure as FCOD seems to have vanished while JSC Director. Of course he was no longer creating the crews, just influencing them.
Some total speculation is, maybe Abbey was never impressed with Nagel. He flew his first mission as a Mission Specialist, something that, in "Riding Rockets" Mike Mullane states angered even the Navy Pilots in the Astronaut Office. Nagel of course did well enough in the post-Abbey Astronaut Office, commanding two missions. Once Abbey came back to JSC, and the crew politics with STS-71 came up, he could have just said "the heck with this."
Dare I say it but was STS-71 just too high profile a mission to be commanded by an Air Force guy i.e. Nagel? Surely it was always going to be a Navy officer in the front left hand seat??!!!
Of course, I jest. But I thought I'd throw it into the mix anyway!
I'm sure that was what some in the Astronaut Office were thinking. "Oh, Abbey's back and once again giving the plum assignments to the Navy guys." His apparent favoritism of Navy Astronauts that colored his tenure as FCOD seems to have vanished while JSC Director. Of course he was no longer creating the crews, just influencing them.
What reason was given for him to fly as an MSP? It would be doubtful that it was because of the Air Force – I looked it up for some other CDRs who also served as MSPs on their first flight. Precourt was a USAF guy, but Ken Cockrell was a Navy officer.
Does this mean, with MSPs going into pilot and later CDR training, that Garan and Bresnik could be assigned as pilots if the shuttle program was to be extended?
I hadn't realised until I read Mullane's book that Abbey was actually an ex-USAF officer, which makes his pro-Navy bias when assigning flight crews even harder to understand. Or was he just conditioned by a NASA hierarchy who were always suspicious of the Air Force?
What reason was given for him to fly as an MSP? It would be doubtful that it was because of the Air Force – I looked it up for some other CDRs who also served as MSPs on their first flight. Precourt was a USAF guy, but Ken Cockrell was a Navy officer.
Does this mean, with MSPs going into pilot and later CDR training, that Garan and Bresnik could be assigned as pilots if the shuttle program was to be extended?
It was probably a matter of getting flights for the TFNG's, however the USAF Astronauts saw it as another swipe at the Air Force guys. According to Mullane, the outrage was because Nagel was believed by his peers to have superior ability and judgment to some of the Navy Astronauts flying before him as PLT. He did at least get a quick turn-around to fly as PLT on STS 61-A.
Cockrell and Precourt are somewhat unique. They flew as MS's before any member of the 1990 PLT's flew as, well, pilots.
If the shuttle program continued, I'd say Bresnik's chances of flying as a PLT were good. Garan on the other hand is assigned to an ISS flight, so I doubt it.QuoteI hadn't realised until I read Mullane's book that Abbey was actually an ex-USAF officer, which makes his pro-Navy bias when assigning flight crews even harder to understand. Or was he just conditioned by a NASA hierarchy who were always suspicious of the Air Force?
Certainly a good question. Joe Engle, an Air Force guy, seems to have been close to Abbey. The first flights of both Discovery and Atlantis were commanded by Air Force astronauts. The main points I see the Navy-bias bleed through are with Bob Crippen's quick turn-arounds as CDR, and the assignment of USAF Astronauts as PLT's on each of the first Spacelab missions.
At the risk of upsetting Jim with another 'it's not fair' point, can I ask the following:
Greg H. Johnson has just been assigned as PLT on 134, his second flight as a pilot, whereas all the other active Group 17ers (except Ray Jay) have already flown or received commands (Ferguson, Archambault, Zamka, Poindexter and Ham). I assume that NASA did not consider it necessary (due to expense, perhaps?) to put more veteran PLTs through CDR upgrade training and hence gave Johnson a second PLT slot, a position for which he was already trained?
Are any of the pilots annoyed, do you think, at receiving a right-seat assignment when many of their classmates have scooped a left-seat command? I know astronauts frequently comment that 'there are no bad missions' and some would be happy for any mission, whatever seat they are given, but I remember Hammond was annoyed that he did not get a command and everyone else in his class did. Going back to the 60s, McDivitt was annoyed that he was pencilled-in to fly right-seat to Al Shepard on A13 and didn't take the assignment accordingly. These guys are, after all, hyper-competitive test pilots and, surely, COMMAND (ie left-seat) is in their blood? I wonder if Johnson had the opportunity to go through CDR Upgrade or was simply told that he either flew again as a PLT or he didn't fly again?
Has anyone else gone through CDR Upgrade since Ham? If not, that surely implies that the next run of CDR vacancies (STS-133 plus extension) 'should' start with the likes of Ferguson, Archambault, Polansky etc with Boe, Johnson, Hurley etc as PLTs?
Quote..."Are any of the pilots annoyed"?
One incident that comes to mind is Gene Cernan.
He was willing to give up a lunar landing on Apollo 16 in order to get command of Apollo 17.
The whole flight crew assignment is quite interesting.
Even in recent shuttle flight crew assignments, you have 2 members from Group 17 (Ferguson and Archambault) getting CDR positions before Group 16 astronauts Hobaugh and (Jim) Kelly.
In 1994 you had Bob Cabana (Group 11) getting a CDR flight assignment before Blaine Hammond (Group 10) flew as PLT for the second time.
Another two unfair questions pertaining to the assignments.
The names Brown, Rominger, and Horowitz come to mind instantly, there's more who have gone through this but I am having an all-to-frequent space brain lapse. Anyhow, what renders them for three PLT assignments? Was it because the original PLT withdrew? I would imagine not, though. What renders them for this? Anything? It is ironic because Husband got one PLT assignment and his first flight was while all 3 of these astronauts were active. He got one PLT before the CDR assignment, whereas a guy like Horowitz, who was selected earlier, got 3 PLT assignments during his time before Husband. Ironic that Husband, "lucky" enough to get the command, should have such an ill fate.
Another two unfair questions pertaining to the assignments.
The names Brown, Rominger, and Horowitz come to mind instantly, there's more who have gone through this but I am having an all-to-frequent space brain lapse. Anyhow, what renders them for three PLT assignments? Was it because the original PLT withdrew? I would imagine not, though. What renders them for this? Anything? It is ironic because Husband got one PLT assignment and his first flight was while all 3 of these astronauts were active. He got one PLT before the CDR assignment, whereas a guy like Horowitz, who was selected earlier, got 3 PLT assignments during his time before Husband. Ironic that Husband, "lucky" enough to get the command, should have such an ill fate.
In the case of Brown and Rominger their third PLT assignments were specifically because the currently assigned pilot had to pull out. In Rominger's case it was Jeff Ashby who was assigned to STS-85 and had to pull out for family reasons. The switch came in March 1997 and launch was in August and Rominger was the most recently returned (hence fully trained) pilot who could recycle and slip into the seat with such a shortened training cycle. I believe he was also guaranteed that it wouldn't cost him a command.
I don't recall who the original pilot of STS-77 was supposed to be (Brown's substitution came before the crew was publicly announced but after training had started) but my understanding is that it was a similar set of circumstances as above.
I'm not sure what the case was with Horowitz, but I imagine it was much the same.
I don't recall who the original pilot of STS-77 was supposed to be (Brown's substitution came before the crew was publicly announced but after training had started) but my understanding is that it was a similar set of circumstances as above.
I was never aware of 'another' PLT for STS-77. I always believed that Brown was chosen because a PLT with rendezvous experience was needed, in light of the SPTN-207 deploy/retrieve ops, and Brown had previously flown the CRISTA-SPAS mission on STS-66. At the time of the 77 assignment (June 1995), there were no other PLTs with such experience, available for flight: Bill Gregory (for some reason) never flew again, Eileen Collins was pregnant and Kregel, Rominger, Jett and Horowitz were training for their first flights and wouldn't have had enough time to recycle to 77. There were also no more rookie pilots, as Group 15 had only just started its Ascan training, and most other veteran PLTs were well into training for other flights (Cockrell, Searfoss, Wilcutt).
With that in mind, I don't think there COULD have been 'another' PLT available for 77, besides Brown.
I was never aware of 'another' PLT for STS-77. I always believed that Brown was chosen because a PLT with rendezvous experience was needed, in light of the SPTN-207 deploy/retrieve ops, and Brown had previously flown the CRISTA-SPAS mission on STS-66. At the time of the 77 assignment (June 1995), there were no other PLTs with such experience, available for flight: Bill Gregory (for some reason) never flew again, Eileen Collins was pregnant and Kregel, Rominger, Jett and Horowitz were training for their first flights and wouldn't have had enough time to recycle to 77. There were also no more rookie pilots, as Group 15 had only just started its Ascan training, and most other veteran PLTs were well into training for other flights (Cockrell, Searfoss, Wilcutt).
With that in mind, I don't think there COULD have been 'another' PLT available for 77, besides Brown.
On that one, I'm just going with what I heard...that a substitution had taken place. It could be totally wrong. Maybe the person who mentioned that to me was confuzzling 77 and 85. Both involved Brown so I could see how that could happen.
With that in mind, I don't think there COULD have been 'another' PLT available for 77, besides Brown.
On that one, I'm just going with what I heard...that a substitution had taken place. It could be totally wrong. Maybe the person who mentioned that to me was confuzzling 77 and 85. Both involved Brown so I could see how that could happen.
Somebody once suggested that Eileen Collins had been pencilled in as pilot for STS-77 but became pregnant before the official announcment was made and that Curt Brown was effectively her replacement.
Burrough implies that it was Abbey, and not the Astronaut Office, which black-balled Hammond. I remember reading that Cabana put Hammond's name forward for a command, but it was declined. Plus something about a walkaround of the orbiter after STS-64 which Hammond wasn't permitted to do? Dick Richards was apparently as annoyed as Hammond about it. The implication is that Hammond was actually highly regarded within the corps. I haven't heard anything different.
With Horowitz and STS-101, I always suspected that as the first "glass cockpit" flight may have had something to do with it. Maybe he'd done a lot of technical work on that?
Which mission was Gregory nominated for?
As for Hammond, Burrough mentions him going for STS-78, which he labelled as a Mir docking flight, but seems to have got his dates wrong because he hints that Hammond's name was pencilled in for this command sometime in 1995. Well, by that time, STS-79, a Mir docking flight, had already long since received its CDR (Readdy). Maybe Burrough was confusing it with the LMS mission (the actual STS-78), which Henricks ultimately commanded. Henricks was named to the 78 CDR seat in October 1995, so perhaps that was the mission that Burrough meant.
Which mission was Gregory nominated for?
To be honest I've no idea. My info is based purely on a small piece in "Spaceflight" magazine written a few weeks after Bill Gregory had resigned. Gregory stated that he'd "enjoyed the full support" of Dave Leestma (who was the Director of Flight Crew Operations at the time) and that several attempts had been made to nominate him for a second flight. Each time it was rejected.
STS-133 Prediction:
Lindsey (CDR)
Boe (PLT)
I have no basis for it but it's my guess.
I've always found it interesting that neither Oswald (CDR) or Gregory (PLT) got another assignment after STS-67. The rest of the crew went on to further flights, but the CDR and PLT never did. This was Oswald's first command and Gregory's first flight period so one could assume that they were just beginning or in the prime of their careers. Did something happen on the flight or did they clash with management a la the crew of Apollo 7?
[snipagge]
I've always found it interesting that neither Oswald (CDR) or Gregory (PLT) got another assignment after STS-67. The rest of the crew went on to further flights, but the CDR and PLT never did. This was Oswald's first command and Gregory's first flight period so one could assume that they were just beginning or in the prime of their careers. Did something happen on the flight or did they clash with management a la the crew of Apollo 7?
Which brings to mind another question...
Why was it important to have a "rendezvous experienced" PLT on STS 77, but not important to have one on STS 63, which rendezvoused with two vehicles?
Thank you.
Michael,
I've just read Oswald's oral history and an interesting point came up. He mentions that Group 11 "were on a fast track" to fly only 2 years after selection - presumably they would have made first flights in 1987, had it not been for Challenger? I had always suspected that, had 24 missions flown in 1987 as planned, NASA would have quickly 'run out' of available PLTs, so presumably each of the Group 9, 10 and 11 PLTs would have had to fly at least twice? Maybe we would have seen similar Brown-type situations?
Thanks.
Michael,
I've just read Oswald's oral history and an interesting point came up. He mentions that Group 11 "were on a fast track" to fly only 2 years after selection - presumably they would have made first flights in 1987, had it not been for Challenger? I had always suspected that, had 24 missions flown in 1987 as planned, NASA would have quickly 'run out' of available PLTs, so presumably each of the Group 9, 10 and 11 PLTs would have had to fly at least twice? Maybe we would have seen similar Brown-type situations?
Thanks.
I think it was always the idea that future selectees would spend spend more time in the right seat before moving up to CDR. The goal with groups 8, 9, and 10 was to fast track them to CDR status (which is why all of those pilots were promoted after only 1 flight) to create a stable of certified CDR's for the increasing flight rate and thus why new selectees had to be fast tracked to PLT status. There was also some suggestion of creating commander-pilot teams (at least I believe Deke Slayton suggested it) who would fly together often to reduce the training cycle for quick turnarounds. But none of it came to pass of course.
This is why you only see the first pilot to fly twice show up in the post-Challenger era (Richard Covey...discounting Steve Nagel since his first flight was as an MS).
It wasn't just Slayton who suggested CDR/PLT teams.... flight crew ops under Abbey was considering the same thing as of March 1982, looking ahead to flight rates of 18/year.
It wasn't just Slayton who suggested CDR/PLT teams.... flight crew ops under Abbey was considering the same thing as of March 1982, looking ahead to flight rates of 18/year.
I still imagine that they'd have run out of PLTs pretty quickly, though. Even flying twice or even three times in the right-seat, and judging from the enormous flight rate (24+ per year) the number of PLTs selected in 1980 (7), 1984 (6) and 1985 (5) would surely have been exhausted long before the 1987 PLTs were qualified. Would some have flown 4 times as PLT, perhaps?
As for Hammond, Burrough mentions him going for STS-78, which he labelled as a Mir docking flight, but seems to have got his dates wrong because he hints that Hammond's name was pencilled in for this command sometime in 1995. Well, by that time, STS-79, a Mir docking flight, had already long since received its CDR (Readdy). Maybe Burrough was confusing it with the LMS mission (the actual STS-78), which Henricks ultimately commanded. Henricks was named to the 78 CDR seat in October 1995, so perhaps that was the mission that Burrough meant.
From what I remember, Hammond actually did all the Russian language training in advance of a Shuttle-Mir command but then got shunted off to USAF liason or something. He was serving as Chief of the Astronaut Office's Safety Branch at the time of the infamous Progress tanker collision and, I believe, was one of the few voices who objected to continuing with US astronauts making long duration flights aboard Mir. I don't think his objections were that well received in some quarters and he quit not long after.
Talking about Shuttle-Mir, does anyone know why Frank Culbertson (NASA's Shuttle-Mir Program Manager) didn't command one of the docking missions? I only ask because I recently came across an old newspaper article from around the time of STS-71 which stated that Culbertson and his Russian counterpart, Valery Ryumin, would probably fly together on the last mission (there were only seven manifested at that time). Well, Ryumin did fly on the last mission (STS-91) but Culbertson stayed firmly on the ground. Either the newspaper article was incorrect or something changed. I wondered if it was to do with the on-board fire and Progress Tanker collision? Perhaps NASA thought it better to have their Project Manager concentrating fully on the job in hand at such a critical time rather than being distracted by the demands of a spaceflight?
It wasn't just Slayton who suggested CDR/PLT teams.... flight crew ops under Abbey was considering the same thing as of March 1982, looking ahead to flight rates of 18/year.
The closest this appears to have come to be (on paper) was the names for Astro 1, 2 and even 3 I've seen float around. CDR: Jon McBride and PLT: Dick Richards.
I know that's accurate for Astro 1 as originally planned (STS 61-E). What about the other two?
I heard that Blaha was team leader for Group 9 and he was one of the last to be assigned/flew. Also, Greg C. Johnson was once described as the team leader for Group 17 and flew last. (Having said that, in the wake of the Lisa Nowak affair, the two astronauts who accompanied her were Steve Lindsey, as CB chief, and Chris Ferguson, as her "ranking senior officer").
Does anyone know the names of other team leaders and whether they were formal or informal in nature?
I heard that Blaha was team leader for Group 9 and he was one of the last to be assigned/flew. Also, Greg C. Johnson was once described as the team leader for Group 17 and flew last. (Having said that, in the wake of the Lisa Nowak affair, the two astronauts who accompanied her were Steve Lindsey, as CB chief, and Chris Ferguson, as her "ranking senior officer").Informal I'd assume.
Does anyone know the names of other team leaders and whether they were formal or informal in nature?
I heard that Blaha was team leader for Group 9 and he was one of the last to be assigned/flew. Also, Greg C. Johnson was once described as the team leader for Group 17 and flew last. (Having said that, in the wake of the Lisa Nowak affair, the two astronauts who accompanied her were Steve Lindsey, as CB chief, and Chris Ferguson, as her "ranking senior officer").Informal I'd assume.
Does anyone know the names of other team leaders and whether they were formal or informal in nature?
Re-reading the relevant passages from Mullane's book, it appears that Hauck took his responsibilities as "class leader" quite seriously - even if it was informal. From day one, he seems to have co-ordinated a number of administrative tasks among his fellow TFNGs so I think it was a bit more than just cleaning the blackboard at the start of every lesson!
(The statement that Hauck "expected" to be assigned first is not actually what's in Mullane's book. The passage shows Mullane's _assumption_ that that's what's in Hauck's mind.... logical, and probably applicable to many of the TFNGs. Hauck's thoughts are not given.)
All in all, you're making too much of this team leader business.
Michael Cassutt
Re Culbertson and STS-91, I had heard he was indeed aimed at that mission, the last Shuttle-Mir visit, with Ryumin, but the summer 1997 Mir follies forced NASA to keep Culbertson where he was -- manager of the program. Precourt got the mission instead.... (I suspect the short, year-long appointment of Ken Cockrell as chief of the astronaut office was related to Precourt's STS-91-induced unavailability for that job.)
Michael Cassutt
Re Culbertson and STS-91, I had heard he was indeed aimed at that mission, the last Shuttle-Mir visit, with Ryumin, but the summer 1997 Mir follies forced NASA to keep Culbertson where he was -- manager of the program. Precourt got the mission instead.... (I suspect the short, year-long appointment of Ken Cockrell as chief of the astronaut office was related to Precourt's STS-91-induced unavailability for that job.)
Michael Cassutt
Is that the reason that Culbertson was given ISS CMD as a shuttle CDR? I knew it happened after that and Kelly is going to do this soon but he was the first…I am curious. If this is the reason, then who would have had ISS-CMD of the station in place of him?
Isn't John Young still technically an active astronaut? Maybe they'll give him the stick, one more time...No, he retired at the end of 2006.
Any guesses on who might go into training for an ISS expedition, here are my guesses.
Ricky Arnold
Al Drew
Joseph Acaba
Tom Masburn
Chris Cassidy
I'd imagine we won't see any of the 2009 Astronaut intake flying until 2012 or 2013 as ISS flight assignments are covered through 2011.Probably farther out than that. By the time their initial training is complete next year, another year of assignments will have been announced.
Really surprised they have three astronauts currently (or almost) in space. Mike Barrat is understandable since he hasn't flown on the shuttle before but Nicole Stott and Tim Kopra?
I would have loved to see Megan McArthur on board. She hasn't been at the ISS get.
Really odd crew. Why the push to get astronauts who have flown on Soyuz flights on the shuttle (or ISS flights)? It seems sort of backwards. It's a system slated to be retired....you don't need new people with the experience. Flying veterans would seem more logical.These are all vets -- seems logical to me to have people who are very familiar with the current station when ULF-5 will have a very short (relatively speaking) docked stay. Only Barratt has not flown on Shuttle.
Really surprised they have three astronauts currently (or almost) in space. Mike Barrat is understandable since he hasn't flown on the shuttle before but Nicole Stott and Tim Kopra?
I would have loved to see Megan McArthur on board. She hasn't been at the ISS get.
Really odd crew. Why the push to get astronauts who have flown on Soyuz flights on the shuttle (or ISS flights)? It seems sort of backwards. It's a system slated to be retired....you don't need new people with the experience. Flying veterans would seem more logical.
Also, I believe Whitson will be the first Mission Specialist/non-shuttle CDR to serve as Astronaut Office Chief. Perhaps indicative of the Corps' future until Orion flies.
Why they picked Drew is more of a mystery for me.
Just throwing this out there for debate but could the reflight of Stott and Kopra be related to long duration/reflight physiological evals? It could be the last chance for data (directly to the US) before long duration flights?
Someone here on NSF called "CDR=Lindsey" a loooooong time ago. Correct?
When is the STS-135 crew going to be announced? ;-)
2) Any ideas on who will be the next chief?Peggy Whitson -- noted in the press release.
Very unusual, unexpected crew. So, although it was never strictly a 'rule', presumably the four-flight-limit tradition is no more? I certainly hope so...
A few questions:
1) Did Lindsey assign himself, or was he assigned by Jett?
2) Any ideas on who will be the next chief?
3) Was Stott told before she launched or will she (uniquely) be informed whilst in orbit?
Was Stott told before she launched or will she (uniquely) be informed whilst in orbit?
Couple comments (.02$ stuff)
Everything Ive ever heard about Lindsey is always positive.
Him being assigned as such isnt anything new. John Young took STS-1 on as Chief Astronaut, and Brandestein took the LDEF rescue and Endeavour maiden flight as Chief too if I understand correctly.
Especially if we look at the Astronaut Corp as the professional flying outfit it is I think its rather fitting to have the squadron commander take the Orbiter on its last sortie.
Very unusual, unexpected crew. So, although it was never strictly a 'rule', presumably the four-flight-limit tradition is no more? I certainly hope so...
I can understand, now, the need for former ISS residents and their expertise, but considering the fact that the PLM is being left attached to the station anyway, what's the urgency in having to unpack it whilst the Shuttle is present? Why not just let the ISS crew unpack it after the Shuttle leaves?That may be the case, anyway, and the PLM won't be fully loaded like recent MPLM-only flights. Given the changes to crew size and mission duration, don't forget that they'll only have about four docked days -- I'm guessing that docking moves back to the middle of FD3 with undocking possibly on FD7. (If undocking were at the beginning of FD7, that might mean hatches close at the end of FD6!)
Wonder if Young will be waiting on the runway to shake Lindsey's hand? That would be a nice photo-op.
Wonder if Young will be waiting on the runway to shake Lindsey's hand? That would be a nice photo-op.
I'd like to see both Young and Crippen there.
I can understand, now, the need for former ISS residents and their expertise, but considering the fact that the PLM is being left attached to the station anyway, what's the urgency in having to unpack it whilst the Shuttle is present? Why not just let the ISS crew unpack it after the Shuttle leaves?That may be the case, anyway, and the PLM won't be fully loaded like recent MPLM-only flights. Given the changes to crew size and mission duration, don't forget that they'll only have about four docked days -- I'm guessing that docking moves back to the middle of FD3 with undocking possibly on FD7. (If undocking were at the beginning of FD7, that might mean hatches close at the end of FD6!)
Given how little docked time that is, it makes sense to me to have a station-experienced crew that is ready to do the "sprint" of the ELC and PLM robotics and then the PLM activation and ingress. Not sure how much mid-deck upmass there will be, but that obviously needs to be transferred during the docked stay. That might be the balance of the docked time there is, without considering unpack of the PLM.
Remember that you'll have the inspection of the heat shield while docked as well. That will tie up at least to crew members. Drew and Boe? That will leave only experienced ISS crew members and the commander to work within ISS the first and last day (late inspection).The OBSS unit being left on station will be done on ULF-6/STS-134. For ULF-5/STS-133, there's probably going to need to be a block in the timeline for a focused inspection, if necessary, while docked. But it will fly that OBSS unit up and down.
But don't they need an EVA to tie down the OBSS on the truss and complete the mating of the PLM (they have always needed an EVA for attaching permanent modules before)?
Wonder if Young will be waiting on the runway to shake Lindsey's hand? That would be a nice photo-op.
I'd like to see both Young and Crippen there.
Wonder if Young will be waiting on the runway to shake Lindsey's hand? That would be a nice photo-op.
I'd like to see both Young and Crippen there.
Ideally greeting the last shuttle crews on the runway would be as follows:
STS 132 (Atlantis) - STS 51-J's crew.
STS 134 (Endeavour) - STS 49 and STS 6's crew (Endeavour replaced Challenger, in a sense it carried on her legacy).
STS 133 (Discovery) - STS 41-D and STS 1's crew.
Of course, I can see a diversion to Edwards easily ruining a NASA PR moment. ;)
Of course, I can see a diversion to Edwards easily ruining a NASA PR moment. ;)
IF the SSP is extended, with this crew instated, here's what I predict for STS-135.
CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Greg C. "RayJ" Johnson
MS1: Sunny Williams
MS2: Daniel Tani
MS3: Stan Love
MS4: Chris Hadfield
The reason I suggest Hadfield is because he isn't assigned to an ISS flight any time soon but he is the last Canadian JSC astronaut to be around that hasn't been recycled in an ISS flight since 2006 (behind Steve MacLean, Dave Williams, Bob Thirsk, and then Julie Payette respectively).
Steve Lindsey's a great CDR, and I'm secretly delighted to have him in this roll, but it was incorrect of him to name himself in my opinion. Maybe it has been done before, but my opinion is my opinion.
I think until there is an STS-135 mission there shouldn't be any crew guessing games. Case in point, virtually no one guessed 133 or that it even had six crewmembers. The game is getting silly.
Probably too early to know (and impossible to know), but I wonder if Lindsey picked himself for this mission BECAUSE it is the last mission? Or had his transition from CB management back onto active flight status been on the cards for months?
I think until there is an STS-135 mission there shouldn't be any crew guessing games. Case in point, virtually no one guessed 133 or that it even had six crewmembers. The game is getting silly.
Game over!
Who would active CDRs be then? If you ask me, should the program be extended, the breakdown would be as follows:
PILOTS
– Randy Bresnik
– Jim Dutton
– Kevin Ford
– Doug Hurley
– Greg C. "RayJ" Johnson
– Terry Virts
– Barry Wilmore
COMMANDERS
– Lee Archaumbalt
– Chris Ferguson
– Dom Gorie
– Greg H. "Box" Johnson
– Mark Kelly
– Alan Poindexter
– Rick "C.J." Sturckow
– George Zamka
That's 7 PLTs and 8 CDRs, more than the amount needed. However, if for some reason we should ever reach 8 flights during the extension, we would have to re-fly a PLT for a third flight. Last time this was done was Scott Horowitz, which we went over on page, eh, 87 or so. I would pick Bresnik because he would then only have 2 PLT flights and 1 MS flight if he were to take this position. It is not likely that we will run across this issue, though.
Of course, I can see a diversion to Edwards easily ruining a NASA PR moment. ;)
They could cover their bases by placing the CDR s plus half the MS s at Kennedy and the PLT s and the other half of the MS s at Edwards.
Doubt Polansky will fly again. He has said so himself that he thinks 127 was his final flight.Who would active CDRs be then? If you ask me, should the program be extended, the breakdown would be as follows:
PILOTS
– Randy Bresnik
– Jim Dutton
– Kevin Ford
– Doug Hurley
– Greg C. "RayJ" Johnson
– Terry Virts
– Barry Wilmore
COMMANDERS
– Lee Archaumbalt
– Chris Ferguson
– Dom Gorie
– Greg H. "Box" Johnson
– Mark Kelly
– Alan Poindexter
– Rick "C.J." Sturckow
– George Zamka
That's 7 PLTs and 8 CDRs, more than the amount needed. However, if for some reason we should ever reach 8 flights during the extension, we would have to re-fly a PLT for a third flight. Last time this was done was Scott Horowitz, which we went over on page, eh, 87 or so. I would pick Bresnik because he would then only have 2 PLT flights and 1 MS flight if he were to take this position. It is not likely that we will run across this issue, though.
Don't forget Mark Polansky.
Doubt Polansky will fly again. He has said so himself that he thinks 127 was his final flight.
The way he said it when I spoke to him was in a more sort of way that he himself thought he had got his share, rather than it being a problem of not having enough assignments. However, if there's an extension I wouldn't be surprised if he flew again, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't either.
Dragon crew.
Just as a matter of curiosity, has there been any statement about who would crew a first crewed Dragon. Would it be Space-X astronauts or people from JSC-CB ?
Dragon crew.
Just as a matter of curiosity, has there been any statement about who would crew a first crewed Dragon. Would it be Space-X astronauts or people from JSC-CB ?
Dragon crew.
Just as a matter of curiosity, has there been any statement about who would crew a first crewed Dragon. Would it be Space-X astronauts or people from JSC-CB ?
There first has to be a crewed Dragon
After that, the contract and who ever is paying for the first flight will determine who crew it.
More likely, even if NASA astronauts fly on it, they may be passengers just like on Soyuz.
If a private company were to become an option, would they hire former NASA Astronauts? Or create their own corps?
Dragon crew.
Just as a matter of curiosity, has there been any statement about who would crew a first crewed Dragon. Would it be Space-X astronauts or people from JSC-CB ?
Has he got children at this point ?
If a private company were to become an option, would they hire former NASA Astronauts? Or create their own corps?
All of the above.
Flag officers rarely get spaceflights.I do believe that Leopold Eyharts was already a General in the French Air Force when he made his second spaceflight as a part of Expedition 16.
Should there be a lengthy extension, the current group of astronaut candidates would undoubtedly also become available for shuttle assignments. There are three test pilots in the 2009 astronaut class (Jack D. Fischer, Scott D. Tingle, Gregory R. (Reid) Wiseman) and I'd have to presume that all three could/would become shuttle pilots.
Clervoy is an ESA, not an CNES astronaut. CNES no longer has an in-house astronaut corps.
Note there are six people, not five, on the mission.Short interview with Steve Lindsey by Joe Johnson of the LA Times:
RELEASE: 09-218
NASA ASSIGNS CREW FOR FINAL SCHEDULED SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION
Should there be a lengthy extension, the current group of astronaut candidates would undoubtedly also become available for shuttle assignments. There are three test pilots in the 2009 astronaut class (Jack D. Fischer, Scott D. Tingle, Gregory R. (Reid) Wiseman) and I'd have to presume that all three could/would become shuttle pilots.
Yes, I considered them but don't they have to decide relatively quickly whether to give these men Orion or Shuttle PLT training?
Should there be a lengthy extension, the current group of astronaut candidates would undoubtedly also become available for shuttle assignments. There are three test pilots in the 2009 astronaut class (Jack D. Fischer, Scott D. Tingle, Gregory R. (Reid) Wiseman) and I'd have to presume that all three could/would become shuttle pilots.
Yes, I considered them but don't they have to decide relatively quickly whether to give these men Orion or Shuttle PLT training?
Well, the Obana Administration is expected to outline its space policy next month, right? That's in plenty of time to train members of the new astronaut candidates as shuttle pilots for missions in, say, 2013 or 2014. And as your analysis shows, it becomes a bit difficult to fill exactly those PLT slots without, well, additional pilots.
Should there be a lengthy extension, the current group of astronaut candidates would undoubtedly also become available for shuttle assignments. There are three test pilots in the 2009 astronaut class (Jack D. Fischer, Scott D. Tingle, Gregory R. (Reid) Wiseman) and I'd have to presume that all three could/would become shuttle pilots.
Yes, I considered them but don't they have to decide relatively quickly whether to give these men Orion or Shuttle PLT training?
Well, the Obana Administration is expected to outline its space policy next month, right? That's in plenty of time to train members of the new astronaut candidates as shuttle pilots for missions in, say, 2013 or 2014. And as your analysis shows, it becomes a bit difficult to fill exactly those PLT slots without, well, additional pilots.
Should there be a lengthy extension, the current group of astronaut candidates would undoubtedly also become available for shuttle assignments. There are three test pilots in the 2009 astronaut class (Jack D. Fischer, Scott D. Tingle, Gregory R. (Reid) Wiseman) and I'd have to presume that all three could/would become shuttle pilots.
Yes, I considered them but don't they have to decide relatively quickly whether to give these men Orion or Shuttle PLT training?
Well, the Obana Administration is expected to outline its space policy next month, right? That's in plenty of time to train members of the new astronaut candidates as shuttle pilots for missions in, say, 2013 or 2014. And as your analysis shows, it becomes a bit difficult to fill exactly those PLT slots without, well, additional pilots.
Sorry but I don't agree! Even the most ambitious shuttle extension scenario calls for only six additional flights (stretching the current manifest into 2011 and then flying just TWO missions per year in 2012, 2013 and 2014). In the highly unlikely event of that happening, there are enough existing PLTS to cover the flights.
Burrough implies that it was Abbey, and not the Astronaut Office, which black-balled Hammond. I remember reading that Cabana put Hammond's name forward for a command, but it was declined. Plus something about a walkaround of the orbiter after STS-64 which Hammond wasn't permitted to do? Dick Richards was apparently as annoyed as Hammond about it. The implication is that Hammond was actually highly regarded within the corps. I haven't heard anything different.
Bear in mind also that Hammond was named to his STS-39 PLT position...at the end of Sept/beginning of Oct 1989, precisely the time that this (apparently) damning incident took place. If Abbey was so frakked off, why not just drop him from the STS-39 crew before his training really got underway? Even Hoot Gibson (one of Abbey's favourites) and Dave Walker, both highly-regarded CDRs, were suspended from missions following aircraft incidents in 1989. Hammond wasn't. He can't have been regarded THAT badly.
Anik,
Why are some FE numbers 'missing'? Expedition 22, for example, has an FE4, 5 and 6, but no FE2 and 3. Same too with a few other downstream expeditions. Is there a reason for this?
Do the FE numbers suggest some kind of seniority within the crew or are they purely random?
Thanks.
So, now that shuttle flight assignments are done barring any extension to the program, anyone want to take a swing at EVA assignments for the remaining shuttle flights?
Why are some FE numbers 'missing'? Expedition 22, for example, has an FE4, 5 and 6, but no FE2 and 3. Same too with a few other downstream expeditions. Is there a reason for this?
Do the FE numbers suggest some kind of seniority within the crew or are they purely random?
Why are some FE numbers 'missing'? Expedition 22, for example, has an FE4, 5 and 6, but no FE2 and 3. Same too with a few other downstream expeditions. Is there a reason for this?
As for Expedition 22, the absent FE2 is explained by Stott's landing in STS-129 during Expedition 21, the absent FE3 is explained by new rule, which begins from Expedition 22 and tells that FE1, FE2 and FE3 are crewmembers of Soyuz for Russian segment (exception is Soyuz TMA-16) and FE4, FE5 and FE6 are crewmembers of Soyuz for US segment. The absent FEs from Expedition 23 and onwards is explained that this flight engineer became commander.Do the FE numbers suggest some kind of seniority within the crew or are they purely random?
FE1 and FE4 are Soyuz commanders, FE2 and FE5 are Soyuz flight engineers-1, FE3 and FE6 are Soyuz flight engineers-2.
That dosen't add up. If FE1-3 is for RS segment and FE4-6 for US segment then FE4 can't be Soyuz commander, if a russian isn't part of the US segment then
Thanks anik and arkaska.
One other question: I was surprised to see Good as an EV on STS-132, because I thought he was a direct replacement for Nyberg. My assumption was that Nyberg would have been doing 132 robotics (based on her previous experience from 124) and others (Reisman/Bowen?) would have done the EVAs. Since Good came on board 3 months into the 132 training flow, and ?presumably? EV crewmember assignments had probably been set by that point, does this mean that NYBERG was originally scheduled to do EVAs on 132?
Thanks again.
It doesn't seem right to me that Good would be doing the EVA with Reisman
RELEASE: 09-233
NASA AND ITS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS ASSIGN SPACE STATION CREWS
Changes were made to previously announced station crews that include
multiple alterations to Russian cosmonaut assignments: Alexander
Skvortsov replaces Alexander Kaleri as the Soyuz 21 commander and
Expedition 24 commander; Feodor Yurchikhin replaces Skvortsov as the
Soyuz 23 commander and Expedition 24/25 flight engineer; Kaleri
replaces Dmitri Kondratiev as the Soyuz 24 commander and Expedition
25/26 flight engineer; and Kondratiev replaces Andrew Borisienko as
the Soyuz 25 commander and joins Expedition 26 as a flight engineer.
The TMA-01M launch was moved from May to September 2010
Kaleri will command the first digital Soyuz - TMA-01M. He trained several years for this mission. The TMA-01M launch was moved from May to September 2010.
So he is assigned to two other Expeditions [25 und 26] und they are under american command.
By the way: Kaleri is the Number 5 wiht nearly 610 days :) But really good guessing!
---
Sorry for my english, isn't my native language :)
"First Digital Soyuz" was a term i read in a article about TMA-01M and it was a quotation of Vitaly Lopota. If i remember correctly, and see the wrong launchdate -March/May, sorry for that - it's possible i mixed something, but they wrote about the replacement of the "analog" ARGON-computer, maybe also about a new KURS ...
You would think that as Soyuz technologies advance, the training for manual operations shortens as the autonomous operations on the vehicles will increase.
"First Digital Soyuz" was a term i read in a article about TMA-01M and it was a quotation of Vitaly Lopota
604 is exact, I'm pretty sure
You would think that as Soyuz technologies advance, the training for manual operations shortens as the autonomous operations on the vehicles will increase.
I wouldn't think that.
Autonomous systems can still fail.
"First Digital Soyuz" was a term i read in a article about TMA-01M and it was a quotation of Vitaly Lopota
This is incorrect term. Yes, new Soyuz TMA is more digital than old Soyuz TMA (analogue telemetry system is replaced by digital telemetry system), but it is not the first digital Soyuz. The first digital device (Argon-16 computer) has flown on Soyuz in 1974.604 is exact, I'm pretty sure
609:21:51:51.
Your dates imply that there will be 6-person crew all year round from 2011-2012
If there is an STS-135, judging by the article I'd go with this, although will most likely be wrong if there is an STS-135.
CDR Steve Lindsdey
PLT Gregory 'Ray J' Johnson
MS 1 Al Drew
MS 2 Nicole Stott
EDIT: Doh, Jim Kelly left NASA a while ago.
EDIT: Doh, Jim Kelly left NASA a while ago.
can anybody tell me if Commander Brent Jett could go up in space for the STS-135.No, per this article:
Does anyone know if any 'new' PLTs (ie Ray Jay) are going through CDR Upgrade at the moment? If he is, then can that be taken as an indicator that Johnson would be a candidate for a command? If not, then is he more likely to get a second PLT slot?
I asked a similar question some months ago about whether Box had gone through CDR Upgrade and the response was 'no'...and sure enough, he wound up as PLT again on STS-134. If Ray Jay has not yet gone through CDR Upgrade, it will surely give us a clue as to what position (CDR or PLT) he may or may not receive.
...so if Johnson hasn't yet gone through CDR Upgrade, is it fair to assume that it wouldn't be seen as worthwhile to do so, since any new CDR would only fly one command on a spacecraft soon to be retired?
EDIT: Doh, Jim Kelly left NASA a while ago.
Is that a fact? Since when?
Does anyone know if any 'new' PLTs (ie Ray Jay) are going through CDR Upgrade at the moment? If he is, then can that be taken as an indicator that Johnson would be a candidate for a command? If not, then is he more likely to get a second PLT slot?
I asked a similar question some months ago about whether Box had gone through CDR Upgrade and the response was 'no'...and sure enough, he wound up as PLT again on STS-134. If Ray Jay has not yet gone through CDR Upgrade, it will surely give us a clue as to what position (CDR or PLT) he may or may not receive.
If there is an STS-135, judging by the article I'd go with this, although will most likely be wrong if there is an STS-135.
CDR Steve Lindsdey
PLT Gregory 'Ray J' Johnson
MS 1 Al Drew
MS 2 Nicole Stott
EDIT: Doh, Jim Kelly left NASA a while ago.
If that is the case, does STS-133 become something like this?
CDR: Steve Frick
PLT: Eric Boe
MS: Tim Kopra
MS: Mike Barratt
MS: Megan McArthur
MS: Stan Love (or Rex Walheim)
Does anyone know if any 'new' PLTs (ie Ray Jay) are going through CDR Upgrade at the moment? If he is, then can that be taken as an indicator that Johnson would be a candidate for a command? If not, then is he more likely to get a second PLT slot?
I asked a similar question some months ago about whether Box had gone through CDR Upgrade and the response was 'no'...and sure enough, he wound up as PLT again on STS-134. If Ray Jay has not yet gone through CDR Upgrade, it will surely give us a clue as to what position (CDR or PLT) he may or may not receive.
This is a good question.
According to my reports the commander of STS-135 will be Steve Lindsey, no matter what. This means the pilot could be a number of people:
* Eric Boe, if moved from STS-133
* RayJ Johnson, if Boe isn't moved
* Doug Hurley, if Johnson isn't selected
* Kevin Ford is also a prime candidate
* Randy Bresnik, PERHAPS, but I'd bet unlikely, especially with a new daughter.If there is an STS-135, judging by the article I'd go with this, although will most likely be wrong if there is an STS-135.
CDR Steve Lindsdey
PLT Gregory 'Ray J' Johnson
MS 1 Al Drew
MS 2 Nicole Stott
EDIT: Doh, Jim Kelly left NASA a while ago.
If that is the case, does STS-133 become something like this?
CDR: Steve Frick
PLT: Eric Boe
MS: Tim Kopra
MS: Mike Barratt
MS: Megan McArthur
MS: Stan Love (or Rex Walheim)
Should STS-135 be instated, a few different astronauts could take over STS-133. I'd tend to think along the lines of Chris Ferguson instead of Steve Frick. I'd also put Frick and Archaumbalt as prime candidates, though.
With Fergy's new position as Dep. Chief, this could change things greatly.
As for the MSPs, don't forget about Whitson. We have no clue if Drew and Stott will be moved out of their crew position; it could be Barratt and Kopra or any combination of the four. Whomever is changed around, Love, Walheim, OR Whitson could replace.
I like McArthur's chances though. I also like RayJ's chances on getting on one of the two flights if one is added to the manifest.
Is Whitson slated for another station CMD ever again?
Yes, I would doubt to see Whitson on another crew for a while.
With all the talk about STS-135 being a four-person crew, it got me wondering about STS-133 and all the earlier talk about THAT mission having a small crew. Maybe they'll take the four MSs (Drew, Barratt, Kopra and Stott) and put half each on the two crews, add the Lindsey/Boe team as CDR/PLT of one flight and name a new CDR/PLT for the other. Could they do that? Crews of four on both missions? Or is the 133 crew size set now, whatever happens to the flight?
Following Ferguson's promotion, my money is on Gorie or Archambault as CDR, with Hurley or Ford (or maybe Johnson) as PLT.
Yes, I would doubt to see Whitson on another crew for a while.
With all the talk about STS-135 being a four-person crew, it got me wondering about STS-133 and all the earlier talk about THAT mission having a small crew. Maybe they'll take the four MSs (Drew, Barratt, Kopra and Stott) and put half each on the two crews, add the Lindsey/Boe team as CDR/PLT of one flight and name a new CDR/PLT for the other. Could they do that? Crews of four on both missions? Or is the 133 crew size set now, whatever happens to the flight?
Following Ferguson's promotion, my money is on Gorie or Archambault as CDR, with Hurley or Ford (or maybe Johnson) as PLT.
Just my two cents on the PLT position for STS-135: Given the short training timeframe with a December 2010 launch, I would not rule out a more recently flown PLT, say Wilmore or even Virts (who's the PLT for STS-130 in Feb. 2010). That would cut down on some of the re-training efforts for PLT.
According to Yuri Malenchenko's Spacefacts biography, he retired from the Cosmonaut corps. on 27 July 2009.
www.spacefacts.de/bios/cosmonauts/english/malenchenko_yuri.htm
So Padalka will get a third turn in commanding the ISS and it looks like Romanenko who was part of the last mission will take a turn as commander as well
According to Yuri Malenchenko's Spacefacts biography, he retired from the Cosmonaut corps. on 27 July 2009
When you say Malenchenko will be returning to the "civilian GCTC detachment", does this mean he becomes a civilian, flight engineer-type cosmonaut or will he remain a pilot-cosmonaut eligible for command positions?
Anik,
When you say Malenchenko will be returning to the "civilian GCTC detachment", does this mean he becomes a civilian, flight engineer-type cosmonaut or will he remain a pilot-cosmonaut eligible for command positions?
Anik,
When you say Malenchenko will be returning to the "civilian GCTC detachment", does this mean he becomes a civilian, flight engineer-type cosmonaut or will he remain a pilot-cosmonaut eligible for command positions?
Judging by the fact that Malenchenko has not been assigned a CDR position, despite having flown two previous long-duration flights (Exp. 7 & Exp. 16), I would say that he is now only eligible for civilian FE positions, and not military CDR positions.
Anik,
When you say Malenchenko will be returning to the "civilian GCTC detachment", does this mean he becomes a civilian, flight engineer-type cosmonaut or will he remain a pilot-cosmonaut eligible for command positions?
Judging by the fact that Malenchenko has not been assigned a CDR position, despite having flown two previous long-duration flights (Exp. 7 & Exp. 16), I would say that he is now only eligible for civilian FE positions, and not military CDR positions.
Was wondering why Russian ISS commanders are sometimes spaceflight "rookies", while all ISS commanders on the U.S. side have flown at least 1 mission prior?Look at the fact that now, with a 6-men crew on ISS, all the rookies Russian ISS commanders are ISS Flight engineers on their first increments. Skvortsorv (or later Kondratyev or Borisenko) will be Exp. 23 FE-1 and later will be Exp.24 CDR. The last time (if my memory works) that ISS have a (“just docked”) rookie CDR was in Exp 17 with Sergei Volkov.
Thank you.
Having said that, wasn't rookie Mike Barratt the backup CDR for Expedition 18?
...or the STS-134 crew, who also have ELC experience...?
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html
STS-133 is also listed with ELC-4...unless this has changed?
[/quote
Yes but wasn't we talking about the crew for LON-335? Then it doesn't mater if the crew has ELC experience or not since 335 will not carry a ELC.
Just one exception, Shannon Walker from NASA Group 19 will make her debut in June this year on board a Soyuz (she will be the only American member of this group not to fly on a shuttle).
STS-131 will be the last Shuttle mission with rookies after which time all of the astronaut class of 2004 (NASA Group 19) will have flown.
However, all of the class of 2009 (NASA Group 20) are rookies. With no expectation of a Shuttle flight, these folks will be ISS crews. I guess theoretically some of these folks could debut as an ISS CDR. I may depend on how many of the more senior folks decide to retire.
It also surprises me that Japan has not yet had a station command, but Canada is getting one. Isn't Canada a more junior member, funding-wise?
I also though Julie Payette would be the next Canadian to be assigned a long duration mission. I know she is their Chief Astronaut but she has expressed wishes to be part of a long duration mission. And now that they are 2 new astronauts in training and their limited spots on ISS her chances are getting slimmer.
When can we expect the first assignments for the Group 20 astronauts?
I have updated list of ISS Expeditions with information from Crew Training Status document published in L2 section of our forum:
Expedition 22
December 1, 2009 - March 18, 2010
CDR - Jeffrey Williams
FE1 - Maksim Suraev
FE4 - Oleg Kotov
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer
Expedition 23
March 18 - June 2, 2010
CDR - Oleg Kotov
FE1 - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE3 - Tracy Caldwell Dyson
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer
Expedition 24
June 2 - September 16, 2010
CDR - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE3 - Tracy Caldwell Dyson
FE4 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE5 - Shannon Walker
FE6 - Douglas Wheelock
Expedition 25
September 16 - November 26, 2010
CDR - Douglas Wheelock
FE1 - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 - Oleg Skripochka
FE3 - Scott Kelly
FE4 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE5 - Shannon Walker
Expedition 26
November 26, 2010 - March 16, 2011
CDR - Scott Kelly
FE1 - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 - Oleg Skripochka
FE4 - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE5 - Paolo Nespoli
FE6 - Catherine Coleman
Expedition 27
March 16 - May 15, 2011
CDR - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE1 - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE2 - Andrey Borisenko
FE3 - Ronald Garan
FE5 - Paolo Nespoli
FE6 - Catherine Coleman
Expedition 28
May 15 - September 14, 2011
CDR - Andrey Borisenko
FE1 - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE3 - Ronald Garan
FE4 - Sergey Volkov
FE5 - Satoshi Furukawa
FE6 - Michael Fossum
Expedition 29
September 14 - November 5, 2011
CDR - Michael Fossum
FE1 - Anton Shkaplerov
FE2 - Anatoliy Ivanishin
FE3 - Daniel Burbank
FE4 - Sergey Volkov
FE5 - Satoshi Furukawa
Expedition 30
November 5, 2011 - March 15, 2012
CDR - Daniel Burbank
FE1 - Anton Shkaplerov
FE2 - Anatoliy Ivanishin
FE4 - Oleg Kononenko
FE5 - André Kuipers
FE6 - Donald Pettit
Expedition 31
March 15 - May 16, 2012
CDR - Oleg Kononenko
FE1 - Gennadiy Padalka
FE2 - Konstantin Valkov
FE3 - Joseph Acaba
FE5 - André Kuipers
FE6 - Donald Pettit
Expedition 32
May 16 - September 15, 2012
CDR - Gennadiy Padalka
FE2 - Konstantin Valkov
FE3 - Joseph Acaba
FE4 - Yuriy Malenchenko
FE5 - Sunita Williams
FE6 - Akihiko Hoshide
Expedition 33
September 15 - November 5, 2012
CDR - Sunita Williams
FE1 - Maksim Suraev
FE2 - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE3 - Kevin Ford
FE4 - Yuriy Malenchenko
FE6 - Akihiko Hoshide
Expedition 34
November 5, 2012 - March 2013
CDR - Kevin Ford
FE1 - Maksim Suraev
FE2 - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE4 - Roman Romanenko
FE5 - Chris Hadfield
FE6 - Shane Kimbrough
Expedition 35
March - May 2013
CDR - Chris Hadfield
FE1 - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE2 - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE3 - NASA astronaut
FE4 - Roman Romanenko
FE6 - Shane Kimbrough
I've seen in briefings that makeup of ISS crews is a negotiation between the partners, based on contributions, and obviously political but I'm dumbfounded that 12 of the next 14 including 12 straight have 3 Russian crew members. Their contribution to the completed station is no where near 50 percent and they charge everyone to use their rockets. Monitoring the ISS video and audio feeds indicates Russian crew members work almost exclusively in the Russian segment and deal with only with the Moscow control center. How can the vastly larger non-russian segment with all the true research capability be appropriately utilized under this manning arrangement?
I've seen in briefings that makeup of ISS crews is a negotiation between the partners, based on contributions, and obviously political but I'm dumbfounded that 12 of the next 14 including 12 straight have 3 Russian crew members. Their contribution to the completed station is no where near 50 percent and they charge everyone to use their rockets. Monitoring the ISS video and audio feeds indicates Russian crew members work almost exclusively in the Russian segment and deal with only with the Moscow control center. How can the vastly larger non-russian segment with all the true research capability be appropriately utilized under this manning arrangement?
That reminds me, while keeping tabs on the STS-130 photos, as the mission progressed it seemed like Kotov and Suraev had very little interaction with the STS-130 crew, in terms of getting Node 3 installed. Compared to past expeditions where you'd see the Russians floating around, helping with EVA preps or what not, the only pictures I saw of the two Cosmonauts were when the STS-130 crew came aboard, when they were leaving, and maybe the joint meals.
Did TSuP just keep them really busy with tasks on the Russian end while STS-130 was docked? Or had they received little to no training to provide any useful assistance to the STS-130 crew's tasks?
Just read Chris' article on "STS-131 into FRRs – Managers check manifest status ahead of April decision":
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/03/sts-131-frr-managers-manifest-ahead-april-decision/
Look at the penultimate line:
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."
What are the reasons for this?
Weight reduction?
Well, Steve Lindsey, Eric Boe are secure in their seats. I'll guess Tim Kopra, the Flight Engineer, is as well. That leaves Al Drew, Nicole Stott and Mike Barratt to get bumped.
How does this work? Soyuz only takes 3, not 4. One would be without a ride home."STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."
What are the reasons for this?
Weight reduction?
SOYUZ as rescue option - easier with 4 astros stranded on ISS
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."
What are the reasons for this?
Weight reduction?
SOYUZ as rescue option - easier with 4 astros stranded on ISS
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."
What are the reasons for this?
Weight reduction?
SOYUZ as rescue option - easier with 4 astros stranded on ISS
But I thought STS-133 was going to have STS-335 as a LON?
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."
What are the reasons for this?
Weight reduction?
SOYUZ as rescue option - easier with 4 astros stranded on ISS
But I thought STS-133 was going to have STS-335 as a LON?
Yep. That's the plan. STS-335 is the LON for STS-133.
How does this work? Soyuz only takes 3, not 4. One would be without a ride home."STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."
What are the reasons for this?
Weight reduction?
SOYUZ as rescue option - easier with 4 astros stranded on ISS
No, two Soyuzes. One Russian CDR in each, with two rescued shuttle crewmembers.
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."
What are the reasons for this?
Weight reduction?
SOYUZ as rescue option - easier with 4 astros stranded on ISS
But I thought STS-133 was going to have STS-335 as a LON?
Yep. That's the plan. STS-335 is the LON for STS-133.
So then, why the crew reduction?
No, two Soyuzes. One Russian CDR in each, with two rescued shuttle crewmembers.
I know some ESA astronauts, and I guess some NASA astronauts as well, was certified to command a Soyuz on re-entry. Was this just for extreme cases if the Russian CDR would be incapacitated in some way?
What do we think - is this plausible?
What do we think - is this plausible?
Are you sure there's sufficient time for training and development of all the necessary flight products in this scenario?
I think there would be time if only 1 flight was added.
If Leonardo came down from 131 in late April, it could maybe be ready to fly again with some standard resupply racks by Sep./Oct./Nov.
And if the 2 bumped 133 crewmembers moved to this new mission, along with some recently "in the loop" MPLM trained crews (maybe from 131), then I think it might be doable.
I believe so. I don't believe the Russians would ever *launch* with a non-Russian Soyuz CDR.
. The PMM should ideally fly last, because once the PMM is added, no MPLMs can be berthed to ISS due to software issues.
I believe so. I don't believe the Russians would ever *launch* with a non-Russian Soyuz CDR.
Can't a Soyuz launch and dock to ISS unmanned? If so a 6 person crew could be landed in just 2 Soyuz if they are launched unmanned.
.
That's what we where talking about before that some ESA and NASA astronauts has been certified to command a Soyuz on its re-entry trip. That would make i able to land a 6 person shuttle crew with just 2 Soyuz. But this discussion fits better somewhere else since this thread is for crew assignments.
But still, they'd need Russian CDRs to land those Soyuzes
With all shuttle flight crew assignments basically complete, I was wondering if Anna Fisher is eligible to fly a long duration mission on ISS via Soyuz?
With all shuttle flight crew assignments basically complete, I was wondering if Anna Fisher is eligible to fly a long duration mission on ISS via Soyuz?
Fisher is over 60 years old. Either officially or unofficially, PR stunts aside, it seems NASA doesn't fly astronauts past the age of 60 (Musgrave was told when assigned to STS-80 it would be his last flight...which he flew at age 61).
So, no I don't see Anna Fisher flying again.
...which does beg the question: why did she rejoin the Astronaut Office in 1996 (when she was only 47) and stick around for so long without a chance of flying?
I know astronauts often describe the ground work as exciting, and I'm sure it is, but you don't become an astronaut to just do ground work!
Yes, but since Columbia, other astronauts - Robinson, Grunsfeld, Parazynski - have flown third, fourth and fifth missions, so the emphasis on flying rookies as a reason for Fisher remaining on the ground doesn't hold much water.
Also, Fisher returned to CB in February 1996, a full SEVEN YEARS before Columbia. During that time, even John Glenn got an assignment...and some astronauts began and completed four-flight careers!
Yes, but since Columbia, other astronauts - Robinson, Grunsfeld, Parazynski - have flown third, fourth and fifth missions, so the emphasis on flying rookies as a reason for Fisher remaining on the ground doesn't hold much water.
Also, Fisher returned to CB in February 1996, a full SEVEN YEARS before Columbia. During that time, even John Glenn got an assignment...and some astronauts began and completed four-flight careers!
As noted Grunsfeld had HST experience. Parazynski is a mystery. Robinson still fell under the "four flight" guideline (note I'm not calling it a rule).
Also, I'd imagine there's a big difference between an older astronaut who has been in constant training for years, and years with multiple missions, and an astronaut who flew one flight in 1984, left the astronaut office, then returned. As she came back in 1996 I suspect she was lumped in with the 1996 group in terms of when she could have had a flight assignment. Ultimately due to age, it may have been decided not to fly her with the delays due to RTF.
Who would you fly then? Someone from the 1998, 2000 and even 2004 selection, who will be around for the post-shuttle era, and can carry experience over to the next astronauts, or Fisher, with one flight, likely never to fly again even after a second flight?
Further, who is best suited to bring experience over to those rookies? Seasoned vets, like Robinson, Grunsfeld, and Parazynski. Whose flight experience is far more current than Fisher's.
Finally, you are aware John Glenn's role on a shuttle flight was entirely political, right?
Parazynski had been previously assigned to STS-118 prior to STS-107, and was subsequently transferred to STS-120 during the crew shuffle after the accident.
If she was "lumped" in with the 1996 group, well, they had all flown or at least been assigned by 2002, which was BEFORE Columbia...and yet Fisher was overlooked. Here's a person who admittedly had flown many years earlier, but she had RMS experience, which would have been beneficial for ISS, and one other thing that she had that none of the others did...she had actual flight experience. Did all of THAT count for so little?
Incidently, Steve Hawley came back onto flight status at exactly the same time as Fisher and was immediately reassigned to STS-82 - yes, he had three previous flights to her one, but he hadn't flown for some years either.
If STS-135 flies my prediction is it will be a six member crew, and it might go like this.
CMD: Dominic Gorie
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS: Dan Tani
MS: Rex Walheim
MS: TJ Creamer
MS: Danny Olivas
I clearly missed something this weekend...when did STS-135's chances of flying go back up?
Was wondering, with three female crew members aboard Discovery and one aboard ISS, is this the first time four women have been in space at the same time?
That's what we where talking about before that some ESA and NASA astronauts has been certified to command a Soyuz on its re-entry trip. That would make i able to land a 6 person shuttle crew with just 2 Soyuz. But this discussion fits better somewhere else since this thread is for crew assignments.
But still, they'd need Russian CDRs to land those Soyuzes
According to the latest Astronaut Biographies update, is now listed under the FCO Directorate section.
According to the latest Astronaut Biographies update, is now listed under the FCO Directorate section.
Does that mean that Gregory C. Johnson can't go back to space.
According to the latest Astronaut Biographies update, is now listed under the FCO Directorate section.
Does that mean that Gregory C. Johnson can't go back to space.
He can't go back until he gets an active astronaut status again.
I have a question regarding recent ISS crew selections.
I always thought that a crew member who was assigned as Flight Engineer to a long duration increment, would get assigned as CDR if chosen to fly again.
I noticed several upcoming assignments in which that isn't so:
ISS 26 A. Kaleri
ISS 31 D. Pettit
ISS 34 M. Surayev
ISS 35 R. Romanenko
Kaleri is a surprise, considering he'll be marking his fifth space flight
Any word if the mission swap of STS-133 and STS-134 will impact crew assignments at all? Or is the training cycle too far along to play games with that?
Aside from Lindsey being pointed at the "last flight", I recall some mention of STS-133 being reduced to a crew of 4. Is that less likely now?
Presumably Hans Schlegel is out of the running, then?
What was the reason for the CDR change from Ford to Suraev on EXP-34?
Was MC for a Astronaut Office farewell party for 6 astronauts including 2 guys from my last mission, it was fun getting everyone together.
Quote from: Mike Massimino via TwitterWas MC for a Astronaut Office farewell party for 6 astronauts including 2 guys from my last mission, it was fun getting everyone together.
Wow, 6 astronauts have left! The two guys from STS-125 are John Grunsfeld and I should think Scott Altman (or maybe Greg "Ray J" Johnson, but I doubt it due to his recent FCOD assignment). Any idea who the other 4 are?
Quote from: Mike Massimino via TwitterWas MC for a Astronaut Office farewell party for 6 astronauts including 2 guys from my last mission, it was fun getting everyone together.
Wow, 6 astronauts have left! The two guys from STS-125 are John Grunsfeld and I should think Scott Altman (or maybe Greg "Ray J" Johnson, but I doubt it due to his recent FCOD assignment). Any idea who the other 4 are?
Keep in mind, Ray J could leave the Astronaut Corps and remain working for FCOD, working Aircraft Ops. Steve Nagel is still a "Research Pilot" at Ellington Field but retired from the Astronaut Office sometime ago.
In short....who are the six and where are they going?
Ray J is one.
Ray J is one.
Leaving after only one flight? Wouldn't he be in line for another flight if the Shuttle program is extended?
And do you know whether he is leaving the astronaut office to go to FCOD, or is he leaving NASA altogether?
So there's six resignations from the Astronaut Office:It isn't that there were six new resignations.... Massimino reported that he had been MC for an office going-way party, and those whose departures were being noted were Grunsfeld, Ray Jay Johnson, Olivas and Gorie along with Parazynski and Melroy -- both of whom left last fall.
Greg 'Ray J' Johnson
Dom Gorie
Danny Olivas
Scott Altman?
...and who else...?
(assuming of course that Grunsfeld actually left some time ago)
NASA TV Video of the Astronaut Hall Of Fame (AHOF) 2010 Induction.
The inductees were Guy Bluford, Ken Bowersox, Frank Culbertson, and Kathy Thornton.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYaXA-7xo08
Per anik's post on the Russian launch schedule thread, Soyuz TMA-06M is the "5th Soyuz" for 2012 which is used for Space Adventures or other paying customer.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=1133.0
So I think the assignments you are referring to are for Soyuz TMA-07M and Soyuz TMA-08M respectively.
Unless there is some change after anik's post.
So presumably Kimbrough has been dropped from his expedition? Any ideas why?
And again Sergei Revin got no assignment >:(
Selected in 1996 and waiting for a flight and later selected cosmonauts will fly earlier. Russian style of crew policy or what? Last year he was assigned for an expedition and now removed?
Met him 5 years ago and he hoped to get an assignment within 4 years.
Greets,
Marius
Who gives an "F"? Discussions like these trivialize spaceflight and bring it down to the same level of discussions as what are Brittany Spears or Paris Hilton are doing. There will be a crew. Who they are is meaningless and insignificant. If spaceflight is to be routine then discussion like this are not worthy of websites such as this and should be relegated to grocery store rags (which are equivalent to British rags that feature Page 3 girls.)
Many thanks for your time, Jim. Think I preferred the old "you are looking for logic..." response, though... ;)
My point was not to wonder aimlessly. I had read on this site some weeks ago that all Shuttle Mission Simulator training was coming to an end and I was curious to know which crews were still 'current' in terms of simulators etc, as a possible indicator for who might be assigned the next crew.
That's not quite true. The SMS Fixed Base and Motion Base will remain active until the last flight deorbits. Training in the SMS Guidance and Navigation Simulator (GNS), a second fixed base, ended in April.
There is no longer any "generic" standalone SMS training, and generic integrated sims are now crewed by MOD volunteers instead of astronauts (this had been true for orbit sims since STS-131, but is now true of ascent/entry sims as well).
Since there is no longer any CDR Upgrade training, and all PLTs have now flown at least once, it is safe to assume that both the CDR and PLT for 135, if it flies, will be veterans at their positions. Likewise it is fairly safe to assume that at least one of the two MSes will have previous EVA flight experience and one will have previous RMS flight experience. Have fun.
Is the SAIL still being staffed by Astronauts/in operation?
Is the SAIL still being staffed by Astronauts/in operation?
SAIL isn't a training device, it is an engineering tool and would have to be in use until the shuttle program is ended. Thus, it is not used by the astronauts (very much)
Is the SAIL still being staffed by Astronauts/in operation?
SAIL isn't a training device, it is an engineering tool and would have to be in use until the shuttle program is ended. Thus, it is not used by the astronauts (very much)
I thought astronauts were typically attached to the SAIL (usually before they get flight assignments).
Yes, but it's considered an engineering task, not a training task.
Okay, let's assume Ferguson as CDR and Hurley as PLT for 135.
Now, let's break down the whole MS debate. It's fair to assume that the two MSs will have had recent MPLM experience. However, if we break down "MPLM experience" into a specific skill, then what it really means is skills in transferring & stowing items aboard the ISS. Another thing to consider, as there would be no LON for 135, is that MSs with recent Soyuz experience would be desirable. So, we need MSs with recent experience in transferring & stowing items aboard the ISS, and recent Soyuz experience.
Essentially, that means any US long-duration crewmember who was aboard the ISS during the STS-131/19A stage would be in line for 135. Therefore, I'm thinking TJ Creamer and Tracy Caldwell-Dyson as MSs (a bonus of Caldwell-Dyson is that she has previous Shuttle experience, and will have EVA experience when she returns from Expedition 24 on 24th September).
So, we need MSs with recent experience in transferring & stowing items aboard the ISS, and recent Soyuz experience.
Okay, let's assume Ferguson as CDR and Hurley as PLT for 135.
Now, let's break down the whole MS debate. It's fair to assume that the two MSs will have had recent MPLM experience. However, if we break down "MPLM experience" into a specific skill, then what it really means is skills in transferring & stowing items aboard the ISS. Another thing to consider, as there would be no LON for 135, is that MSs with recent Soyuz experience would be desirable. So, we need MSs with recent experience in transferring & stowing items aboard the ISS, and recent Soyuz experience.
Essentially, that means any US long-duration crewmember who was aboard the ISS during the STS-131/19A stage would be in line for 135. Therefore, I'm thinking TJ Creamer and Tracy Caldwell-Dyson as MSs (a bonus of Caldwell-Dyson is that she has previous Shuttle experience, and will have EVA experience when she returns from Expedition 24 on 24th September).
Keep in mind Chris Ferguson is currently Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. A position I expect will be held by a Shuttle CDR until the last orbiter calls "Wheels stop."
This doesn't stop Ferguson from getting STS-135, I know, its just a thought I wanted to throw out there.
I can't see many PLTs would relish the step down to an MS seat, but could be wrong.
This doesn't stop Ferguson from getting STS-135, I know, its just a thought I wanted to throw out there.
Remember that Steve Lindsey was THE chief of the astronaut office and was still assigned to STS-133. Giving STS-135 to Ferguson would be no issue.
2) If Ferguson were to fly STS-135, a new Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office would be selected, most likely a veteran Shuttle CDR.
Just as a note, Scott Altman can't be CDR as he retired from NASA in June.
Just as a note, Scott Altman can't be CDR as he retired from NASA in June.
Just as a note, Scott Altman can't be CDR as he retired from NASA in June.
Has it been announced officially?
Here's a different take on the crew of 135 -- Lindsey, Boe, Drew and Kopra.
My thinking is that, from a training perspective, having returned from 133, they would be the most trained crew available to fly 335 in support of 134. When the launch on need requirement is over, they slip into 135.
And Lindsey still gets the final flight.
Just a thought.
Here's a different take on the crew of 135 -- Lindsey, Boe, Drew and Kopra.
My thinking is that, from a training perspective, having returned from 133, they would be the most trained crew available to fly 335 in support of 134. When the launch on need requirement is over, they slip into 135.
And Lindsey still gets the final flight.
Just a thought.
Crew selection is not about placating people's personal desires. Lindsey tried to get himself on the last flight and it didn't work out quite the way he'd hoped. That doesn't mean he should get 135.
(Venting now, not directed at anyone) I mean, what happens if there's a 136? Does that mean Lindsey just keeps getting assigned until the program actually ends?
As I understand it, Lindsey was asked (by Jett?) to command STS-133, having already stated that he intended 121 to have been his last mission.
1. I seem to recall that returning Apollo crews (16?) were recycled into backup roles for the end of that program, and I think that was done because of the minimal amount of training they needed, having just completed a mission (I should double check this).
The Apollo 15 backup crew of Gordon, Brand and Schmitt was also in the running to fly Apollo 17 for a while.
The Apollo 15 backup crew of Gordon, Brand and Schmitt was also in the running to fly Apollo 17 for a while.
With slightly over a year to go before Apollo 17's launch, and having swapped crew members previously on Apollo 13, Slayton must have felt that an entire crew change wasn't necessary.
This sounds consistent with the perception Astronaut Office Chiefs like to project when they take a flight. Hoot Gibson, was assigned to STS-71 after publicly stating he had no intention to fly it. He had Dave Leestma, the Director of Flight Crew Ops tell the Astronaut Office directly that HE was asking Gibson to fly STS-71 (which was accurate as Gibson submitted the STS-71 crew with Steve Nagel as CDR). Apparently Dan Brandenstein had ticked some of his colleagues off by taking STS-32 and STS-49 and Gibson wanted to avoid the same.
I also recall reading (I think it was in "Dragonfly") that the Russians were also insisting that the Chief Astronaut fly the first Mir docking. It's not 100% clear in what I've read if that was an actual reason or one that was made up to get Gibson to take the flight (either to get him out of the chief's role or because Abbey had an issue with Nagel). I've seen both versions of the story.
My guess is that Slayton eventually decided that Cernan had done a good job up until that point, had proven himself, and deserved to command Apollo 17, which was his mission in the rotation. It was Dick Gordon's mission that was cancelled, not Cernan's, and any sentimentality aside, Cernan had earned it. There was no reason to take it away from him.
Short question: Is there a possibility that Mr. Lindsey will command both missions(STS-133 and STS-135)?
this is my prediction for the STS-135 Crew:
CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Douglas Hurley
MS: Robert S. Kimbrough
Thomas Marshburn
if Steve Lindsey is assign for sts 135 that would not be fair for the other commanders that are waiting to get the STS-135 flight
...One would hope it became 'more fair' when veteran astronauts who lived through 'more unfair' times started entering senior positions in FCOD, as JSC Director, KSC Director etc. If you believe Burrough, with Abbey in charge of JSC, it was probably not fair. With Coats at the helm, perhaps there is a difference...?
The relatively recent appointment of Ferguson as deputy chief shouldn't preclude him from the 135 command. After all, Coats took the deputy chief mantle after STS-29 and was named to command STS-39 barely six months later.
...One would hope it became 'more fair' when veteran astronauts who lived through 'more unfair' times started entering senior positions in FCOD, as JSC Director, KSC Director etc. If you believe Burrough, with Abbey in charge of JSC, it was probably not fair. With Coats at the helm, perhaps there is a difference...?
This photo recently emerged of the STS-134 crew receiving a briefing on the Sensor Test for Orion Relative Navigation Risk Mitigation DTO. Interestingly, Megan McArthur can be seen receiving the briefing along with the STS-134 crew.
Surely the only reason that Megan would be receiving a briefing on a Shuttle-based DTO is if she is in line to fly on the Shuttle?
What's the possibility that some potential STS-135 crewmembers are sitting in on training sessions with the STS-134 crew, so that they will have a head start on training should 135 be approved?
If the above is possible, then maybe Megan could be heading to the ISS?! :)
IIRC, only three astronauts flew as PLT on 3 shuttle missions:
Curt Brown
Kent Rominger
Scott Horowitz
No doubt, the third flight each flew as PLT must have been to replace another astronaut that for some reason could not fly.
I know Rominger replaced Ashby on STS 85.
Anyone know who the "original" PLT may have been on STS 77 and STS 101?
Thanks.
Was there a reason why Horowitz got a third PLT slot? I don't recall any talk of him 'replacing' anyone.
Assuming 135 gets approved, who will have the most say re crew selection? Will it be Peggy Whitson, current Chief of the Astronaut Office (is this a permanent title, or is she interim?)? Will it be Brent Jett, Director of FCOD? Will Steve Lindsay, former and perhaps chief again after 133, have significant input? Or. . .anyone else?
Sorry if my questions were confusing. Some consider Peggy Whitson a short-term Chief of the Astronaut Office; one theory having Steve Lindsay returning to the job when finished with 133. That line of thinking, combined with Whitson being the first non-pilot to head the office, can give the impression she may not have the same influence in crew selection that other chiefs have enjoyed.
STS-135
CDR: ?
PLT: ?
MS1: Michael Fossum
MS2: Sandy Magnus
This is why I choose Fossum:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=22593.0
WHy? DO YOU KNOW ?
WHy? DO YOU KNOW ?
I have no idea who the crew for STS-135 will be. I'm just saying I think all the guessing will prove to be futile and we'll all end up being surprised by who's chosen for 135.
WHy? DO YOU KNOW ?
I have no idea who the crew for STS-135 will be. I'm just saying I think all the guessing will prove to be futile and we'll all end up being surprised by who's chosen for 135.
I would guess there would be a small amount of logic for STS-135's crew selection given the relatively shorter time to train for a mission. Guess we'll know for sure on September 14th.
Orbiter
WHy? DO YOU KNOW ?
I have no idea who the crew for STS-135 will be. I'm just saying I think all the guessing will prove to be futile and we'll all end up being surprised by who's chosen for 135.
I would guess there would be a small amount of logic for STS-135's crew selection given the relatively shorter time to train for a mission. Guess we'll know for sure on September 14th.
Orbiter
Minister of State Goodyear to Announce
An Important Space Mission
Minister of State Goodyear to Announce
An Important Space Mission
Cool, let's hope for Julie Payette! :D
Great news that Karen Nyberg is getting another shot at a flight too.
Minister of State Goodyear to Announce
An Important Space Mission
Cool, let's hope for Julie Payette! :D
Great news that Karen Nyberg is getting another shot at a flight too.
Not a big shock though as she was assigned to STS-132 before being pulled for a "temporary medical condition", which sounded like pregnancy to some here. If that was the case, she was in line to fly, and without a shuttle flight, ISS it is.
Minister of State Goodyear to Announce
An Important Space Mission
Cool, let's hope for Julie Payette! :D
Great news that Karen Nyberg is getting another shot at a flight too.
Not a big shock though as she was assigned to STS-132 before being pulled for a "temporary medical condition", which sounded like pregnancy to some here. If that was the case, she was in line to fly, and without a shuttle flight, ISS it is.
I know we weren't supposed to speculate on Karen Nyberg's 'temporary medical condition' but her official bio (and that of partner Doug Hurley) has recently been updated to say, 'Married. One child.'
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/nyberg-kl.html
This is just terrible, I have no idea why they've suddenly decided to do this. :(
"The entire Russian cosmonaut community is up in arms at what is happening and in the end they may all go on strike."
Quote"The entire Russian cosmonaut community is up in arms at what is happening and in the end they may all go on strike."
:o
Will NASA announce the STS 335/135 crew this coming week?
It should be named tomorrow, as indicated from the August 20th article on STS-135.
Oh, I'd forgotten about that! Now you've got me all excited (although we probably won't get to hear about it for a week or so yet).
Space Pete
So pleased that I predicted Fergie & Hurley! :D
TALsite on http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=22593.0
In the crew of Atlantis I would include:
-For MS2 I choose an astronaut with ISS experience. Sandy Magnus is a good choice for me. She was ISS FE during 133 days, has Soyuz training, and she was an MS2 on STS-112, and fly a MPLM mission on STS-126.
-For MS1 I choose Michael Fossum (bumped from the delayed TMA-02M flight). He has MPLM experience with STS-121 and six EVAS under his belt.
QuoteSpace Pete
So pleased that I predicted Fergie & Hurley! :DQuoteTALsite on http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=22593.0
In the crew of Atlantis I would include:
-For MS2 I choose an astronaut with ISS experience. Sandy Magnus is a good choice for me. She was ISS FE during 133 days, has Soyuz training, and she was an MS2 on STS-112, and fly a MPLM mission on STS-126.
-For MS1 I choose Michael Fossum (bumped from the delayed TMA-02M flight). He has MPLM experience with STS-121 and six EVAS under his belt.
Yes... and I predicted Magnus! A 50% for me... or more, because I proposed to fly Fossum from the Soyuz TMA-02M
Maybe Peggy Whitson and Brent Jett just couldn't decide...so they logged on to NSF for some advice...
Maybe Peggy Whitson and Brent Jett just couldn't decide...so they logged on to NSF for some advice...
Yahoo News: "Medal snub for Russian cosmonaut sparks 'cosmic scandal'". (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100907/sc_afp/russiaspacepoliticsiss;_ylt=Aj5jS_ZoKmS68GcMqjG9v5mHgsgF;_ylu=X3oDMTJ0dWhuc3I0BGFzc2V0A2FmcC8yMDEwMDkwNy9ydXNzaWFzcGFjZXBvbGl0aWNzaXNzBHBvcwM0BHNlYwN5bl9wYWdpbmF0ZV9zdW1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2xrA21lZGFsc251YmZvcg--)Quote"The entire Russian cosmonaut community is up in arms at what is happening and in the end they may all go on strike."
:o
The award was long overdue. Cosmonauts are traditionally awarded the title upon finishing their mission. However the Defense Ministry denied Suraev the honor twice.http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-11-02/space-blogger-hero-russia.html
The reason for this has never been revealed, although some media cited their sources familiar with the situation as saying that the delay was due to red tape. Apparently all the problems have now been resolved.
“The story is over. It was a procedural delay relating to the fact that some cosmonauts also serve in the defense ministry. Now we have an award order dated 30 October,” RIA Novosti cites Sergey Krikalev, head of the Cosmonaut Training Center as saying.
Looking at the FCOD list on jsc.nasa.gov/Bios, quite a few astronauts have moved from CB over to FCOD. The newer ones include Lee Archambault, John Phillips, Jim Kelly, Pat Forrester and Stan Love. Does anyone know the reason for the sudden exodus? Is it just the end of the Shuttle or is NASA beefing up Aircraft Ops?
Looking at the FCOD list on jsc.nasa.gov/Bios, quite a few astronauts have moved from CB over to FCOD. The newer ones include Lee Archambault, John Phillips, Jim Kelly, Pat Forrester and Stan Love. Does anyone know the reason for the sudden exodus? Is it just the end of the Shuttle or is NASA beefing up Aircraft Ops?
For Stockton astronaut Jose Hernandez, 2009 was the year of space travel, 2010 the year of working with Congress, and 2011 has the makings of a year of big decisions.
In 2010, he served as a liaison between the White House and Congress, presenting the Obama administration's vision of commercial space travel and missions to Mars and hoping to find support.
Now that his desk assignment is complete, Hernandez is faced with choosing whether to make another space trip: a six-month mission to the International Space Station.
It would require him first to train at a foreign space agency for 21/2 years.
"It's a pretty demanding job," Hernandez said, and one that would require greater sacrifices from his wife, Adela, and their five children. It would mean he would be away from them for three years.
"I think they prefer I don't make that commitment," he said. Hernandez said he plans to make a decision this month.
"I'm still on the fence. ... At this point, you have to say maybe it's enough. Maybe I've done what I want to do."
His wife was shot a day ago and I don't want this site lowered to the standards of other sites who are SPECULATING over the future of his role with STS-134.
It's pointless at this stage, and I'm sure Commander Kelly is thinking more about his wife than his bloody job.
Don't like it because Space.com brought it up and it's fair game? Well they have a messageboard....
A period of respect is required, and if something official changes with the assignment, then it's totally open for discussion.As an example and as has been widely reported, the House of Representatives will meet but the leadership postponed their planned legislative agenda for at least a week.
Jose Hernandez will make a decision on whether to pursue a long-duration flight this month. It sounds to me like he's more in favour of not doing it. :(QuoteFor Stockton astronaut Jose Hernandez, 2009 was the year of space travel, 2010 the year of working with Congress, and 2011 has the makings of a year of big decisions.
In 2010, he served as a liaison between the White House and Congress, presenting the Obama administration's vision of commercial space travel and missions to Mars and hoping to find support.
Now that his desk assignment is complete, Hernandez is faced with choosing whether to make another space trip: a six-month mission to the International Space Station.
It would require him first to train at a foreign space agency for 21/2 years.
"It's a pretty demanding job," Hernandez said, and one that would require greater sacrifices from his wife, Adela, and their five children. It would mean he would be away from them for three years.
"I think they prefer I don't make that commitment," he said. Hernandez said he plans to make a decision this month.
"I'm still on the fence. ... At this point, you have to say maybe it's enough. Maybe I've done what I want to do."
Full article. (http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110104/A_NEWS/101040316)
After 10 years with NASA, Hernandez decided to exchange his space suit for a Brooks Brothers suit in the private aerospace industry.
"It certainly was a very tough decision to make," Hernandez said. "I really had to weigh my options but when all was said and done, doing what's best for my family outweighed the other benefits.
"I didn't want to have my family when they're all grown up and out of the house. I really want to enjoy them and be around them on a daily basis."
Hernandez has been hired as executive director of strategic operations at MEI Technologies, a Latino-owned, Houston-based company that specializes in applied engineering, cyber security, and international research and development in aerospace, defense, optics and biotechnology.
Hernandez will be responsible for developing new business opportunities internationally in public and private industries.
"We have some pretty aggressive plans," he said. He starts Feb. 1.
Hernandez said his new job will allow him more flexibility to spend time in Stockton, and will allow him to be more involved in the community and with the Jose Hernandez Reaching for the Stars Foundation.
He is still considering seeking political office in the Stockton area in the future.
Interesting that will leave a 'gap' of at least 5 expeditions between having a US commander. It seems that after Hadfield, there will be 3 back-to-back Russian commanders, then Wakata. I can't imagine NASA is happy with having none of its astronauts in command for a span of two years or more? After all, they are the station's biggest partner.
Don't know...but it seems mandatory to have a fair few Russian ones!
an ASCAN already assignment? I guess it is a few years away yet.
Looks like Garrett has gone to SpaceX!He has to go where he can get a flight I suppose. It is appearing more and more evident NASA won't be having anything to do with spaceflight for a while to come. But that is another thread.
Elon Musk:
"Garrett's experience ... invaluable as we prepare the spacecraft that will carry the next generation of explorers".
Looks like Garrett has gone to SpaceX!He has to go where he can get a flight I suppose. It is appearing more and more evident NASA won't be having anything to do with spaceflight for a while to come. But that is another thread.
Elon Musk:
"Garrett's experience ... invaluable as we prepare the spacecraft that will carry the next generation of explorers".
In three years, Swanson will head up to the ISS for six months. He begins his training program this summer.
I hadn't realised that Janet Kavandi was now the Director of Flight Crew Operations. I guess that Brent Jett must have recently left/moved on?
President of CNES Yannick d'Escatha has told today to Russian Interfax news agency that the next spaceflight of French astronaut is planned in 2016.
Presumably we're discounting the possibility of Schlegel, Eyharts, Nespoli or Vittori getting an expedition?
I know they'll be heading into their late 50s/early 60s by that time, but, hey, Vinogradov's due to fly in 2013 at age 60!
I guess Gerst is the first pick for the 2014-slot.
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Pr_17_2009_p_EN.html
- second paragraph -
I guess Gerst is the first pick for the 2014-slot.
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Pr_17_2009_p_EN.html
- second paragraph -
Maybe my sense of humor radar has broken down, but if you mean Bill Gerstenmaier - he's American. Just as my name is Scandinavian, but I don't drive a Volvo.....heh, humor's working again! ;)
I guess Gerst is the first pick for the 2014-slot.
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Pr_17_2009_p_EN.html
- second paragraph -
So, per this new info (if it is still correct), this is how ESA's 2009 ASCAN flight assignments are lining up:
• 2013 - Luca Parmitano (Italy).
• 2014 - Alexander Gerst (Germany).
• 2015 - Samantha Cristoforetti (Italy).
• 2016 - Thomas Pesquet (France).
Two more slots post-2016 will go to Andreas Mogensen (Denmark), and Tim Peake (UK).
I bet Peake is last to fly. :(
More like this:
• 2013 - Luca Parmitano (Italy).
• 2014 - Andreas Mogensen (Denmark) or Tim Peake (UK).
• 2015 - ???
• 2016 - Thomas Pesquet (France).
• 2017 - Alexander Gerst (Germany).
• 2018 - Tim Peake (UK) or Andreas Mogensen (Denmark)
• 2019 - ???
• 2020 - Samantha Cristoforetti (Italy) (if she will fly at all).....
That is old.... Don't think the German will fly first, I put my money on the Brit and the Astro from Denmark to fly before the German :)
• 2020 - Samantha Cristoforetti (Italy) (if she will fly at all).....
Some thoughts on backup assignments:
Hadfield (CSA) is nominated for Expeditions 34/35 (November 2012 to May 2013). His backup is Parmitano (ESA). Hadfield will be ISS Commander of Expedition 35.
Parmitano (ESA) is nominated for Expeditions 36/37 (May to November 2013). His backup is Wakata (JAXA).
Wakata is nominated for Expeditions 38/39 (November 2013 to May 2014). Wakata will be ISS Commander of Expedition 39. His backup is not yet nominated.
We might assume that the ESA astronaut assigned to Expeditions 40/41 (May to November 2014) will also be Wakata's backup.
So will two new ESA astronauts be backup ISS commanders?
When is the next regular slot for an ESA ISS commander?
I'd be more interested on which astros will be assigned to Orion crews
More like this:
• 2013 - Luca Parmitano (Italy).
• 2014 - Andreas Mogensen (Denmark) or Tim Peake (UK).
• 2015 - ???
• 2016 - Thomas Pesquet (France).
• 2017 - Alexander Gerst (Germany).
• 2018 - Tim Peake (UK) or Andreas Mogensen (Denmark)
• 2019 - ???
• 2020 - Samantha Cristoforetti (Italy) (if she will fly at all).....
Noticed that Anderson, Creamer and Wolf have now joined the 'ineligible' management astronauts section. Looking at most of the bios, though, it doesn't make any reference to their transfer from active status...in fact, some of their bios have stayed the same for more than two years.
Does anyone know what their roles and responsibilities are in this new 'management' area? I'd guess that pilots like Johnson, Ham, Zamka etc are most likely working Aircraft Ops, but what of the rest?
Also, with only half of Group 20 (Aunon, Lindgren, Hopkins and Wiseman) now listed as 'active', how long will it be before Vande-Hei, Rubins etc end their candidacy programme and join the active list?
Thanks
Noticed that Anderson, Creamer and Wolf have now joined the 'ineligible' management astronauts section. Looking at most of the bios, though, it doesn't make any reference to their transfer from active status...in fact, some of their bios have stayed the same for more than two years.
Does anyone know what their roles and responsibilities are in this new 'management' area? I'd guess that pilots like Johnson, Ham, Zamka etc are most likely working Aircraft Ops, but what of the rest?
Also, with only half of Group 20 (Aunon, Lindgren, Hopkins and Wiseman) now listed as 'active', how long will it be before Vande-Hei, Rubins etc end their candidacy programme and join the active list?
Thanks
Noticed that Anderson, Creamer and Wolf have now joined the 'ineligible' management astronauts section. Looking at most of the bios, though, it doesn't make any reference to their transfer from active status...in fact, some of their bios have stayed the same for more than two years.
Does anyone know what their roles and responsibilities are in this new 'management' area? I'd guess that pilots like Johnson, Ham, Zamka etc are most likely working Aircraft Ops, but what of the rest?
Also, with only half of Group 20 (Aunon, Lindgren, Hopkins and Wiseman) now listed as 'active', how long will it be before Vande-Hei, Rubins etc end their candidacy programme and join the active list?
Thanks
Clay Anderson took his final T-38 flight a few weeks ago, and has previously announced via Twitter that he won't be flying in space again.
Many thanks for your responses. That was going to be my next question: whether or not some of these 'management' transfers were 'enforced' by senior management or 'requested' by the astronauts themselves.
I just find it interesting that there are almost as many astronauts in management status as on active status. To my uninformed eye, it just seems such an enormous waste of talent...but then I don't know what any of these 'management' duties actually entail.
To my uninformed eye, it just seems such an enormous waste of talent...but then I don't know what any of these 'management' duties actually entail.
Acording to Thomas Reiter, who I talked to yesterday in Noordwijk, Alex Gerst is probably going to fly as an ESA astronaut in 2014....
Astronaut Mike Massimino indicated to Greg Dobbs on HD-NET yesterday that he is currently taking lesssons in the Russian language.At 6 foot 3 inches he right at the Astronaut height restriction of 75 inches. This the height max. of Canadian Astronauts and I would assume US Astronauts as well. The CSA tells us that the 75" max is the max. height the Soyuz seats will handle.
He also said that at 6 foot 3 inches, he is not too tall to fly in Soyuz.
Stay tuned...
Whatever happened to Shane Kimbrough? He had a backup assignment for a while, was replaced and has since vanished from the list.
Maybe this has already been answered here, but it is strange that the U.S. seems to have paid for the bulk of the ISS yet the Russians will always have 3 astronauts on board while the U.S. will usually only have 2. How exactly did this happen? Did Russia demand this during negotiations and the U.S. really wanted Russia to be involved or does Russia actually deserve this?
Any news about the 2014/15 ISS expeditions?The first crew of 2014 you can find on L2.
Any news about the 2014/15 ISS expeditions?The first crew of 2014 you can find on L2.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26135.0
The next crew is now on L2.Any news about the 2014/15 ISS expeditions?The first crew of 2014 you can find on L2.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26135.0
Yes, thanks -- found it ..! But I was actually kind of hoping it would confirm the rumored assignments of the 2014 ESA slot ...
;)
The next crew is now on L2.Any news about the 2014/15 ISS expeditions?The first crew of 2014 you can find on L2.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26135.0
Yes, thanks -- found it ..! But I was actually kind of hoping it would confirm the rumored assignments of the 2014 ESA slot ...
;)
Don't know whether its relevant, but spotted Jeff Williams sitting in on a training session with the Expedition 30 crew in July.
http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-31/html/jsc2011e073781.html
At the risk of irritating Jim even further, could this be an indicator that Williams may be up for future assignment?
Sorry Jim ;)
Astronaut Mike Massimino indicated to Greg Dobbs on HD-NET yesterday that he is currently taking lesssons in the Russian language.
He also said that at 6 foot 3 inches, he is not too tall to fly in Soyuz.
Stay tuned...
From Naoko Yamazaki (@Astro_Naoko) via Twitter:
"Thank you for all of your support for space programs. I resigned JAXA, however, will continue space exploration. Best wishes!"
Don't know whether its relevant, but spotted Jeff Williams sitting in on a training session with the Expedition 30 crew in July.
http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-31/html/jsc2011e073781.html
At the risk of irritating Jim even further, could this be an indicator that Williams may be up for future assignment?
Sorry Jim ;)
From Naoko Yamazaki (@Astro_Naoko) via Twitter:
"Thank you for all of your support for space programs. I resigned JAXA, however, will continue space exploration. Best wishes!"
From Naoko Yamazaki (@Astro_Naoko) via Twitter:
"Thank you for all of your support for space programs. I resigned JAXA, however, will continue space exploration. Best wishes!"
Huh? Now what is that supposed to mean? She's out of JAXA---that's what she says. But what about "continue space exploration" . . ? As a private sector astronaut, or what? Or does she intend to assume a management role?
I don't quite understand the contents of the message . . .
From Naoko Yamazaki (@Astro_Naoko) via Twitter:
"Thank you for all of your support for space programs. I resigned JAXA, however, will continue space exploration. Best wishes!"
Huh? Now what is that supposed to mean? She's out of JAXA---that's what she says. But what about "continue space exploration" . . ? As a private sector astronaut, or what? Or does she intend to assume a management role?
I don't quite understand the contents of the message . . .
Many thanks delta7.
Also, is Mike Foale still eligible for assignment? He's been working Exploration and Constellation for some time, but doesn't seem to have moved over to Management.
Pakistan is keen to send an astronaut on board a Chinese spacecraft, a top diplomat has said as the two countries are set to launch a Pakistani satellite soon.
“It is our natural aspiration that a Pakistani astronaut aboard a Chinese spacecraft flies to the space,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Masood Khan said ahead of the launch of Paksat-1R.
“This is possible because Pakistan and China enjoy relations of trust and confidence,” he said.
The Pakistan Communication Satellite, Paksat-1R is due to be launched from Chinese satellite launching site located at Xichang city in the second week of August, depending on weather conditions.
Paksat-1R will replace Paksat-1 which is going to complete its useful life in 2011.
“Launching of a communication satellite is going to be a new symbolic development in Pakistan-China relations, as this will broaden the horizons of our cooperation,” Mr. Khan was quoted as saying by the official APP news agency.
He said, during Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Pakistan in December last year, the two governments had decided to deepen cooperation in space, science and technology.
“Paksat-1R, as the satellite is called, is a big step in that direction. It will revolutionise the use of broadband Internet, digital television broadcasting and mobile telephony; spur our economy; and strengthen the education and health sectors,” he said.
“Such cooperation with China also helps us move towards self-reliance,” he said adding that Pakistan was looking at cooperation with China in remote sensing satellites as well.
All of the 2009 Astronaut Candidates have completed their initial training and are eligible for mission assignments.
It´s now confirmed by NASA.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/ascanbio.htmlQuoteAll of the 2009 Astronaut Candidates have completed their initial training and are eligible for mission assignments.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't two members of this group already assigned to flights?
NASA TO SEEK APPLICANTS FOR NEXT ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE CLASS
Good timing ;D
NASA TO SEEK APPLICANTS FOR NEXT ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE CLASS
"For scientists, engineers and other professionals who have always
dreamed of experiencing spaceflight, this is an exciting time to join
the astronaut corps," said Janet Kavandi, director of flight crew
operations at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
A bachelor's degree in engineering, science or math and three years of
relevant professional experience are required in order to be
considered. Typically, successful applicants have significant
qualifications in engineering or science, or extensive experience
flying high-performance jet-aircraft.
I applied to the last round of Educator Astronauts invitations in 2002. Looking at the application process now, it is either a Pilot or Non-Pilot application. It does not mean as an educator you can not apply as long as you meet the other requirements.Good timing ;D
NASA TO SEEK APPLICANTS FOR NEXT ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE CLASS
"For scientists, engineers and other professionals who have always
dreamed of experiencing spaceflight, this is an exciting time to join
the astronaut corps," said Janet Kavandi, director of flight crew
operations at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
A bachelor's degree in engineering, science or math and three years of
relevant professional experience are required in order to be
considered. Typically, successful applicants have significant
qualifications in engineering or science, or extensive experience
flying high-performance jet-aircraft.
I am going to make the assumption that NASA will no longer be selecting educators to become astronauts. IIRC the last educators to be selected were picked back in 2004, correct?
Just curious, anyone else planning to apply for the 2013 selection?
RELEASE : 11-067
NASA Astronaut Greg Johnson to Head Glenn's External Programs Division
CLEVELAND -- NASA astronaut Gregory H. Johnson has been named chief of the External Programs Division at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. In May 2011, Johnson piloted Endeavour's final flight, STS-134.
Beginning Oct. 13, he will assume the duties of the office for one year, while retaining his position in the astronaut corps.
Worth posting here:
During today's Soyuz TMA-22 launch coverage, PAO Rob Navias revealed that NASA astronaut Mike Barratt is now deputy chief of the astronaut office.
A sign of the future - both the chief (Peggy Whitson) and deputy chief are now long-duration crewmembers.
Worth posting here:
During today's Soyuz TMA-22 launch coverage, PAO Rob Navias revealed that NASA astronaut Mike Barratt is now deputy chief of the astronaut office.
A sign of the future - both the chief (Peggy Whitson) and deputy chief are now long-duration crewmembers.
if ESA provides the Service Module of Orion for the Lunar Flight can we expect an ESA astronaut (Gerst ?) on board the first crewed flight of Orion ?
Who's gonna fly the new stuff ?
RELEASE: 11-404
VETERAN SPACE SHUTTLE COMMANDER CHRIS FERGUSON TO LEAVE AGENCY
A tough decision to leave folks, but good things await...and I get to stay in the business. Thanks for your support!http://mobile.twitter.com/astro_ferg/status/143795353790070784
pic.twitter.com/WSZDAgW0 (http://t.co/WSZDAgW0)
Who's gonna fly the new stuff ?
He would be way too old to do any NASA flying when that time comes...
Who's gonna fly the new stuff ?
Several reports on Russian news sites tonight that Elena Serova will shortly be assigned to an ISS expedition crew, and will fly in 2013.
http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=653936
That said, according to the published crew assignments, all prime seats until mid-2014 are filled
Why does someone 'have' to be replaced in order for Serova to fly? Why can't she be assigned to a flight further downstream?
Why does someone 'have' to be replaced in order for Serova to fly? Why can't she be assigned to a flight further downstream?
I think this is Roscosmos head Vladimir Popovkin trying to push Serova through quickly - he has publicly stated that it is his personal goal to get her flown.
Which astronauts have technical assignments on Orion/MPCV right now ?
Elena Serova will fly with Dmitriy Kondratyev in September 2014 (Expedition 41/42), Maksim Surayev will be replaced by Fyodor Yurchkhin in Expedition 36/37.
Elena Serova will fly with Dmitriy Kondratyev in September 2014 (Expedition 41/42), Maksim Surayev will be replaced by Fyodor Yurchkhin in Expedition 36/37.
The german journal Spiegel noticed in a report about Gerst's Training in Cologne (http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/0,1518,804136,00.html) that he will fly with Fjodor Jurtschichin and Reid Wiseman.
Will Surayev get a later flight opportunity?
I read somewhere that Suraev will become a member of the Duma
Will Surayev get a later flight opportunity?
No.
I read somewhere that previously, his assignment was delayed for a undisclosed health question. Is this the reason?
And a question: What gender of US astronaut do you think will fly in Soyuz TMA-14M?
I bet for a male US astronaut. I don’t think Russians like the idea of flying two women in their spacecraft (I remember some comments following Soyuz TMA-11 return) .
TsPK reports about a winter survival training in the next days.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=1225
The third crew included an Italian, U. Villadi (maybe the translation is not correct). Does anyone know who it is?
ISS Expedition 42 commander will be Barry Wilmor.
So Wilmore will fly on Soyuz TMA-14M with Kondratiyev and Serova?
I read somewhere that previously, his assignment was delayed for a undisclosed health question. Is this the reason?
No.
My understaning is that this guy is a non-ESA Italian astronaut, but supported by the Italian government. Maybe they want to go back to have a national astronaut like in the nineties.
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/crown-point/retiring-astronaut-jerry-ross-remembers-region-roots/article_35502b1e-db46-5ba6-a35a-dad1bca996f1.html
Jerry Ross has also retired from NASA this week.
Does anyone know the status of Mike Foale? Is he active or management?
When did the Astronaut Office start a Soyuz branch? Who is in it? Where can we find a breakdown of the AO—who is assigned where, etc.? Thanks, Michael, and anyone else who can help?
Michael,
What branches are there in the Astronaut Office? We've read a couple of times Jim Kelly is the head of the Capcom Branch...now Mike Foale leads the Soyuz branch. In addition to the Station branch--who's the head of that now?--what else is there? Any info and details will be greatly appreciated.
I can think of the Safety, Robotics, Exploration and EVA branches off the top of my head. I believe Pat Forrester is head of Safety, Steve Frick heads Exploration, and Shane Kimbrough heads Robotics.
Not sure if it's a branch, but Janice Voss heads ISS payloads.
Brian K. Kelly is deputy director of FCOD. I don't think the position has to be taken by an astronaut.
What is Sturckow's status, now that he is no longer deputy chief?
And what of the other astronauts, eg Arnold, Virts, Bresnik, Metcalf-Lindenburger, Antonelli etc?
Has Kopra recovered from his injury? Is he back on flight status?
Many thanks.
And what of the other astronauts, eg Arnold, Virts, Bresnik, Metcalf-Lindenburger, Antonelli etc?
Has Kopra recovered from his injury? Is he back on flight status?
The JSC Astro Bio page sometimes lags by a month, but is otherwise pretty accurate.
Michael Cassutt
The JSC Astro Bio page sometimes lags by a month, but is otherwise pretty accurate.
Michael Cassutt
Actually some of the bios are a couple of years old, if not more. Kopra's still says he's training for STS-133.
Looking at the list of Management Astronauts, are these 'permanently' off flight status or can they be transferred back to active? The description implies "no longer eligible" for flight assignment, but doesn't elaborate on whether or not that is a long-term or temporary measure.
I was surprised to read Col Shane Kimbrough's words to Army applicants that NASA "desperately" needs 20-25 astronauts to fill its shrinking corps...when there will only be 4 per year aboard the ISS for most of the next decade.
No. For one thing, astronauts can be moved from "management" to "active" status with a phone call. Michael Cassutt
Management astronauts are permanently off flight status -- the shift is a one-way move.
No. For one thing, astronauts can be moved from "management" to "active" status with a phone call. Michael Cassutt
From todayQuoteManagement astronauts are permanently off flight status -- the shift is a one-way move.
Does that mean, that times have changed?
They have indeed. The astronaut office has had a new sheriff (okay, chief) since fall 2009 -- and every chief astronaut does things a little differently. The end of the Shuttle program also meant the disappearance of a substantial number of flight opportunities for astronauts who can't meet Soyuz-ISS requirements (or don't want to). With Shuttle, it was relatively easy to return a "management" astronaut to flight status for a year. With long-term ISS training, more restrictive physical standards, language challenges, and fewer resources (T-38s, for one), it's not easy and not likely.
MC
Another question.
According to this release http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_11-396_Grunsfeld.html John Grunsfeld is back in NASA.
In this case should he be counted as Management astronaut?
According to the list of astronauts from yesterday http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html Gregory H. Johnson is back on active status.
Grunsfeld is back in NASA, however he is no longer an astronaut. He left NASA and the astronaut office, and then a while later was hired back into NASA, but this time in a non-astronaut position (SMD AA).
Johnson works at NASA Glenn now, in some kind of education/public outreach positionThat´s also correct. But he works there since last year and in December he was listed as Management astronaut and now he is changed to the astronaut list.
They have indeed. The astronaut office has had a new sheriff (okay, chief) since fall 2009 -- and every chief astronaut does things a little differently. The end of the Shuttle program also meant the disappearance of a substantial number of flight opportunities for astronauts who can't meet Soyuz-ISS requirements (or don't want to). With Shuttle, it was relatively easy to return a "management" astronaut to flight status for a year. With long-term ISS training, more restrictive physical standards, language challenges, and fewer resources (T-38s, for one), it's not easy and not likely.
MC
According to the list of astronauts from yesterday http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html Gregory H. Johnson is back on active status.
"This is a great time to join the NASA family," NASA Administrator
Charles Bolden said. "Our newest astronauts could launch aboard the
first commercial rockets to the space station the next generation of
scientists and engineers who will help us reach higher and create an
American economy that is built to last."
WTF? (Win The Future).
Someone show him the door, for pity's sake!
Any word on who may command TMA-13M?
According to the Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum, it will be Sergei Zalyotin.
Will Surayev get a later flight opportunity?
No.I read somewhere that Suraev will become a member of the Duma
No.
Any light about this change of mind with Surayev's assignment?
Andrey, many thanks for this insider information.Any light about this change of mind with Surayev's assignment?
Sure. Maksim Surayev has wanted to be a member of the Duma. When the time was too close to elections Sergey Krikalyov has told to Surayev that he should choose - ISS crew or the Duma. Surayev has told that he wants to try to become a member of the Duma, but he wants to be in the crew just in case. Krikalyov has said "no", and Surayev was replaced by Fyodor Yurchikhin. When Surayev has not become a member of the Duma, GCTC has tried to include his to another crew, but the head of Roskosmos Vladimir Popovkin has said "no". It is the second try to include Surayev into the crew, but Roskosmos has the last word.
Now Mr. Grunsfeld is listed as a management astronaut.Another question.
According to this release http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_11-396_Grunsfeld.html John Grunsfeld is back in NASA.
In this case should he be counted as Management astronaut?
Grunsfeld is back in NASA, however he is no longer an astronaut. He left NASA and the astronaut office, and then a while later was hired back into NASA, but this time in a non-astronaut position (SMD AA).
I'm searching for NASA press releases for the ISS Expedition crew assignments and wondered if anyone can help?Here's one:
I'm aware that the Expedition 1 crew was named sometime in early 1996, but can't pinpoint the exact date or find the press release. And what of the expeditions since then?
Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
I'm searching for NASA press releases for the ISS Expedition crew assignments and wondered if anyone can help?
I'm aware that the Expedition 1 crew was named sometime in early 1996, but can't pinpoint the exact date or find the press release. And what of the expeditions since then?
Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
Forgot to mention that I also found this snippet yesterday when I was having a look around for Expedition 1 crew.
Up until early March 1996 it appears Yuri Gidzenko was still not named as the third and final member of Expedition 1 crew.
Brian K. Kelly is deputy director of FCOD. I don't think the position has to be taken by an astronaut.
What is Sturckow's status, now that he is no longer deputy chief?
And what of the other astronauts, eg Arnold, Virts, Bresnik, Metcalf-Lindenburger, Antonelli etc?
Has Kopra recovered from his injury? Is he back on flight status?
Many thanks.
According to the new ESA Bulletin, there will be ESA astronaut in ISS Expedition 44/45 (May - November 2015).Probably Samantha Cristoforetti
According to the new ESA Bulletin, there will be ESA astronaut in ISS Expedition 44/45 (May - November 2015).Probably Samantha Cristoforetti
Following Soyuz TMA-14M, it’s my speculation.
Planned crews:
.
.
.
Soyuz TMA-17M (launch - May 2015) // Expedition 44 / 45
CDR – TBD Russia (TBD Russia)
FE1 –Samantha Cristoforetti? (TBD JAXA?)
FE2 – TBD USA (TBD USA)
>
I can confirm this.
The only thing you can confirm is an ASI spot....NOT the name of the astronaut.....
The only thing you can confirm is an ASI spot....NOT the name of the astronaut.....
True - but by process of elimination, you can speculate that it is highly likely to be Cristoforetti, since Paramitano is already assigned, and both Nespoli and Vittori have recently returned from flights.
Thanks for the update. The last assignment I heard was Kondratyev, Serova and Wilmore to ISS-41/42. If these new assignments are for ISS 45-47, have the names of the crews for 43 and 44 been named yet?
Actually, it's my understanding that Zaletin-Cristoforetti-Virts ARE the 43/44 crew, or whatever followed K-S-W
Actually, it's my understanding that Zaletin-Cristoforetti-Virts ARE the 43/44 crew, or whatever followed K-S-W
No, it is ISS-45/46 crew, because Samantha Cristoforetti should be in this crew, according to ESA plans.
That was indeed the _plan._ The 43/44 slot was supposed to be JAXA's. But I have heard that there was a swap -- my Houston sources says, "It's the Italian factor"
That was indeed the _plan._ The 43/44 slot was supposed to be JAXA's. But I have heard that there was a swap -- my Houston sources says, "It's the Italian factor"
Thank you for information about changes.
With Zalyotin's crew now scheduled to fly no earlier than 2015, that will leave a 13 year gap since his last flight, a "taxi" mission to the ISS in 2002.
Was he off flight status during that period?
Thank you.
I was told that crews Zalyotin/Cristoforetti and Lonchakov/Ovchinin are offered to MCOP, but they are not approved for now due to talking about possible flight of fifth Soyuz in 2015.
ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti set for Space Station in 2014
3 July 2012
ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti has been assigned to be launched on a Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in 2014 for a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station.
Was Polansky still DOR at the time of his retirement?
I know he'd been in the role since 2010, but it seems a long assignment.
Was Polansky still DOR at the time of his retirement?
I know he'd been in the role since 2010, but it seems a long assignment.
At least on May 25th he was on duty, according to these TSPK report.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=1457
Just thinking how many Shuttle Commanders have been retiring/moving into management of late. Here's a quick list of Commanders since RTF:So you think they might know something Pete?
STS-114 (Collins) - Retired
STS-121 (Lindsey) - Retired
STS-115 (Jett) - Inactive (Management)
STS-116 (Polansky) - Retired
STS-117 (Sturckow) - Active
STS-118 (S. Kelly) - Active
STS-120 (Melroy) - Retired
STS-122 (Frick) - Inactive (Management)
STS-123 (Gorie) - Retired
STS-124 (M. Kelly) - Retired
STS-126 (Ferguson) - Retired
STS-119 (Archambault) - Inactive (Management)
STS-125 (Altman) - Retired
STS-127 (Polansky) - Retired
STS-128 (Sturckow) - Active
STS-129 (Hobaugh) - Retired
STS-130 (Zamka) - Inactive (Management)
STS-131 (Poindexter) - Deceased
STS-132 (Ham) - Retired
STS-133 (Lindsey) - Retired
STS-134 (M. Kelly) - Retired
STS-135 (Ferguson) - Retired
That leaves only two Shuttle Commanders since RTF (Sturckow and S. Kelly) currently on active duty. Lots of experience gone. :(
Just thinking how many Shuttle Commanders have been retiring/moving into management of late. Here's a quick list of Commanders since RTF:So you think they might know something Pete?
STS-114 (Collins) - Retired
STS-121 (Lindsey) - Retired
STS-115 (Jett) - Inactive (Management)
STS-116 (Polansky) - Retired
STS-117 (Sturckow) - Active
STS-118 (S. Kelly) - Active
STS-120 (Melroy) - Retired
STS-122 (Frick) - Inactive (Management)
STS-123 (Gorie) - Retired
STS-124 (M. Kelly) - Retired
STS-126 (Ferguson) - Retired
STS-119 (Archambault) - Inactive (Management)
STS-125 (Altman) - Retired
STS-127 (Polansky) - Retired
STS-128 (Sturckow) - Active
STS-129 (Hobaugh) - Retired
STS-130 (Zamka) - Inactive (Management)
STS-131 (Poindexter) - Deceased
STS-132 (Ham) - Retired
STS-133 (Lindsey) - Retired
STS-134 (M. Kelly) - Retired
STS-135 (Ferguson) - Retired
That leaves only two Shuttle Commanders since RTF (Sturckow and S. Kelly) currently on active duty. Lots of experience gone. :(
You made all good points Michael. My comment to Pete was a bit of a rhetorical one. ;)Just thinking how many Shuttle Commanders have been retiring/moving into management of late. Here's a quick list of Commanders since RTF:So you think they might know something Pete?
STS-114 (Collins) - Retired
STS-121 (Lindsey) - Retired
STS-115 (Jett) - Inactive (Management)
STS-116 (Polansky) - Retired
STS-117 (Sturckow) - Active
STS-118 (S. Kelly) - Active
STS-120 (Melroy) - Retired
STS-122 (Frick) - Inactive (Management)
STS-123 (Gorie) - Retired
STS-124 (M. Kelly) - Retired
STS-126 (Ferguson) - Retired
STS-119 (Archambault) - Inactive (Management)
STS-125 (Altman) - Retired
STS-127 (Polansky) - Retired
STS-128 (Sturckow) - Active
STS-129 (Hobaugh) - Retired
STS-130 (Zamka) - Inactive (Management)
STS-131 (Poindexter) - Deceased
STS-132 (Ham) - Retired
STS-133 (Lindsey) - Retired
STS-134 (M. Kelly) - Retired
STS-135 (Ferguson) - Retired
That leaves only two Shuttle Commanders since RTF (Sturckow and S. Kelly) currently on active duty. Lots of experience gone. :(
Not to answer for Pete, but addressing the pair of messages, yes: they must have realized that the end of Shuttle missions meant the end of Shuttle commands. During the Shuttle era, there were always two general types of pilots in the astronaut office . . . those that were there to fly higher, faster, further in the most advanced aerospace vehicle going, and those that were interested in the larger goals of space exploration and exploitation.
Not to characterize any of the commanders listed, but surely that was a factor in some departures -- and I know that at least a couple of these folks simply didn't want to commit to long-duration ISS assignments. Age is also a factor: many of these commanders would be in their fifties or even late fifties by the time any commercial or Orion missions flew. There are physical issues, too: Altman was too tall for an ISS mission.
And at least 3-4 of the departed are working on commercial post-Shutle programs, either the company side (Ferguson, Lindsey) or NASA (Jett, Archambault).
Michael Cassutt
Note the recent Revin-Valkov move.
Michael Cassutt
Is there any known reason for the Valkov-Revin switchoff?
With Polansky's retirement, anyone know who will be named Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia?
With Polansky's retirement, anyone know who will be named Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia?
Peggy Whitson has told that it will be Mark Vande Hei.
With Polansky's retirement, anyone know who will be named Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia?
Peggy Whitson has told that it will be Mark Vande Hei.
Thanks, Anik...here is a photo of the TMA-06M crew and the new Director of the Cosmonaut Training Center...
http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/alternate/photo/soyuz-tma-04m_backup_1.jpg
(Photo Courtesy of spacefacts.de)
Today there was a welcome ceremony in Star City for the Soyuz TMA-03M crew. In the report about this, Frank DeWinne was mentioned as Director of the European Astronaut Centre. Can anyone confirm this?
Today there was a welcome ceremony in Star City for the Soyuz TMA-03M crew. In the report about this, Frank DeWinne was mentioned as Director of the European Astronaut Centre. Can anyone confirm this?
Thank you.Today there was a welcome ceremony in Star City for the Soyuz TMA-03M crew. In the report about this, Frank DeWinne was mentioned as Director of the European Astronaut Centre. Can anyone confirm this?Yes this is true !
"Up to date, twelve cosmonauts have been transferred to the reserve. In August, five more people will be relieved from their military duties. After that, there will be no more people in military ranks but only civilians," the center said.
....
Roscosmos then announced that only civilian candidates could apply for the cosmonaut positions.
Meanwhile, all cosmonauts were offered to either retire from the Armed Forces or to quit the cosmonaut team. The decision has affected in total about 200 people, including both cosmonauts and workers.
To be fair about the retired shuttle CDR list, compare it to say, the number of Apollo CDR's remaining a year after Skylab 4, when just ASTP was left to fly - February 1975. The time frame of 1968 - 1975 is also comparable to the RTF period - 2005 - 2012.
Wasn't sure if this deserved its own thread, but it impact crew assignments:
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russian_cosmonaut_squad_adds_up_seven_new_members_999.html
It's not so much the fact that seven new Cosmonauts were selected, but what is this part:Quote"Up to date, twelve cosmonauts have been transferred to the reserve. In August, five more people will be relieved from their military duties. After that, there will be no more people in military ranks but only civilians," the center said.
....
Roscosmos then announced that only civilian candidates could apply for the cosmonaut positions.
Meanwhile, all cosmonauts were offered to either retire from the Armed Forces or to quit the cosmonaut team. The decision has affected in total about 200 people, including both cosmonauts and workers.
Is this accurate? This seems a little odd, for the Cosmonaut Corps to be totally demilitarized. Also it makes joining the Cosmonaut Corps a more risky proposition, given the attrition rate of Cosmonaut candidates.
I don't see how this makes joining the cosmonaut team "risky" -- both military and civilian candidates have failed in the past, and while I haven't sat down to do the figures, my sense is that, historically, the success rate is higher for the civilians.
CollectSpace is reporting the appointment of Bob Behnken to replace Peggy Whitson as Chief of the Astronaut Office.
I'm gonna make a perdiction for the crew for the SOYUZ TMA-17M
SOYUZ CDR. Mikhail Korniyenko (RSA)
SOYUZ flight/board engineer Roberto Vittori (ESA)
SOYUZ flight engineer Tony Antonelli (NASA)
is the year-long flight definitely going ahead?
I'm gonna make a perdiction for the crew for the SOYUZ TMA-17M
SOYUZ CDR. Mikhail Korniyenko (RSA)
SOYUZ flight/board engineer Roberto Vittori (ESA)
SOYUZ flight engineer Tony Antonelli (NASA)
I wonder who the crew for the SOYUZ TMA-18M will be!!!
Does anyone wanna take a guess??
A source with the Russian space agency told Interfax that the long expedition would make it possible to have vacant seats in the Soyuz spacecraft, which would continue to fly regularly to the ISS four times a year.
The free seats would be sold to space tourists, the source said.
NASA has already chosen Peggy Whitson, who completed two space missions and made six spacewalks, as the astronaut for the 12-month mission in 2015.
The Russian space agency has not chosen the cosmonaut for this mission yet.
http://news.yahoo.com/singer-sarah-brightman-may-russias-next-space-tourist-135239467.html
The current procedure for crew exchange would have to be altered. If a space tourist were to fly to the ISS under the present system, the next return trip wouldn't be for 2 1/2 months. How would they return to earth and with whom? Presumably the tourist would ride up with 2 new crewmembers before the ones they were replacing had flown home. That would increase the crew size to 9 for a while if my math is correct. Unless I'm missing something.
The current procedure for crew exchange would have to be altered. If a space tourist were to fly to the ISS under the present system, the next return trip wouldn't be for 2 1/2 months. How would they return to earth and with whom? Presumably the tourist would ride up with 2 new crewmembers before the ones they were replacing had flown home. That would increase the crew size to 9 for a while if my math is correct. Unless I'm missing something.
There is very detailed and well informed analysis of all the options on L2.
It is very much more complex than your hypothesis!!
http://news.yahoo.com/singer-sarah-brightman-may-russias-next-space-tourist-135239467.html
How can she afford that trip? Sarah Brightman's fortune is only estimated to be £30 million. The Russians charge $20 to $60 million.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Brightman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Brightman)
She sang I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trouper (http://www.sfport.net/video/637924:Video:13542)
The current procedure for crew exchange would have to be altered. If a space tourist were to fly to the ISS under the present system, the next return trip wouldn't be for 2 1/2 months. How would they return to earth and with whom? Presumably the tourist would ride up with 2 new crewmembers before the ones they were replacing had flown home. That would increase the crew size to 9 for a while if my math is correct. Unless I'm missing something.
There is very detailed and well informed analysis of all the options on L2.
It is very much more complex than your hypothesis!!
I cannot access L2.
http://news.yahoo.com/singer-sarah-brightman-may-russias-next-space-tourist-135239467.html
How can she afford that trip? Sarah Brightman's fortune is only estimated to be £30 million. The Russians charge $20 to $60 million.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Brightman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Brightman)
She sang I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trouper (http://www.sfport.net/video/637924:Video:13542)
Are you sure it's 60 million? Because the last tourist Laliberte paid 35 million.
Until they are ready, NASA is paying Russia about $63 million per astronaut to do the job.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48487730/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/nasa-picks-private-firms-develop-space-taxis/#.UDgU4KCEaSE (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48487730/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/nasa-picks-private-firms-develop-space-taxis/#.UDgU4KCEaSE)
Detailed and interesting article by JimO: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48807002/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.UDyzlaPl8_c
Anyone able to speculate/confirm who was thrown off a station expedition due to excess radiation risk?
Detailed and interesting article by JimO: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48807002/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.UDyzlaPl8_c
Anyone able to speculate/confirm who was thrown off a station expedition due to excess radiation risk?
There have been several -- Don Thomas and Carlos Noriega are two that come to mind.
Michael Cassutt
Detailed and interesting article by JimO: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48807002/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.UDyzlaPl8_c
Anyone able to speculate/confirm who was thrown off a station expedition due to excess radiation risk?
There have been several -- Don Thomas and Carlos Noriega are two that come to mind.
Michael Cassutt
Noriega? Oh. I knew about Thomas, but it escaped my attention that Noriega was even considered for an Expedition. Interesting information.
Noriega at one point was on the Expedition 6 backup crew with Don Pettit (who eventually replaced Don Thomas on the prime crew). I think Cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov was the third member of that crew.
John Herrington was also in training for an ISS expedition at one point. Not sure if he wound up not flying for the same reason.
Dmitriy Kondratyev has left the Roskosmos cosmonaut group on July 25th. It was his own wish. So he will not fly to ISS with Elena Serova in September 2014.
But I don't know where they got this info
According to spacefacts.de he is. But I don't know where they got this info.Maybe from http://anik1982space.narod.ru/plan.pdf ?
In addition to Wilmore and Virts, who are the others in this photo?
Thanks.
According to NK forum, Oleg Skripochka will perform year-long flight on ISS, Peggy Whitson will not fly.
I hope they will state on that press conference how long Madame Castafiore will stay on the ISS --
I hope they will state on that press conference how long Madame Castafiore will stay on the ISS --
From the press release:
During her estimated 10-day tenure on board the space station...
Brightman went on to say during the press conference, "the final scheduling and details of my trip by Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station will be determined very shortly by Roscosmos and the ISS partners."
Robert Navias has told me today at Baikonur cosmodrome that the crew for year-long spaceflight to ISS will be announced in three weeks.
Was Oleg Skripochka "unofficially" assigned to this crew?
Congrats Kelly and Kornienko on pulling this assignment! In addition to spending a year on the ISS, both should get to fly with Sarah Brightman (assuming she flies at all).
Oh, dear -- You consider that to be some kind of an asset?
Oh, dear -- You consider that to be some kind of an asset?
Heh, I don't remember saying that. ;)
Wasn't Peggy Whitson considered a strong candidate for the long-duration assignment? If so, what happened? Who else was given serious consideration? Who else wanted it? What got Scott Kelly the nod?
Wasn't Peggy Whitson considered a strong candidate for the long-duration assignment? If so, what happened? Who else was given serious consideration? Who else wanted it? What got Scott Kelly the nod?
My 2-cent guess is that Whitson wanted the assignment but didn't want to appoint herself (which she probably could have). She stepped down as office chief in order to make herself available with no preconditions with her chosen successor (Behnken). For whatever reason(s) he chose Kelly. I think there's a good chance she will fly another expedition at some point.
Canadian astronauts could be grounded for years after next mission
"According to our agreement on the International Space Station we don't have a flight -- beyond Chris Hadfield -- before the end of the decade," Gilles Leclerc, the Canadian Space Agency's director-general of space exploration, said in an interview.
"We've used up all our credits for transport of Canadian astronauts to the International Space Station," Leclerc said. "We're trying to negotiate a flight before 2019, obviously."
More info http://bit.ly/u1O0gQ
source (http://www.americaspace.org/?p=28729)
Officially, Hadfield’s flight is the last planned flight of a Canadian astronaut for the ISS program, as the CSA have now used up all of their allotted crew slots that were awarded to them under a past agreement on multi-national crew positions prior to the ISS’ previously planned end of life in 2016.
However, with ISS operations now officially extended to 2020, as agreed by all partner nations, including Canada, a new Canadian slot has been pencilled-in to the ISS crew assignments manifest for the 61S flight in December 2019, for a six-month stay on the ISS as part of the Expedition 62 and 63 crews, prior to an Earth return in June 2020, marking one of the last crews to depart the ISS before its planned end of life at the end of 2020 – as much as that date is likely to be extended.
While the above flight plan is very tentative, and does not take into account the commercial crew vehicles which would increase the ISS crew to seven crewmembers and could provide Canada with additional crew slots, it shows that the ISS program is planning to reward Canada with another crew slot for their extended participation in the ISS.
Such a future Canadian crew slot would likely be awarded to one of their two newest astronauts, Jeremy Hansen or David Saint-Jacques
Kjell Lindgren @astro_kjell
Well, it's about as official as it is going to get. Assigned to Exp 44/45! Will fly with @Astro_Kimiya to ISS - launching May 2015!
Clayton C. Anderson @Astro_Clay
NASA NBL folks provided a cake and celebration of my final "spacewalk" yesterday. pic.twitter.com/liBI1GnF
via twitter:QuoteClayton C. Anderson @Astro_Clay
NASA NBL folks provided a cake and celebration of my final "spacewalk" yesterday. pic.twitter.com/liBI1GnF
I wonder what this could mean. Would be bad to lose him and his humor...
Hello,Yes, you're right.
Can someone give me corrcet name of NASA astronaut from this twitter Space X photo (http://pic.twitter.com/p6zjBHYK)?
Hopkins, Cassidy & Wilmore are in front line, who is in the second row: Tingle, Wiseman, Kimbrough, Bowen & Virts, Jr.?
On the book "Space Shuttle" by Dennis Jenkins, he also names STS-9 as 41A.
Is it correct: STS-9 as STS-41A like at this link (http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/shuttlefolio/shuttle_portfolio.html))?
Thanks for your assistance.
Best,
Hello,Yes, you're right.
Can someone give me corrcet name of NASA astronaut from this twitter Space X photo (http://pic.twitter.com/p6zjBHYK)?
Hopkins, Cassidy & Wilmore are in front line, who is in the second row: Tingle, Wiseman, Kimbrough, Bowen & Virts, Jr.?
Hello,Yes, you're right.
Can someone give me corrcet name of NASA astronaut from this twitter Space X photo (http://pic.twitter.com/p6zjBHYK)?
Hopkins, Cassidy & Wilmore are in front line, who is in the second row: Tingle, Wiseman, Kimbrough, Bowen & Virts, Jr.?
Thanks for confirmation ;)
Maybe it is too far-reaching conclusion, but ...
all the astronauts in the picture have the official nominations for future ISS crews:
Hopkins (ISS 37/38), Cassidy (ISS 35/36), Wilmore (ISS 41/42), Wiseman (ISS 40/41) and Virts, Jr. (ISS 42/43) except Tingle, Kimbrough and Bowen.
So maybe one of them or even all are planned for future ISS crews?
Maybe Bowen will be a back-up for Scott Kelly?
What do you think about?
2015
September 30 - Soyuz TMA-18M launch [Volkov, Ovchinin, TBD]
October 2 - Soyuz TMA-18M docking (to Zvezda)
October 9 - Soyuz TMA-16M undocking (from UM nadir) and landing [Lonchakov, Ovchinin, TBD]
Changes on January 17th
Changes on January 21st
Is it correct: STS-9 as STS-41A like at this link (http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/shuttlefolio/shuttle_portfolio.html))?
Does this also mean that the ISS will go to a crew of five after the TMA-16M undocking (Kornienko, Kelly, Yui, Lindgren and Kononenko) and then down to just two (the year-long members, Kornienko and Kelly) for two weeks from mid-late November, before TMA-19M arrives?
So, the crew of Soyuz TMA-18M (launch on 30 Sep 2015) will be "Volkov, Ovchinin, TBD".
However, the crew of "Lonchakov, Ovchinin, TBD" will return to Earth on Soyuz TMA-16M on 9 October 2015 - meaning Ovchinin and TBD will have a flight of only 9 days?
Interesting.
meaning Ovchinin and TBD will have a flight of only 9 days?For Mrs. Brightman, if she get the ticket, this is planned and for Ovchinin it is better than no flight.
Interesting.
Thanks Anik...I had missed Volkov off my list.
So the ISS will remain at three-person permanent occupancy, with indirect handovers to continue six-person crew? Are there any plans to move back to 'direct handovers' of six crew (as was done with the arrival of Williams/Suraev in Oct 2009, before the departure of Padalka/Barratt), or is this 'indirect' system here to stay?
Thanks.
I know there aren't any female shuttle pilots anymore, but are there any women in the astronaut corps qualified in the T-38?
I was flying in the Houston area recently and heard one on the radio.. wasn't sure if she was the pilot or riding backseat and doing the the comms... couldn't really recognize the voice although I had a hunch of who it *might* be...
ok thanks. Must've been just working the radios then while the pilot flew - it was NASA966.. sounded kinda like Tracy C-Dyson but... couldn't be sure.
A few years ago, heard Mike Foale on the radio.. very distinct voice lol.
Archambault will join Sierra Nevada Corp. as a systems engineer and test pilot. He will work on the company’s Dream Chaser Space System, being developed in conjunction with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Earlier this week I saw Anna Fisher on console as CAPCOM.
Even though it's been almost 30 years since her one and only spaceflight, any chance that she could be assigned to an ISS expedition crew?
So what exactly is setting some of the "management" astronauts apart from the active ones? Management previously didn't equate to automatically becoming "inactive" (just as being classed as a management-Astronaut, didn't mean you were still "active" in the sense of logging simulator time, and flying T-38's anymore).
Since the retirement of the Shuttle that number has risen, and a few don't seem to have any specific duties listed (to pick some examples - Jim Dutton, Kay Hire and Michael Good), while others do. Many seem to still be doing work for the Astronaut Office, as opposed to those working in other departments at JSC. Is it just a matter of bios that are not updated?
While a couple in the active list seem to be doing tasks that are more management related (Cady Coleman is listed as robotics lead for the Astronaut office, which equates to some of the duties listed for the management astronauts, from my outsider perspective) and Mike Foale who has not flown for some time.
Is it fair to just say, the "management" crew have removed themselves from any consideration for ISS flights, but could have a chance later with commercial vehicles or Orion?
So, to break it down a little bit, those working in FCOD, just outside the Astronaut Office - Kavandi, Cockrell and Ray-J Johnson, are still on T-38 flight status for obvious reasons.
Those working in the Exploration/Commercial Branch, in the management list - Foreman, Fisher, Frick, Morin, Thomas - they still work for the Astronaut Office but are off flight status (no T-38's?) - And likewise for those working everything from public outreach/detachements (Garan, Massimino and Good) to safety or EVA issues (Pat Forrester and Mike Gernhardt)?
I guess that leaves my only question marks as Jim Dutton and Kay Hire.
It sounds like the Astronaut Office is trying to keep its training resources available to strictly Astronauts who are candidates for flights - not those who might be, at some later point (if office policy changes)
I am obviously leaving out a number that clearly are effectively former Astronauts (none of their duties are under FCOD's direct umbrella, and they have not flown in years) - Baker, Casper, Leestma - to name a few.
According to http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_mgmt.html D. Metcalf-Lindenburger now is counting as a management astronaut.
How many astros are left in the NASA astro office?
I assume there's going to be a lot who will never get to fly?
NASA have re-issued one of their documents titled Astronaut Fact Book within the last few days (creation date April 8, 2013) which I thought might be of interest to readers of this thread.On the EVA listing, any idea what the parenthetical A, D, F or M indicates?
Copy also attached.
NASA have re-issued one of their documents titled Astronaut Fact Book within the last few days (creation date April 8, 2013) which I thought might be of interest to readers of this thread.On the EVA listing, any idea what the parenthetical A, D, F or M indicates?
Copy also attached.
I assume there's going to be a lot who will never get to fly?
NASA have re-issued one of their documents titled Astronaut Fact Book within the last few days (creation date April 8, 2013) which I thought might be of interest to readers of this thread.
If the past is any clue, there are currently 9 former astronauts (not including Group 9, or deceased astronauts) that have never flown in space.
Of those 9, six of them were scientist astronauts from Group 4 (2) and 6 (4).
The other 3 are from Group 16 (2) and 17 (1).
NASA have re-issued one of their documents titled Astronaut Fact Book within the last few days (creation date April 8, 2013) which I thought might be of interest to readers of this thread.
Oh, great find! The previous edition was from 2005, was it not? An update at last . . !If the past is any clue, there are currently 9 former astronauts (not including Group 9, or deceased astronauts) that have never flown in space.
Of those 9, six of them were scientist astronauts from Group 4 (2) and 6 (4).
The other 3 are from Group 16 (2) and 17 (1).
I assume You refer to Cagle and Loria from Group 16 and to Woodward from Group 17, right? To be fair, we should note that Cagle is a management astronaut, not a former -- or did I miss something? Sorry -- there have been so many retirement notes recently . . .
Might I ask why You did not include Group 9?
Since Zalyotin hasn't flown for more than a decade, and Pesquet is a rookie, is it fair to assume that the U.S. crewmember on Soyuz TMA-19M will be flight-experienced?
Since Zalyotin hasn't flown for more than a decade, and Pesquet is a rookie, is it fair to assume that the U.S. crewmember on Soyuz TMA-19M will be flight-experienced?
RELEASE: 13-017
NASA, SPACE STATION PARTNERS ANNOUNCE FUTURE CREW MEMBERS
{cut}
Expedition 42 will begin in mid-November 2014. The other half of the
team is scheduled to launch in late-November 2014. Once on the
station, Expedition 42 will include the following crew members:
-- Wilmore, station commander
-- Serova, flight engineer
-- Samoukutyaev, flight engineer
-- Virts, flight engineer
-- Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA, flight engineer
Expedition 47 (XLVII) TBD, it is known it will be ethier an american or russian so it will be either Andrei Borisanko, Oleg Skripochkia, Sergei Revin, Jeff Williams, Doug Wheelock or Peggy Whitson, my prediction is if it's a russian ISS-CDR, it will be Sergei Revin, if it's a NASA ISS-CDR, it will be Jeff Williams
Expedition 43 (XLIII) Anton Shkaplerov (RSA)According to aniks information above (which is correct according to documents on L2) T. Virts is the EC43 CDR.
No, that's just my perdiction for the ISS-CDR for expedition 47
Correct but then again my preditions are right 9 times out of 10, who do you think will be the expedition 47 ISS-CDR?
Has there been any explanation as to why Virts has been assigned as ISS-CDR on Expedition 43?
Why is Mogensen flying a short-duration participant mission, and yet all other members of his group (apart from Peake) are assigned to long-duration missions?
Thanks.
Flight crew assignments always seem to amaze me.
Just looking at the astronauts chosen for the next few ISS missions:
R. Mastracchio, who has flown on three previous shuttle flights will fly as F.E. on ISS next year.
T. Virts and B. Wilmore, each flew one shuttle flight and will both command upcoming ISS increments.
Is it all based on timing (ie: alternating between Rusian, Canadien, Japanese, and U.S. commanders)?
Michael,
Is there a plan for another European ISS-CDR?
When you say that Japanese and Canadian commands must be negotiated, is the specific timing of these commands tied to specific objectives during the expedition? For example, Hadfield's command doesn't appear to have anything overtly 'Canadian' (e.g. major Dextre operations) which required a Canadian CDR. Was the decision to have a Canadian command on Expedition 35 purely coincidental and based on rotation?
Thanks.
F. Sturckow has left NASA.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/sturckow.html
We're happy to welcome two new pilots into the Virgin Galactic family! CJ and Sooch will fly SpaceShipTwo (and WhiteKnightTwo), carrying our customers smoothly and safely into outer space. CJ is a veteran of four NASA Space Shuttle missions and Sooch is a former U-2 pilot and branch chief at the US Air Force Test Pilot school. We're thrilled to have them both on board--and Sooch just celebrated by flying WhiteKnightTwo for the first time this morning!
Looks like CJ will get quite a few more flights in space by the looks of it!
Jonathan Amos @BBCAmos 3m
Good news on @astro_timpeake. ESA boss Jean-Jacques Dordain tells me the date of his ISS assignment will be made very soon.
Jonathan Amos @BBCAmos 3m
"It is not for me to choose a date," he told me. "I make a recontamination to the multilateral board and it will meet within days."
Jonathan Amos @BBCAmos 1m
Amos: "So, you think an assignment date will come very soon." Dordain: "The answer is 'yes'". #britsinspace @astro_timpeake
Seems to be good news for Time Peake :)
Jonathan Amos @BBCAmos 3m
"It is not for me to choose a date," he told me. "I make a recontamination to the multilateral board and it will meet within days."
Why are all my post being deleted?
Why are all my post being deleted?
Why are all my post being deleted?Because these are very heavily moderate forums, you are new here as well, so that isnt helping your cause either. Hang around though, you do get good info here although if you speculate even the slightest you may get jumped on by people who take things a tad to seriously sometimes. You'll get the hang of things.
Are there any assignments related to Christoper "Gus" Loria? I'm talkin' rumors.
Are there any assignments related to Christoper "Gus" Loria? I'm talkin' rumors.
No:
"Assigned as pilot on STS-113, Loria sustained back injuries off duty that medically grounded him and required his replacement on the crew.
...
In the fall of 2005 a NASA medical evaluation determined that his previous injuries disqualified him from further space flight assignments. Colonel Loria requested a transfer back to the US Marine Corps and left NASA in February 2005."
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/loria.html
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/HSO/Publications/Volare-EN/
"In exchange for producing US-owned modules for the Station, ASI received six flight opportunities for its national astronauts. Volare will be the first European longduration mission to the Station under agreement with ASI"
My questions: When were they or will they those ASI flight opportunities? How much did ASI use already?
Guidoni (2001) - first?
Vittori (2002) - agreement between Roskosmos and ASI
Vittori (2005) - agreement between Roskosmos and ASI
Nespoli (2007) - second?
Nespoli (2010-2011) - agreement between NASA and ESA
Vittori (2011) - third?
Parmitano (2013) - fourth?
Cristoforetti (2014-2015) - fifth?
the right to three Space Shuttle flight opportunity during the life of
the program and one ASI-provided ISS crew member for one on-orbit
increment every five years from NASA's crew allocation, with an
assured minimum of three such opportunities during the life of the
program.
NASA announced its 2013 class of astronaut candidates this morning:Best comment about this that I've seen on the internet so far:
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/jun/HQ_13-177_2013_Astronaut_Class.html (http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/jun/HQ_13-177_2013_Astronaut_Class.html)
Michael Cassutt
NASA announced its 2013 class of astronaut candidates this morning:
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/jun/HQ_13-177_2013_Astronaut_Class.html (http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/jun/HQ_13-177_2013_Astronaut_Class.html)
Michael Cassutt
Happy to see one former and two current naval aviators on the list! And I believe MAJ Mann is the first female USMC astronaut.
So have they stopped distinguishing between pilot-astronauts and mission specialists, or just didn't make the distinction in the press release?Already in the 2009 astronaut class were no distinction between pilots and MS.
So have they stopped distinguishing between pilot-astronauts and mission specialists, or just didn't make the distinction in the press release?Already in the 2009 astronaut class were no distinction between pilots and MS.
Parmitano (2013) on Soyuz - first long-duration flight (fourth opportunity)
Cristoforetti (2014-2015) on Soyuz - second long-duration flight (fifth opportunity)
So have they stopped distinguishing between pilot-astronauts and mission specialists, or just didn't make the distinction in the press release?Already in the 2009 astronaut class were no distinction between pilots and MS.
Olaf is correct. The official distinction disappeared within the astronaut office itself in 2011 . . .nevertheless, ASCANS and astronauts who are military pilots (and qualified for front seat in the T-38) are required to log more flying time than the others, on the order of 200 hours/year to 50/year. In the new class, that would seem to apply to only Glover and Mann.
Michael Cassutt
I might be wrong, but I was under the impression that Parmitiano is flying as an Italian and Cristoforetti as a European . . .
In other words: I thought the 2013 slot was ASI-based and the 2014/15 ESA-based.
Edit: Quickly checked the FPIP. It seems I was right: Cristoforetti is not using an ASI Slot. Parmitiano is.
Quickly checked the FPIP. It seems I was right: Cristoforetti is not using an ASI Slot. Parmitiano is
See document, posted by Stan Black on previous page (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?
topic=740.msg1064195#msg1064195) (page 8):
"First ASI ISS long duration flight opportunity: Luca Parmitano in ISS 36/37
Second ASI ISS long duration flight opportunity: Samantha Cristoforetti in ISS 42/43
Third ASI ISS long duration flight opportunity to be assigned"
So have they stopped distinguishing between pilot-astronauts and mission specialists, or just didn't make the distinction in the press release?Already in the 2009 astronaut class were no distinction between pilots and MS.
Olaf is correct. The official distinction disappeared within the astronaut office itself in 2011 . . .nevertheless, ASCANS and astronauts who are military pilots (and qualified for front seat in the T-38) are required to log more flying time than the others, on the order of 200 hours/year to 50/year. In the new class, that would seem to apply to only Glover and Mann.
Michael Cassutt
Thanks Mike and Olaf, very interesting!
So the 'second class citizen' status of the 'scientist astronaut' that we've had since 1965 is gone?
Do you think this is a permanent change, or will some formal distinction reappear once Orion is flying?
So have they stopped distinguishing between pilot-astronauts and mission specialists, or just didn't make the distinction in the press release?Already in the 2009 astronaut class were no distinction between pilots and MS.
Olaf is correct. The official distinction disappeared within the astronaut office itself in 2011 . . .nevertheless, ASCANS and astronauts who are military pilots (and qualified for front seat in the T-38) are required to log more flying time than the others, on the order of 200 hours/year to 50/year. In the new class, that would seem to apply to only Glover and Mann.
Michael Cassutt
Thanks Mike and Olaf, very interesting!
So the 'second class citizen' status of the 'scientist astronaut' that we've had since 1965 is gone?
Do you think this is a permanent change, or will some formal distinction reappear once Orion is flying?
Thought I had answered this.... must have pressed the wrong button.
Anyway, first, I would object to the idea that mission specialist or non-military test pilots within the astronaut office are second-class citizens. While this was undeniably true from 1965 to the mid 1970s, and while, yes, pilots had the privilege of command, mission specialists really got most of the fun and and equal amount of acclaim. And the last two chiefs of the astronaut office have been career MS.
As for titles, you're not going to see pilot/mission specialist categories with Orion or commercial . . . while there will undoubtedly be one astronaut in every crew who has a flying background and experience, NASA is likely to use a term like "operator", with an Operator-1 having one set of responsibilities, Operator-2 another, and so on, depending on the mission and the individuals. (Even now, on ISS, you have some FEs with EVA experience and qualification, and some who don't.)
Michael Cassutt
So have they stopped distinguishing between pilot-astronauts and mission specialists, or just didn't make the distinction in the press release?Already in the 2009 astronaut class were no distinction between pilots and MS.
Olaf is correct. The official distinction disappeared within the astronaut office itself in 2011 . . .nevertheless, ASCANS and astronauts who are military pilots (and qualified for front seat in the T-38) are required to log more flying time than the others, on the order of 200 hours/year to 50/year. In the new class, that would seem to apply to only Glover and Mann.
Michael Cassutt
Thanks Mike and Olaf, very interesting!
So the 'second class citizen' status of the 'scientist astronaut' that we've had since 1965 is gone?
Do you think this is a permanent change, or will some formal distinction reappear once Orion is flying?
Thought I had answered this.... must have pressed the wrong button.
Anyway, first, I would object to the idea that mission specialist or non-military test pilots within the astronaut office are second-class citizens. While this was undeniably true from 1965 to the mid 1970s, and while, yes, pilots had the privilege of command, mission specialists really got most of the fun and and equal amount of acclaim. And the last two chiefs of the astronaut office have been career MS.
As for titles, you're not going to see pilot/mission specialist categories with Orion or commercial . . . while there will undoubtedly be one astronaut in every crew who has a flying background and experience, NASA is likely to use a term like "operator", with an Operator-1 having one set of responsibilities, Operator-2 another, and so on, depending on the mission and the individuals. (Even now, on ISS, you have some FEs with EVA experience and qualification, and some who don't.)
Michael Cassutt
Michael - thanks for your answer! (and hope you're well btw, long time no see..)
I was of course being a bit deliberately provocative..
although my impression had been that it was only in the late 90s that the MS's got to have the same status level as the pilots, I of course defer to your much more direct insight into the corps - very interesting.
Trust NASA to come up with a way to reduce the romance of 'astronaut' to the bureaucratic blandness of 'operator'...
regards, Jonathan
Wouldn't "spaceman" have been a more exciting word than "astronaut"? ;)
Wouldn't "spaceman" have been a more exciting word than "astronaut"? ;)
Not if you're a spacewoman! ;)
Can someone have more precise data about applicants numbers for each NASA ascan classes with group 1 to 21?
Any help appreciated.
I don't know about precise numbers, but I have something kinda close. The infographic on this page: (http://www.livescience.com/20600-record-number-astronaut-applicants-infographic.html (http://www.livescience.com/20600-record-number-astronaut-applicants-infographic.html)) has the selections with number of applicants and astronauts for each selection cycle, and while it's not in a neat table form and it's not exact, it seems to be fairly accurate (the applicants sum to 50,450 and the astronauts to 335). 1985 looks troubling, though.
Thanks for this infographic. It is interesting, but you confused TWO different numbers from it and from my upper question:
In 2013, Foale retired from NASA to develop an electric aircraft, with a goal to reduce the cost of flying by 90 percent, as part of his passion for Green Aviation. He is currently an advisor for the Inspiration Mars Foundation.
can you discuss the reason for the possible switch?
Gennadiy Padalka will possibly replace Yuriy Lonchakov in ISS Expedition 43/44 crew.
Wow, Gennady flying again, for his fifth long duration mission! Every time I think that man has likely made his last flight, his name appears on yet another manifest. If Gennady were a NASA astronaut, he'd probably be grounded now due to hitting his lifetime orbital radiation absorption limit.
Ohh, looking forward to a possible fifth flight by Padalka. It also means he will be the person with most time spent in space if he joins Expedition 43/44.If his next flight goes 6 months (or so) as scheduled, that will leave him with the most time in space, exceeding the second most experienced (Krikalev) by approximately 100 days...amazing career!
Yury Lonchakov will be formally discharged from his job on September 14, Irina Rogova of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center told RIA Novosti.
Rogova’s boss, Sergei Krikalev, was cited by Russian media as saying that Lonchakov “found a more interesting job,” but did not elaborate. Rogova could not name Lonchakov’s new job.
The Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center has been rocked by reorganization problems since 2009, when it was transferred from the Defense Ministry to the civilian Federal Space Agency. An unnamed Russian cosmonaut told the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper last year that the prolonged reorganization had affected cosmonauts’ income and career prospects, breeding discontent in the ranks.
Gennadiy Padalka will possibly replace Yuriy Lonchakov in ISS Expedition 43/44 crew
Gennadiy Padalka will possibly replace Yuriy Lonchakov in ISS Expedition 43/44 crew
Other candidates are Anatoliy Ivanishin, Andrey Borisenko, Sergey Revin and Yuriy Malenchenko.
Gennadiy Padalka will possibly replace Yuriy Lonchakov in ISS Expedition 43/44 crew
Other candidates are Anatoliy Ivanishin, Andrey Borisenko, Sergey Revin and Yuriy Malenchenko
Oh no, two Tim's on one flight!
We'll have to refer to them as British Tim and American Tim. ;)
Oh no, two Tim's on one flight!
We'll have to refer to them as British Tim and American Tim. ;)
Oh no, two Tim's on one flight!
We'll have to refer to them as British Tim and American Tim. ;)
Good for Kopra though. Shame he could not have been "fast tracked" a little since he lost out on STS-133, but glad he is getting another flight.
Oh no, two Tim's on one flight!
We'll have to refer to them as British Tim and American Tim. ;)
Russian Cosmonaut Bails Out of Upcoming Spaceflight
Chamitoff has retired?I remember when Dr. Chamitoff had some issues with dizziness after the STS-134 re-entry. He was steadied by Mr Fincke during the post-landing interviews. Dr. Chamitoff's pre-reentry hydration regimine was the largest of the the STS-134 crew.
I love that guy. His STS-134 youtube vids will live on.
It's sad that so many will not get the chance to fly again.
Ron Garan is pretty cool too.
This is very cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s71i5X90ug
4:10 space station tour.
Period of stay at the ISS:
About 6 months from around June in 2016
Transportation and from to the ISS:
Launch and return by Soyuz spacecraft
Major tasks at the ISS:
During the 48th/49th Expedition Mission, he will be in charge of ISS operations as a flight engineer, and science experiments using the space environment.
Astronaut Onishi's schedule in the near future:
He will begin training necessary for the Soyuz trip and ISS expedition missions in December 2013.
Do all USOS astronauts gets Orlan/russian airlock familiarity training and visa versa (cosmonauts with EMU/quest training)? It would seem obvious but the chances of use of non-national suits and airlocks seems remote...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PoDSTY9svPg
Is that Soyuz TMA-20M that is scheduled to fly in May, 2016 (per your recent Russian space launches update), or actually Soyuz MS-1 that is now slotted for March, 2016?
I'd say Lindsey or Lee Archambault ;)
or even both ;)
I'd say Lindsey or Lee Archambault ;)
or even both ;)
Is there are main list or chart available that indicates current assignments for flight?
Thank you for posting that. Hopefully many moons from now, these newer Astronauts get up to Station. Of course after Canadas future contributions to ISS are ironed out.
Is there are main list or chart available that indicates current assignments for flight?
A .pdf with the manned schedule from my DB.
After Soyuz MS-01, crews, dates and spacecrafts are speculation.
All mistakes are only mine.
Carlos.
F. Sturckow has left NASA.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/sturckow.html
And joined Virgin Galactic!Quote from: VG via FacebookWe're happy to welcome two new pilots into the Virgin Galactic family! CJ and Sooch will fly SpaceShipTwo (and WhiteKnightTwo), carrying our customers smoothly and safely into outer space. CJ is a veteran of four NASA Space Shuttle missions and Sooch is a former U-2 pilot and branch chief at the US Air Force Test Pilot school. We're thrilled to have them both on board--and Sooch just celebrated by flying WhiteKnightTwo for the first time this morning!
Press conference announcing Thomas Pesquet's assignment to a long-duration mission to the ISS
There is an information in the NK forum, that Kathleen Rubins will be a member of the ISS 48/49 crew.Kathleen Rubins has started her training in Star City.
She will fly together with Anatoli Ivanishin and Takuya Onishi.
There is an information in the NK forum, that Kathleen Rubins will be a member of the ISS 48/49 crew.Kathleen Rubins has started her training in Star City.
She will fly together with Anatoli Ivanishin and Takuya Onishi.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=2551
There is an information in the NK forum, that Kathleen Rubins will be a member of the ISS 48/49 crew.Kathleen Rubins has started her training in Star City.
She will fly together with Anatoli Ivanishin and Takuya Onishi.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=2551
There is an information in the NK forum, that Kathleen Rubins will be a member of the ISS 48/49 crew.
She will fly together with Anatoli Ivanishin and Takuya Onishi.
There seems to be a lot of experienced Astronauts leaving NASA lately. Even working at NASA becomes commonplace, esp. compared to spaceflight experiences. Esp. after working at the greatest altitudes that STS flew, and setting EVA records, and by "turning wrenches" on a telescope that has given humans priceless data for science and about worlds unknown.
Best wishes Mass.
Thanks for agreeing with me. I dont think that things are "quiet" at NASA right now.There seems to be a lot of experienced Astronauts leaving NASA lately. Even working at NASA becomes commonplace, esp. compared to spaceflight experiences. Esp. after working at the greatest altitudes that STS flew, and setting EVA records, and by "turning wrenches" on a telescope that has given humans priceless data for science and about worlds unknown.
Best wishes Mass.
More of a case of why stay? I know many of them would love to fly again but it will be a loooooooong time for many. You are at least 7 years away for Orion, and a couple ISS flights a year. Kind of quiet.
Thanks for agreeing with me. I dont think that things are "quiet" at NASA right now.There seems to be a lot of experienced Astronauts leaving NASA lately. Even working at NASA becomes commonplace, esp. compared to spaceflight experiences. Esp. after working at the greatest altitudes that STS flew, and setting EVA records, and by "turning wrenches" on a telescope that has given humans priceless data for science and about worlds unknown.
Best wishes Mass.
Actually, things are a bit quiet. great things are happening but the activity level is significantly reduced. Shuttle is gone, and so are a large number of people. ISS is fully assembled and a lot of staffing has been appropriately reduced. Sure there are spacewalks, and repairs, and exciting research, but that is done with a smaller team. EFT-1 is about to fly - and then many folks will go into a treading water/lower paced mode while ramping up to the next MPCV flight in ~ 3-4 years. yeah, it is quiet.
More of a case of why stay? I know many of them would love to fly again but it will be a loooooooong time for many. You are at least 7 years away for Orion, and a couple ISS flights a year. Kind of quiet.
Crawler crews are busyThanks for agreeing with me. I dont think that things are "quiet" at NASA right now.There seems to be a lot of experienced Astronauts leaving NASA lately. Even working at NASA becomes commonplace, esp. compared to spaceflight experiences. Esp. after working at the greatest altitudes that STS flew, and setting EVA records, and by "turning wrenches" on a telescope that has given humans priceless data for science and about worlds unknown.
Best wishes Mass.
Actually, things are a bit quiet. great things are happening but the activity level is significantly reduced. Shuttle is gone, and so are a large number of people. ISS is fully assembled and a lot of staffing has been appropriately reduced. Sure there are spacewalks, and repairs, and exciting research, but that is done with a smaller team. EFT-1 is about to fly - and then many folks will go into a treading water/lower paced mode while ramping up to the next MPCV flight in ~ 3-4 years. yeah, it is quiet.
More of a case of why stay? I know many of them would love to fly again but it will be a loooooooong time for many. You are at least 7 years away for Orion, and a couple ISS flights a year. Kind of quiet.
What about NASA astronaut selections for the manned Dragon 2 tests?
Any idea how much time for training would be needed? 2-2,5 years before flight?
I have to agree with Michael. This is NASA. It is inconceivable to me that a first manned flight of a new manned spacecraft would be commanded by anything except a pilot, and I would further expect that the first flight's CDR will not only be a pilot, he/she will have test pilot experience.
NASA made its decision as to whether the astronauts at the controls should be pilots or just passengers a long time ago. Shuttle always had pilots at the front of the flight deck, and the mission specialists on the flight deck were trained to the point where their skills were similar to the pilots (for example, Story Musgrave got to sit up on the flight deck for many of his flights, but he was such a good pilot that he was even given the job of checking out other astronauts in the T-38 -- but not even Story was ever allowed to sit in the CDR or PLT seats). If you sat on the flight deck of the Shuttle, though, you knew your role in any abort situation better than you knew the back of your hand.
I would guess that, for continuing commercial crew operations, the NASA astronaut aboard will always be one of the pilots. And I would be surprised if the SpaceX or Boeing astronaut on board would not be a former NASA pilot astronaut, especially on the first flights.
-Doug (With my shield, not yet upon it)
620,000 reads for this thread. That's some thread. I dare not start a new one given it's got such a history, but I think we may have to do for Commercial Crew :)
So at the620,000 reads for this thread. That's some thread. I dare not start a new one given it's got such a history, but I think we may have to do for Commercial Crew :)
Commercial crew is almost 2 years away to launch (but I guess they will start assign astronauts to missions maybe as soon as this year ?) until then we can use this nice thread....
Sometime in the next 12 months, I would assume we will start hearing about preliminary crew assignments for the first commercial crew flights.
I know that Mike Fincke is one of the prime Astronaut Office representatives for the commercial crew program, so I would expect him to be making one of the earlier flights. Is there any information, or even scuttlebutt, on who else in the Astronaut Office is assigned to commercial crew (as opposed to ISS crew) training? In other words, do we have a clue as to the possible astronaut pool from which the first commercial crew flights will be selected?
Also, I know that a few ex-astronauts are now working for SpaceX and Boeing, respectively. Are we looking at a paradigm of some "company pilots" and some NASA astronauts on each crew, or do we think (as I have speculated) that it will be solely NASA astronaut crews for the first few missions?
I don't think it's too early to begin thinking about the "crew" part of commercial crew...
Jack Fischer started his training in Star City for Expedition 52/53.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=2939
Sometime in the next 12 months, I would assume we will start hearing about preliminary crew assignments for the first commercial crew flights.
I know that Mike Fincke is one of the prime Astronaut Office representatives for the commercial crew program, so I would expect him to be making one of the earlier flights. Is there any information, or even scuttlebutt, on who else in the Astronaut Office is assigned to commercial crew (as opposed to ISS crew) training? In other words, do we have a clue as to the possible astronaut pool from which the first commercial crew flights will be selected?
Also, I know that a few ex-astronauts are now working for SpaceX and Boeing, respectively. Are we looking at a paradigm of some "company pilots" and some NASA astronauts on each crew, or do we think (as I have speculated) that it will be solely NASA astronaut crews for the first few missions?
I don't think it's too early to begin thinking about the "crew" part of commercial crew...
Jack Fischer started his training in Star City for Expedition 52/53.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=2939
Any word on who the NASA crewmember is training for Expeditions 51/52?
Negativ, or I missed it. I would think, it will be an astronaut, who already has flown on the Soyuz.Anik now reports on his website, that it will be Mark Vande Hei.
I read an interview with Bobby Satcher in which he said that his height (6ft 3in) precluded him from Soyuz flights. Joan Higginbotham resigned from NASA after being assigned to the crew of what would have been her second mission (STS-126). Not sure why.
In other news, there are rumors (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1353059/#message1353059) that Yuri Malenchenko is (again?) backing off from an ISS expedition assignment that should start this November along with Tim Peake and Tim Kopra....and Anatoly Ivanishin was supposed to be his replacement. ::)
Edit: I bet that the Boeing crewmember will be Chris Ferguson and that the NASA crewmember will be Mike Fincke.
I do not hope that everybody is going to post here who he thinks is going to be on the crew....Edit: I bet that the Boeing crewmember will be Chris Ferguson and that the NASA crewmember will be Mike Fincke.
Please just wait until the names are known and then discuss it.
I do not hope that everybody is going to post here who he thinks is going to be on the crew....
Please just wait until the names are known and then discuss it.
I do not hope that everybody is going to post here who he thinks is going to be on the crew....
Please just wait until the names are known and then discuss it.
Why?
I do not hope that everybody is going to post here who he thinks is going to be on the crew....
Please just wait until the names are known and then discuss it.
Why?
I personally love playing "guess the crew", as do many others. I've missed it since Shuttle has been gone.
You may not enjoy it personally, but in that case no-one is forcing you to read this thread.
Just my opinion.
And with that:
If the Boeing cremember is Chris Ferguson, then I'd put my money on Doug Hurley being the NASA crewmember, since both flew together on STS-135 and are familiar with each other's style. Would also be good PR - the crew of the last Shuttle are the same crew as the first commercial crew flight.
Hello. Another .pdf with the manned schedule from my database.
After Soyuz MS-03, seats are filled based on info or speculations found here and there, mainly russian sources as NK Forum.In other news, there are rumors (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1353059/#message1353059) that Yuri Malenchenko is (again?) backing off from an ISS expedition assignment that should start this November along with Tim Peake and Tim Kopra....and Anatoly Ivanishin was supposed to be his replacement. ::)
Yes, Ivanishin sounds as Malenchenko replacement, and Yurchikhin as replacementent of Ivanishin on the backup crew.
Feel free to suggest new info or corrections and I'll post an updated .pdf
Carlos :)
Hello. Another .pdf with the manned schedule from my database.I see you've got Luca Parmitano on MS-05 in 2017 for the ESA slot. I know you said it's speculative, but if true then where do the folks like Vittori, Eyharts, Fuglesang, Kuipers, Nespoli, and Schlegel fit in for future flights?
After Soyuz MS-03, seats are filled based on info or speculations found here and there, mainly russian sources as NK Forum.
~snip
Feel free to suggest new info or corrections and I'll post an updated .pdf
Carlos :)
I see you've got Luca Parmitano on MS-05 in 2017 for the ESA slot. I know you said it's speculative, but if true then where do the folks like Vittori, Eyharts, Fuglesang, Kuipers, Nespoli, and Schlegel fit in for future flights?Sorry for the delay DwightM
Any idea if Tracy Caldwell-Dyson will ever get another flight??US astronauts are assigned (sometimes) following a Veteran-Rookie-Veteran pattern i.e. Nyberg-Hopkins-Mastracchio // Swanson-Wiseman-Wilmore // JWilliams-Rubins-Kimbrough which creates a mix of experienced-inexperienced astronauts aboard the ISS.
It's NEVER too early to speculate....As said before, maybe in 2017 most of the veteran astros will want to fly with US capsules so maybe it will push the rookies flying on Soyuz. But Cadwell-Dyson have previous Soyuz experience as a plus. Who knows?
Several astronauts have been involved in commercial crew development for quite some time, so I would be looking for pilots like Antonelli and Bresnik, and possibly Boe (his tour as deputy chief astro should be ending) and Hurley (has been commercial crew deputy for the flight ops directorate for some time). [If NASA is really designating the CST-100 flights as "BoeOFT-1" and "BoeOFT-2" it might be tempting.....]
As for MS types, Walheim, Fincke, Stott, Suni Williams, Feustel -- maybe Behnken, if three years is the limit to his chief astro tour. Some of them, of course, will be not just SpX or Boe crew members, but ISS expedition folks.
Michael Cassutt
Any word of Brightman's replacement?
Must be getting close to selecting a crew for the Dragon 2 and CST-100 missions. Training about two years before flight?
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/03/commercial-crew-demo-missions-dragon-cst-100/
That'll be Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques.The only two Active Astros our CSA has at the moment.
I've been thinking about the CSA announcement ....I'm happy for Hansen and St-Jacques of course...that they will FINALLY get to fly, but we're talking 4 and 9 more years before they both actually get to fly...they were originally selected in 2009...it's been a long wait to date and still a long ways to go...The earliest they could have flown was in 2011 after the graduated from astronaut candidate to Astronaut after their 2 years of training at JSC.
Out of these three the one who deserves the flight most is undoubtedly Aimbetov. He began training for a visiting flight to the ISS at Star City in 2003, but in 2009 Kazakhstan cancelled the mission due to financial problems. However, plans for such a flight were later resurrected and on 12 October 2012 he was given the official status of "Cosmonaut of the Republic of Kazakhstan". In May last year Talgat Musabayev, the head of the Kazakh space agency, said Aimbetov was the leading candidate for a Kazakh mission to the ISS in 2017.
If Aimbetov gets assigned to Soyuz TMA-18M, that would be an ironic twist of fate for Mukhtar Aimakhanov, another Kazakh-born cosmonaut who trained alongside Aimbetov from 2003 to 2009. After the cancellation of the Kazakh mission, he applied for Russian citizenship in order to be able to enter the Russian cosmonaut team. He received Russian citizenship in 2012 and was officially included in the Russian cosmonaut team on 14 August 2014. Therefore Aimakhanov must be better prepared to fly this mission than Aimbetov, but in his new capacity as Russian cosmonaut the Russians would have to give Aimakhonov a free ride. If they assign Aimbetov, they can charge Kazakhstan the usual price for a Soyuz seat. It remains to be seen though if Kazakhstan can come up with the money at such short notice.
From Russia, it is being reported that the main crew for ISS 50/51 will be American Peggy Whitson. Russian Oleg Novitsky and ESA Tom Sands. Is this officially the crew?
Out of these three the one who deserves the flight most is undoubtedly Aimbetov. He began training for a visiting flight to the ISS at Star City in 2003, but in 2009 Kazakhstan cancelled the mission due to financial problems. However, plans for such a flight were later resurrected and on 12 October 2012 he was given the official status of "Cosmonaut of the Republic of Kazakhstan". In May last year Talgat Musabayev, the head of the Kazakh space agency, said Aimbetov was the leading candidate for a Kazakh mission to the ISS in 2017.
If Aimbetov gets assigned to Soyuz TMA-18M, that would be an ironic twist of fate for Mukhtar Aimakhanov, another Kazakh-born cosmonaut who trained alongside Aimbetov from 2003 to 2009. After the cancellation of the Kazakh mission, he applied for Russian citizenship in order to be able to enter the Russian cosmonaut team. He received Russian citizenship in 2012 and was officially included in the Russian cosmonaut team on 14 August 2014. Therefore Aimakhanov must be better prepared to fly this mission than Aimbetov, but in his new capacity as Russian cosmonaut the Russians would have to give Aimakhonov a free ride. If they assign Aimbetov, they can charge Kazakhstan the usual price for a Soyuz seat. It remains to be seen though if Kazakhstan can come up with the money at such short notice.
It seems that Aimbetov has been chosen to fly the Soyuz TMA-18M mission, as posted by Anik on NK Forum
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum10/topic12565/?PAGEN_1=17 (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum10/topic12565/?PAGEN_1=17)
It's NEVER too early to speculate....
Several astronauts have been involved in commercial crew development for quite some time, so I would be looking for pilots like Antonelli and Bresnik, and possibly Boe (his tour as deputy chief astro should be ending) and Hurley (has been commercial crew deputy for the flight ops directorate for some time). [If NASA is really designating the CST-100 flights as "BoeOFT-1" and "BoeOFT-2" it might be tempting.....]
As for MS types, Walheim, Fincke, Stott, Suni Williams, Feustel -- maybe Behnken, if three years is the limit to his chief astro tour. Some of them, of course, will be not just SpX or Boe crew members, but ISS expedition folks.
Michael Cassutt
July 21, 2015
J15-016
Astronaut Tony Antonelli Departs NASA After 15 Years
Two-time space shuttle pilot Tony Antonelli has departed from NASA. His last day with the agency was July 10.
“Tony was a major contributor to our office,” said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “His skills and expertise were extremely valuable to our exploration and Space Launch System engineering team. We wish him the best in his future pursuits.”
Antonelli was born in Detroit and grew up in Indiana and North Carolina. He holds degrees in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge and the University of Washington in Seattle. A retired captain in the U.S. Navy, he has accumulated more than 3,200 hours in 41 different kinds of aircraft and has completed 273 carrier-arrested landings.
NASA selected him as an astronaut in 2000. A veteran of two space flights, Antonelli has logged a total of 24 days, 3 hours, 57 minutes in space. He first flew on STS-119 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in March 2009. The flight delivered the Starboard Integrated Truss Segment and the final pair of power-generating solar array wings to the International Space Station. His second mission was on Atlantis for STS-132 in May 2010. The mission delivered an Integrated Cargo Carrier and a Russian-built Mini Research Module to the Station.
Antonelli’s complete biography is available at:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/antonelli-da.html
HOUSTON, July 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Astronaut Stephen Frick has retired from NASA to accept a position in the private sector. Frick, who flew as both a Shuttle pilot and commander, left the Agency July 13.
"Steve has been a great asset to the astronaut office and NASA, and we are sad to see him leave," said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center. "We wish him continued success as he transitions to a new career."
Frick grew up in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, and holds degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. A retired captain in the U.S. Navy, he has accumulated more than 4,300 hours in 38 different kinds of aircraft and has completed 370 carrier-arrested landings.
Frick joined NASA as an astronaut candidate in 1996. He went on to fly two Space Shuttle missions, accumulating more than 23 days of spaceflight experience. He served as a pilot for STS-110 on Space Shuttle Atlantis in April 2002. The flight delivered the central integrated truss segment to the orbiting complex. His second mission also was on Atlantis for STS-122 in February 2008. That mission delivered and outfitted the European Space Agency's Columbus Laboratory, preparing it for future scientific work benefitting life on Earth.
Frick's complete biography is available at:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/frick.html
Got to do an article on that man!The man who took the iconic photo that still give me goosebumps returns! Forza Italia!! ;D
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/07/italian-veteran-paolo-nespoli-return-the-iss/
So this is the ninth time an italian is going to visit the station?I guess because they deliver fresh home-made pizza with them when they arrive... Who doesn’t like pizza? ;D
That's as much as France, Germany, Belgium and Spain combined.
What gives?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_International_Space_Station_visitors
Got to do an article on that man!
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/07/italian-veteran-paolo-nespoli-return-the-iss/
Interesting fact and welcome to NSF! :)Got to do an article on that man!
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/07/italian-veteran-paolo-nespoli-return-the-iss/
while he was with the special forces he served in Lebanon, where he met Oriana Fallaci and inspired the main character (Angelo) of her novel Inshallah
www.spacefacts.de is listing the following ISS commanders:According to http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 the list is correct.
ISS 44 - G. Padalka - Russia
ISS 45 - S. Kelly - USA
ISS 46 - S. Kelly - USA
ISS 47 - T. Kopra - USA
ISS 48 - J. Williams - USA
ISS 49 - A. Ivanishin - Russia
ISS 50 - R. Kimbrough - USA
ISS 51 - P. Whitson - USA
ISS 52 - A. Misurkin - Russia
ISS 53 - F. Yurchikhin - Russia
Is this list correct?
Four in a row for USA seems a little strange to me, if we are talking about alternance.
Veteran astronaut Mike Foreman has retired from NASA to join a Houston-based consulting firm. A retired captain in the U.S. Navy, Foreman’s last day with the agency is July 31.
“Mike is a great American who has served our nation for 35 years,” said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “We have been lucky to have him as part of our NASA team, and wish him and his family the best.”
Foreman grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio. He holds degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Designated a Naval Aviator in 1981, Foreman has flown more than 7,000 hours in 50 different aircraft.
Foreman was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate in 1998 and flew on two space shuttle missions, accumulating more than 26 days in space. He also performed five spacewalks, spending 32 hours and 19 minutes outside performing space station assembly tasks. He flew as a mission specialist for STS-123 on space shuttle Endeavour in March 2008. The mission delivered the Japanese Experiment Logistics Module and the Canadian-built Dextre, also known as the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, to the station. His next mission was STS-129 on space shuttle Atlantis in November 2009. The mission delivered two logistics carriers and approximately 30,000 pounds of replacement parts for station power systems.
When not flying in space, Foreman held a variety of technical assignments in the Astronaut Office. He also served as chief of External Programs at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland from June 2010 through May 2011. He most recently served as the Safety Branch chief in the Astronaut Office. There, he also supported the Exploration Branch, working on the Commercial Crew Development Program.
Got to do an article on that man!
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/07/italian-veteran-paolo-nespoli-return-the-iss/
while he was with the special forces he served in Lebanon, where he met Oriana Fallaci and inspired the main character (Angelo) of her novel Inshallah
So this is the ninth time an italian is going to visit the station?
That's as much as France, Germany, Belgium and Spain combined.
What gives?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_International_Space_Station_visitors
So this is the ninth time an italian is going to visit the station?
That's as much as France, Germany, Belgium and Spain combined.
What gives?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_International_Space_Station_visitors
Many of those are NASA spots that were given to the Italian space agency in exchange for building the three MPLMs, Cupola and probably a few other things I'm forgetting (one of the nodes?).
I know who the American is, but am not sure that I am at liberty to say.
And Any idea who the NASA astronaut on soyuz ms-06 will be?
I think the want to get the '09s flown as soon as possible, so I would say either Auñón or Tingle.
And Any idea who the NASA astronaut on soyuz ms-06 will be?
So there will be three Russian commanders of ISS in the row. Yurchikhin, Skvortsov and Ryazanskiy.Or four ? Misurkin, Yurchikhin, Skvortsov and Ryazanskiy.
Or four? Misurkin, Yurchikhin, Skvortsov and Ryazanskiy.
I thought Skvortsov was Prokopyev's backup? And Tingle is on MS-06 with Prokopyev & Artemyev, right?Or four? Misurkin, Yurchikhin, Skvortsov and Ryazanskiy.
Oh, sorry, Bresnik instead of Ryazanskiy.
Negativ. AFAIK Russia has switched the crew from September 2017 with the crew from March 2018, so Tingle will be with Skvortsov and Matveyev.I thought Skvortsov was Prokopyev's backup? And Tingle is on MS-06 with Prokopyev & Artemyev, right?Or four? Misurkin, Yurchikhin, Skvortsov and Ryazanskiy.
Oh, sorry, Bresnik instead of Ryazanskiy.
Have any cosmonauts passed away in the last week or so? I tthink there is a report that one did, but I don't know who. Thanks.
In a german Interview with Hans-Dietrich Wörner (ESA, from Germany) it is mentioned, that the next German Astronaut will fly in 2018. It's not clear if Gerst again, but he is back to the astronaut training...
Source: http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/esa-chef-woerner-so-kann-deutschland-eine-astronautin-haben-a-1052053.html (http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/esa-chef-woerner-so-kann-deutschland-eine-astronautin-haben-a-1052053.html)
Have any cosmonauts passed away in the last week or so? I tthink there is a report that one did, but I don't know who. Thanks.
Does it counts as "the passed away" if cosmonaut becomes a politician? :)
If so, then Roman Romanenko is a new russian congressman (member of Duma)
In a german Interview with Hans-Dietrich Wörner (ESA, from Germany) it is mentioned, that the next German Astronaut will fly in 2018. It's not clear if Gerst again, but he is back to the astronaut training...
Thomas Reiter is Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations (D/HSO), and Head of ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany, since 18 April 2011.
http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Thomas_Reiter_br_Director_of_HSO
This I wrote three weeks ago.Thomas Reiter is Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations (D/HSO), and Head of ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany, since 18 April 2011.
http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Thomas_Reiter_br_Director_of_HSO
Thomas Reiter will be replaced next year...
Assistant Director of Space and Aviation Security in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
B. Alvin Drew, Jr. left NASA in October 2013 having logged 25 days and 13 hours in space over the course of two space shuttle missions (STS-118 & STS-133).Thank you.
B. Alvin Drew, Jr. left NASA in October 2013 having logged 25 days and 13 hours in space over the course of two space shuttle missions (STS-118 & STS-133).Thank you.
Thanks for the correction.B. Alvin Drew, Jr. left NASA in October 2013 having logged 25 days and 13 hours in space over the course of two space shuttle missions (STS-118 & STS-133).Thank you.
Drew actually left NASA in July 2015 -- from February 2013 to that time he was a NASA management astronaut detailed to DOD space agencies at Peterson AFB in Colorado.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-drew-99664828
Michael Cassutt
Found this link on
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum10/topic9135/?PAGEN_1=144
http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms8.htm
That Andrew Feustel is set for MS-08 with Prokopyev and Artemyev for Expedition 55.
http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Thomas_Reiter_br_Director_of_HSO
Thomas Reiter will be replaced next year...
Thomas Reiter is the acting Director of Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration (D/HRE), as of 1 January 2016.Now
David Parker took up duty as Director of Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration (D/HRE) on 1 April 2016.http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/David_Parker_br_Director_of_HRE
I'm surprised another one year mission hasn't been scheduled yet. Yes it means that fewer astronauts get to go to the ISS but more one year expeditions would allow NASA to get a larger data set on the biological effects of long duration spaceflight needed for a future Mars mission.Still analyzing the data from the previous year mission?
Ready to proceed with five further year in space missions supposedly. My guess would be waiting until at a point when they're confident commercial crew can maintain a set schedule.I'm surprised another one year mission hasn't been scheduled yet. Yes it means that fewer astronauts get to go to the ISS but more one year expeditions would allow NASA to get a larger data set on the biological effects of long duration spaceflight needed for a future Mars mission.Still analyzing the data from the previous year mission?
Minister Bains to Make Announcement on Human Space Flight
May 13, 2016 - Longueuil, Quebec
On May 16, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency, will make an important announcement on human space flight to the International Space Station.
We’re looking forward to the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne.
NASA's Jeanette Epps, a Syracuse high school grad, to spend 6 months in space
Canadian Space Agency The Canadian Space Agency is recruiting: astronauts wanted!
From June 17 to August 15, the Canadian Space Agency is recruiting the next generation of space explorers.
Apply now: http://asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/
According to Shams on Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1535016/#message1535016):
09.2018 Союз МС-10: Падалка (КЭ-58, Бабкин, NASA (видимо, Ауньён)
11.2018 Союз МС-11: Кононенко, NASA, Сен-Жак (Канада)
03.2019 Союз МС-12: Волков, Кудь-Сверчков/Матвеев, NASA
Sep 2018 Soyuz MS-10: Padalka (Exp-58 CDR), Babkin, NASA (probably Aunon);
Nov 2018 Soyuz MS-11: Kononenko, NASA, Saint-Jacques (Canada);
Mar 2019 Soyuz MS-12: Volkov, Kud'-Sverchkov/Matveev, NASA.
According to Shams on Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1535016/#message1535016):
09.2018 Союз МС-10: Падалка (КЭ-58, Бабкин, NASA (видимо, Ауньён)
11.2018 Союз МС-11: Кононенко, NASA, Сен-Жак (Канада)
03.2019 Союз МС-12: Волков, Кудь-Сверчков/Матвеев, NASA
Sep 2018 Soyuz MS-10: Padalka (Exp-58 CDR), Babkin, NASA (probably Aunon);
Nov 2018 Soyuz MS-11: Kononenko, NASA, Saint-Jacques (Canada);
Mar 2019 Soyuz MS-12: Volkov, Kud'-Sverchkov/Matveev, NASA.
AIUI they will continued to send up mixed Russian & NASA crews on most crewed vehicles. So you don't have a situation with only Russian or NASA personnel on the ISS if one of the vehicles gets grounded.According to Shams on Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1535016/#message1535016):
09.2018 Союз МС-10: Падалка (КЭ-58, Бабкин, NASA (видимо, Ауньён)
11.2018 Союз МС-11: Кононенко, NASA, Сен-Жак (Канада)
03.2019 Союз МС-12: Волков, Кудь-Сверчков/Матвеев, NASA
Sep 2018 Soyuz MS-10: Padalka (Exp-58 CDR), Babkin, NASA (probably Aunon);
Nov 2018 Soyuz MS-11: Kononenko, NASA, Saint-Jacques (Canada);
Mar 2019 Soyuz MS-12: Volkov, Kud'-Sverchkov/Matveev, NASA.
The most interesting stuff is a NASA astronaut in march 2019 on a Soyuz flight.
According to Shams on Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1535016/#message1535016):
09.2018 Союз МС-10: Падалка (КЭ-58, Бабкин, NASA (видимо, Ауньён)
11.2018 Союз МС-11: Кононенко, NASA, Сен-Жак (Канада)
03.2019 Союз МС-12: Волков, Кудь-Сверчков/Матвеев, NASA
Sep 2018 Soyuz MS-10: Padalka (Exp-58 CDR), Babkin, NASA (probably Aunon);
Nov 2018 Soyuz MS-11: Kononenko, NASA, Saint-Jacques (Canada);
Mar 2019 Soyuz MS-12: Volkov, Kud'-Sverchkov/Matveev, NASA.
Oh, my goodness. Looks like Gennadi Padalka will make a sixth spaceflight and possibly break a "time in space" record yet again.
Well, he could just have been lucky with his radiation exposure. I mean that his on-orbit time could have been all during lulls in solar activity since that is the #1 radiation exposure source. For all missions solar flares are huge concerns and he could just have been lucky to not have any major flares during his missions.According to Shams on Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1535016/#message1535016):
09.2018 Союз МС-10: Падалка (КЭ-58, Бабкин, NASA (видимо, Ауньён)
11.2018 Союз МС-11: Кононенко, NASA, Сен-Жак (Канада)
03.2019 Союз МС-12: Волков, Кудь-Сверчков/Матвеев, NASA
Sep 2018 Soyuz MS-10: Padalka (Exp-58 CDR), Babkin, NASA (probably Aunon);
Nov 2018 Soyuz MS-11: Kononenko, NASA, Saint-Jacques (Canada);
Mar 2019 Soyuz MS-12: Volkov, Kud'-Sverchkov/Matveev, NASA.
Oh, my goodness. Looks like Gennadi Padalka will make a sixth spaceflight and possibly break a "time in space" record yet again.
Padalka has led an amazing spaceflight career. If he completes this 6th flight as planned, he will have accumulated over 1000 days in space, or nearly 3 years. My major question is radiation exposure. I know that some NASA astronauts have been dropped from flights because of this. Are the Russian rules more lenient? Or does personal and family health have a heavy bearing, with Padalka and his ancestors particularly resilient, allowing him to fly so many long duration missions?
NASA Director of Operations - Star City, Russia.
Can you provide any details, without causing you any problems?
The only thing I can say, it is not an Italian Guy
The only thing I can say, it is not an Italian Guy
And the only thing I can say, it is an German Guy :)
Statistics on applications for 2016 Canada's astronaut recruitment campaign
2016-08-19 – The Public Service Commission of Canada and the Canadian Space Agency have published statistics on applications for the astronaut recruitment campaign. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)
Latest numbers on the Canadian Space Agency's astronaut recruitment campaign (September 30, 2016)
2016-09-30 - The Public Service Commission of Canada and the Canadian Space Agency published the latest numbers on Canada’s 2016 astronaut recruitment campaign. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)
According to this Statement https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/10/20/email-alvin-drew-seeing-stars Mr. Drew is working asQuoteAssistant Director of Space and Aviation Security in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Does anyone know, when he has left NASA?
Thanks for the correction.B. Alvin Drew, Jr. left NASA in October 2013 having logged 25 days and 13 hours in space over the course of two space shuttle missions (STS-118 & STS-133).Thank you.
Drew actually left NASA in July 2015 -- from February 2013 to that time he was a NASA management astronaut detailed to DOD space agencies at Peterson AFB in Colorado.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-drew-99664828
Michael Cassutt
According to this Statement https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/10/20/email-alvin-drew-seeing-stars Mr. Drew is working asQuoteAssistant Director of Space and Aviation Security in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Does anyone know, when he has left NASA?Thanks for the correction.B. Alvin Drew, Jr. left NASA in October 2013 having logged 25 days and 13 hours in space over the course of two space shuttle missions (STS-118 & STS-133).Thank you.
Drew actually left NASA in July 2015 -- from February 2013 to that time he was a NASA management astronaut detailed to DOD space agencies at Peterson AFB in Colorado.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-drew-99664828
Michael Cassutt
I have to ask this question again, because now NASA´s biographies says he is working in NASA´s headquarter.
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/astronauts/management
It looks like NASA "bought" a seat for Kanai on 54/55 if I'm reading that correctly...
It looks like NASA "bought" a seat for Kanai on 54/55 if I'm reading that correctly...
They already paid for that one... There has to be 2 USOS crewmembers on that flight.
163 people have moved on to the next step of Canada’s astronaut recruitment campaign.
Latest numbers on the astronaut recruitment campaign (November 16, 2016)
2016-11-16 - The Canadian Space Agency published the latest numbers on Canada's 2016 astronaut recruitment campaign. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)
Huang Weifen: Selection of third round of Chinese astronauts to begin in 2017, inc. wider range: technical backgrounds, not just airforce.
CanadianSpaceAgency @csa_asc
Who will #BeTheNextCDNAstro? 100 candidates are one step closer! http://asc-csa.gc.ca/astronauts
After 33 years at #NASA #USAF, 3 space flights & 180 days in space, I’m leaving @NASA!
https://twitter.com/Astro_Cady/status/804363449723715584QuoteAfter 33 years at #NASA #USAF, 3 space flights & 180 days in space, I’m leaving @NASA!
https://www.facebook.com/AstronautCadyColeman/posts/729398210542225
Anyone heard anything for the 2017 NASA selection? According to the NASA website, "Initial Interviewees brought to Johnson Space Center for initial interview and activities. Interviewees will be selected from the Highly Qualified group." in August-October 2016.
According to his Twitter account https://twitter.com/Astro_Wheels Mr. Wheelock is (again) theThis entry has been removed now.QuoteNASA Director of Operations - Star City, Russia.
Jan. 9, 2017
Veteran Astronauts Retire from NASA
Two astronauts with a combined tenure of almost 50 years in the astronaut corps have retired from NASA. Mike Baker and Mike Fossum both left the agency on Jan. 7 to join private industry.
Fossum first came to NASA as part of a U.S. Air Force detail to support the space shuttle flight operations in 1981, just in time for the third space shuttle flight. He returned in 1993 as a systems engineer, supporting the yet-to-be-built International Space Station, as well as the astronaut office and Mission Operations Directorate. Fossum was also a flight test engineer on the X-38 prototype crew return spacecraft.
In 1998, NASA selected Fossum as an astronaut. Over the course of his 18 years in the astronaut corps, he flew onboard space shuttle Discovery to the space station for STS-121 in 2006 and STS-124 in 2008, and returned aboard a Russian Soyuz in 2011 as part of Expeditions 28 and 29. While in space, he performed seven spacewalks for a combined total of more than 48 hours spent outside the space station.
“Mike Fossum has been a personal friend for over two decades,” said Brian Kelly, director of Flight Operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “His outstanding service to our great nation and NASA has prepared him well for whatever challenges lie ahead. I wish him and his wonderful family all the best.”
Since returning to Earth in 2011, Fossum has served in a number of capacities, most recently as assistant to the chief of the astronaut office for the International Space Station.
Fossum was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and grew up in McAllen, Texas. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University; a master’s in systems engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology; and a master’s in physical science (space science) from the University of Houston – Clear Lake. He achieved the rank of colonel in the U.S. Air Force before retiring in 1992, and has logged about 2,000 hours of flight time in 35 different aircraft.
Baker was selected as an astronaut in 1985, after spending 10 years as first a U.S. Navy pilot, and then instructor at the US Navy Test Pilot School and the Empire Test Pilot School, earning the rank of captain. Following the Challenger accident in 1986, he participated in a project to modify the space shuttle fleet’s landing and deceleration systems, and improve its safety margins during landing and rollout. He also was involved in the checkout and verification of the computer software and hardware interfaces for the return-to-flight mission, STS-26.
Baker’s first flight came in 1991, when he piloted space shuttle Atlantis for STS-43 and helped put the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-5 (TDRS-5) into orbit. He piloted a second mission, STS-52, in 1992, when space shuttle Columbia delivered the Laser Geodynamic Satellite II to space.
He followed that up by commanding two missions – STS-68 in 1994 and STS-81 in 1997. For the first, space shuttle Endeavour carried the Space Radar Laboratory. The latter saw Atlantis make the fifth mission to Russia’s Space Station Mir, delivering supplies, experiments and astronauts.
In all, Baker spent 965 hours in space.
Before his final mission, Baker made the first of what would become many trips to Russia and Kazakhstan. He attended the launch of the Spektr – the fifth module of the Mir – before he made his own trip, and afterward was named assistant director of Johnson Space Center for Human Spaceflight Programs, Russia. In that assignment and the ones that followed, he has attended every Soyuz launch since 1998, as well as the Proton launches that sent the Zvezda and Zarya modules to the International Space Station.
“It’s hard to imagine NASA operations in Russia and Kazakhstan without Mike Baker,” Kelly said. “He has been a part of our work there since the International Space Station came into being. He will be missed, but we wish him well in his next endeavor.”
Baker was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and considers Lemoore, California, his hometown. He earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas in 1975. Over the course of his career, he has logged more than 5,400 hours flying some 50 different types of airplanes, and has made more than 300 carrier landings.
Fossum’s complete biography is available at:
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/michael-e-fossum/biography
Find Baker’s complete biography at:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/baker-m.html
Brandi Dean
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
[email protected]
Last Updated: Jan. 9, 2017
Editor: Mark Garcia
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3700
Today Nick Hague and Serena Auñón-Chancellor started their training in Star City.
No crew assignments are known at the moment, but it seems they could fly in the second half of 2018.
So Gerst is flying again?http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/Alexander_Gerst_to_be_Space_Station_commander
So Gerst is flying again?http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/Alexander_Gerst_to_be_Space_Station_commander
On Jan. 18, 2017, the ESA Director General Dr. Wörner held a media briefing at ESA Headquarters in Paris, France.
It was announced that all six astronauts of the latest ESA astronaut selection group (Gerst, Mogensen, Parmitano, Cristoforetti, Pesquet and Peake) are foreseen for a second flight.
Also, Pedro Duque is assignable for a third flight. Alexander Gerst and Paolo Nespoli are already assigned to a second respectively a third mission. Roberto Vittori likes to return to flight status.
In the media briefing, a new name of a German astronaut popped up who was in a reserve position in the last years. Matthias Maurer also applied for the ESA Astronaut Class in 2008 and he already got an assignment as EuroCom.
Maurer already participated as an ESA member in the international NEEMO 21 and CAVES 2014 missions (analogue studies). The presentation says that Dr. Maurer is already assignable for a mission.
So let's keep the fingers crossed for all the forementioned ESA astronauts that they will be assigned to more and fantastic and interesting missions.
Who could be the next Canadian astronaut? – Infographic
The infographic features the latest data, as of February 2, 2017, on the candidates who have been selected for the next step of the selection process in the Canadian Space Agency's astronaut recruitment campaign.
There is a map of Canada with dots on it to show which universities the top 72 candidates graduated from. Here are the universities, from west to east.
British Columbia: Royal Roads Military College, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, University of Victoria.
Alberta: The King's University, University of Alberta, University of Calgary.
Saskatchewan: University of Saskatchewan.
Manitoba: University of Manitoba.
Ontario: Carleton University, McMaster University, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Ryerson University, Queen's University, Royal Military College of Canada, Seneca College – School of Aviation and Flight Technology, University of Guelph, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, Western University.
Quebec: Concordia University, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Laval University, McGill University, University of Sherbrooke.
New Brunswick: University of New Brunswick.
Nova Scotia: Acadia University, Cape Breton University, Dalhousie University, St. Francis Xavier University, Technical University of Nova Scotia.
Newfoundland and Labrador: Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Some candidates also obtained degrees outside Canada (38 universities).
Of the candidates selected for the next step of the selection process, 68% are men and 32% are women.
The candidates hold a total of 210 university degrees.
Here is a breakdown of their degrees by field of study:
Engineering: 79
Medicine/health: 38
Physical sciences: 35
Biological and biomedical sciences: 23
Aeronautics and aerospace: 14
Other: 21
Note: Numbers are based on available data, and percentages are rounded.
Sorry if someone else posted this already. Please delete if so.Dan Hartman, the Deputy Manager for ISS Program @ NASA, addressed the possibility of delaying the return of one of the USOS crew (as a result of the "open" seat from reduced Russian crew) in the Q&A segment of the pre-launch briefing for the recent CRS-10 (SpX-10) launch: He says that the discussions about such a possibility are just beginning with with Russians. And additionally, there's been no decision about which USOS crew member would have their stay extended. And that currently there's no agreement with their Russian partners on the matter. It's not for sure that it would be Whitson. It could be Pesquet.
I was at this website: http://www.spacefacts.de/schedule/e_schedule.htm Normaly a good source. As you can see at the picture. The returning of Peggy Whitson will be later. Not in June but in september.
Any one with more information if this is true?
Sorry if someone else posted this already. Please delete if so.Dan Hartman, the Deputy Manager for ISS Program @ NASA, addressed the possibility of delaying the return of one of the USOS crew (as a result of the "open" seat from reduced Russian crew) in the Q&A segment of the pre-launch briefing for the recent CRS-10 (SpX-10) launch: He says that the discussions about such a possibility are just beginning with with Russians. And additionally, there's been no decision about which USOS crew member would have their stay extended. And that currently there's no agreement with their Russian partners on the matter. It's not for sure that it would be Whitson. It could be Pesquet.
I was at this website: http://www.spacefacts.de/schedule/e_schedule.htm Normaly a good source. As you can see at the picture. The returning of Peggy Whitson will be later. Not in June but in september.
Any one with more information if this is true?
Here's the briefing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKtBxIqDZeA
The specific question and answer start at the 17m20s mark. Be sure to watch until the follow-up by the other reporter is asked later in the Q&A for all the info given.
According to a report on the NK forum by Shams Joseph Acaba will fly in September 2017 in Soyuz MS-06, his back-up will be Shannon Walker.
Ms. Walker will fly in March 2018 in Soyuz MS-08.
They started their training today in StarCity.
So, Kanai and Epps will not fly on those two Soyuz?At the moment Kanai is planned on Soyuz MS-07 and Epps on Soyuz MS-09.
So, Kanai and Epps will not fly on those two Soyuz?
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/joseph-m-acaba/biographyAccording to his Twitter account https://twitter.com/Astro_Wheels Mr. Wheelock is (again) theThis entry has been removed now.QuoteNASA Director of Operations - Star City, Russia.
Any information who is now working in Star City.
Acaba recently served as Director of Operations Russia in Star City supporting crew training in Soyuz and Russian Segment systems. He is currently training to be a Flight Engineer for Expedition 53/54.
To continue this topic, Mr. Wheelock seems back to StarCity in his previous function.https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/joseph-m-acaba/biographyAccording to his Twitter account https://twitter.com/Astro_Wheels Mr. Wheelock is (again) theThis entry has been removed now.QuoteNASA Director of Operations - Star City, Russia.
Any information who is now working in Star City.QuoteAcaba recently served as Director of Operations Russia in Star City supporting crew training in Soyuz and Russian Segment systems. He is currently training to be a Flight Engineer for Expedition 53/54.
NASA Director of Operations - Russia
They affectionately call me the 'Boomerang DOR'!
Unsere zwei Astronautin-Trainees sind #NicolaBaumann und #InsaThieleEich(http://up.picr.de/28957301yx.jpg)
https://www.facebook.com/DieAstronautin/?hc_ref=NEWSFEEDQuoteUnsere zwei Astronautin-Trainees sind #NicolaBaumann und #InsaThieleEich(http://up.picr.de/28957301yx.jpg)
I thought Padalka was assigned to a sixth spaceflight.There was no assigment, only rumors.
Did that just change?
Minister Bains to unveil the identity of the top astronaut candidates
Toronto, Ontario, April 20, 2017 — On April 24, Minister Bains will introduce the final candidates to undergo the last rounds of assessments as part of the Canadian Space Agency’s astronaut recruitment campaign.
Date:
April 24, 2017
Time:
10:00 a.m. (EDT)
There is a report on the NK forum, that G. Padalka will leave the Cosmonaut Group on April, 28th.There is also a report, that A. Samokutyayev and S. Revin will leave the Cosmonaut Group.
There is a report on the NK forum, that G. Padalka will leave the Cosmonaut Group on April, 28th.
Russia's legendary cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, the man who spent most time in space — 879 days — officially retires from cosmonaut corps.
CDR of Soyuz MS-08 in March 2018 could be O. Artemyev. At the moment he is on training in Houston.In Houston he joined for training with S. Prokopyev. This suggest, that we will see them 2018 in the ISS.
IMHO, the chances that one these women will fly eventually into space is about zero - sadly. It appears to me, that is merely (at best) a PR-show. Currently they have raised only about 34000 € - about 0.085% of the needed ca. 40 million €.They say, the need only 50000 € from the Crowdfunding campaign.
IMHO, the chances that one these women will fly eventually into space is about zero - sadly. It appears to me, that is merely (at best) a PR-show. Currently they have raised only about 34000 € - about 0.085% of the needed ca. 40 million €.They say, the need only 50000 € from the Crowdfunding campaign.
https://www.facebook.com/DieAstronautin/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED
The link to the site of O. Artemyev doesn´t work, but you can find it here.
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1639773/#message1639773
There is his official webpage: http://www.artemjew.ru/en/ (English version) or http://www.artemjew.ru/ (Russian version).But on this sites are no information about his latest activities.
New info about Samokutyayev, Revin and Volkov (!) resignations.If this is the correct Sergei Volkoff, I remember him being on-orbit when Expedition 28 started on May 23, 2011 when the Expedition 27 Soyuz undocked from ISS. At the same time STS-134 Endeavour on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer delivery/installation mission was docked to ISS. Later that year STS-135 Atlantis was at the ISS during Expedition 28 docking on July 10, 2011m while Volkov was still there. He left ISS as Expedition ended on November 21, 2011. Volkoff came back to Earth with Fossum and Satoshi Furukawa.
http://tass.com/science/943001
According to http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3802 Luca Parmitano started his training in Star City.To answer my own question, I have found this.
Are there any information to which flight he could be assigned?
During the annual press briefing on 18 January 2017, ESA Director General Jan Woerner confirmed that Luca has been assigned a second mission to the ISS in 2019.http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/Luca_Parmitano
29 May 2017
ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst is returning to the International Space Station next year and today he revealed his mission name and logo: Horizons.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3815
Anne McClain has started her training in StarCity.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3815
Anne McClain has started her training in StarCity.
Even though USOS astronauts will eventually switch from Soyuz to Commercial Crew vehicles, do newly-recruited astronauts like Anne McClain train in Star City just in case they have to revert to Soyuz?
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3815
Anne McClain has started her training in StarCity.
Even though USOS astronauts will eventually switch from Soyuz to Commercial Crew vehicles, do newly-recruited astronauts like Anne McClain train in Star City just in case they have to revert to Soyuz?
Unless it's changed recently, it's my understanding that crew rotation schedule requirements will still see Americans on Soyuz flights and also Russians on commercial seats, on a barter one-for-one arrangement.
Second Tim Peake space flight under threat over cost dispute
https://www.ft.com/content/cfbea554-4904-11e7-a3f4-c742b9791d43
My opinion: If the UK wants its fair share of flight assignments, we should pay our fair share of the costs. Let's hope we don't (once again) throw away our HSF program because of short-sighted haggling over comparitively small amounts of money. :(
Congrats Robb!
According to the newest information in the NK forum Ms. McClain will be the FE2 in the back-up crew of Soyuz MS-11 (November 2018) and then the FE2 in the flight crew of Soyuz MS-13 (September 2019), both together with Luca Parmitano.http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3815
Anne McClain has started her training in StarCity.
Even though USOS astronauts will eventually switch from Soyuz to Commercial Crew vehicles, do newly-recruited astronauts like Anne McClain train in Star City just in case they have to revert to Soyuz?
Interesting. According to L2's FPIP, only one USOS crewmember was scheduled on Soyuz MS-13...One seat could be part of the Energiya-Boeing-NASA deal.
Can anyone explain why Shannon Walker has not been assigned to a new crew?
Can anyone explain why Shannon Walker has not been assigned to a new crew?
Isn't she listed as as FE2 with MS-12, with Vinogradov as Commander and Tikhonov as FE1 ? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-12
Can anyone explain why Shannon Walker has not been assigned to a new crew?
Isn't she listed as as FE2 with MS-12, with Vinogradov as Commander and Tikhonov as FE1 ? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-12
I'm not sure if Wikipedia is an accurate source because third-party editors tend to change the text from time to time.
Vinogradov would turn 67 during that mission.
Orbital ATK Names Rick Mastracchio as Senior Director of Operations for Commercial Resupply Services
Former NASA Astronaut Brings Unique Human Spaceflight Experience to Company’s Space Systems Group
Dulles, Virginia 19 June 2017 – Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, today announced that Mr. Rick Mastracchio has joined the company’s Space Systems Group as the Senior Director of Operations for the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program, which relies on commercial providers to deliver vital cargo to the International Space Station. As a member of the Advanced Programs Division’s Human Space Systems team based in Dulles, Virginia, Mastracchio will be responsible for managing the CRS Mission and Cargo Operations teams. He will also support other Human Space Systems programs, including Orbital ATK’s exploration pursuits beyond low earth orbit.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rick Mastracchio to Orbital ATK,” said Frank DeMauro, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Advanced Programs Division. “With his experience as an astronaut and his time spent on the International Space Station, Rick brings a unique understanding of human space flight, making him an invaluable resource for our human space flight endeavors.”
Prior to joining Orbital ATK, Mastracchio had an impressive career as a NASA astronaut. He was selected as an astronaut candidate in August 1996 and flew as a mission specialist on three space shuttle flights: STS-106, STS-188 and STS-131. He also spent time on the space station as part of Expedition 38/39 and was on the orbiting laboratory when Orbital ATK’s first Cygnus resupply spacecraft under the CRS contract berthed with the station. Mastracchio has logged 228 days in space, including nine spacewalks totaling 53 hours.
Mastracchio also held several roles within NASA. Before he was selected as an astronaut, he worked as an ascent/entry Guidance and Procedures Officer in Mission Control, supporting 17 missions as a Flight Controller. After returning from the space station, he worked as the Cockpit Design Lead on Orion and as the Constellation Deputy Branch Chief.
Mastracchio holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of Connecticut, as well as master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and physical science from the University of Houston.
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, will reveal the country’s two newest astronauts on July 1 as part of the Canada 150 celebrations on Parliament Hill.
The astronauts will deliver brief remarks and be joined onstage by the Prime Minister and the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
Date:
July 1, 2017
Time:
11:40 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. (EDT)
Where:
Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario
The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, will welcome Canada’s two newest astronauts to the country’s space program. Also in attendance will be astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
This event will be attended by employees of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and their families. It will include a photo opportunity, question-and-answer session for the audience, media tour of CSA mission control, and media availability with the two newest astronauts.
Date:
July 4, 2017
Time:
9:30 a.m. (EDT): photo-op
10:00 a.m. (EDT): event
Where:
Canadian Space Agency
6767 Route de l’Aéroport
Saint-Hubert, Quebec J3Y 8Y9
The new Canadian astronauts are:
Sidey, Jennifer and Kutryk, Joshua
That brings our Active Astronauts Corps up to a contingent of 4 active members.The new Canadian astronauts are:
Sidey, Jennifer and Kutryk, Joshua
Some more info
http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/bio-joshua-kutryk.asp
http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/bio-jennifer-sidey.asp
...and Happy 150 Canada Day to all Canadian NSF members !!!
“Chinese astronauts Ye Guangfu and Chen Dong will join Samantha Cristoforetti of Italy and Germany’s Matthias Maurer for a 10-day joint training program in Yantai, on the Bohai Strait, in late August.
The objective of the cooperation with CMSA is to fly a European astronaut on the Chinese Space Station in 2022.”
Good to see CNSA let some of ESA's astronauts eventually fly aboard Shenzhou spacecrafts.Something about working with Communist countries that makes the US "nervous". Americans will fly on Shenzous the moment that Chinese Astros fly on ISS.
Still a shame that NASA can't participate due to the espionage risk.
Reid Wiseman is now listed as a Management Astronaut.His status was changed back to Active Astronaut.
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/management
Tikhonov losing his flight assignment (now expected NET 2019)
This http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41016.msg1718610#msg1718610 allows the conclusion, that Robert Behnken and Eric Boe could be the crew of the first Crew Dragon.
SpaceX always said that two NASA astronauts will fly on this mission, no one from SpaceX.This http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41016.msg1718610#msg1718610 allows the conclusion, that Robert Behnken and Eric Boe could be the crew of the first Crew Dragon.
I thought it was one of the four Commercial Crew astronauts from NASA plus a SpaceX employee, which is similar to the first manned Starliner crew that consists of a Boeing employee and one of NASA's CC astronauts.
And it's official -- the Turtles!! (On fenceposts, in a Harvey flood) #NewAstronauts
Probably not of interest to anyone unless you're Canadian but what the heck.....https://twitter.com/Astro_DavidS/status/914850287122345984
.."Former astronaut Julie Payette to be Canada's next Governor General.."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/governor-general-canada-julie-payette-1.4201614
Big day on Parliament Hill, Ottawa! Today former @csa_asc astronaut Julie Payette becomes Governor General of Canada!
https://twitter.com/Astro_Ellen/status/909225561528168448QuoteAnd it's official -- the Turtles!! (On fenceposts, in a Harvey flood) #NewAstronauts
<snip>
"If you find a box turtle on a fence post"--certainly didn't get there on its own--support of family, friends, teammates.
<snip>
NASA’s Dan Hartman: considering more one-year crews for ISS, but only after commercial crew flights begin.
ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer: ... Did training with Chinese astronauts this year, and hope to fly on Chinese space station in future.
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/931493656221159426QuoteESA astronaut Matthias Maurer: ... Did training with Chinese astronauts this year, and hope to fly on Chinese space station in future.
Probably not of interest to anyone unless you're Canadian but what the heck.....
.."Former astronaut Julie Payette to be Canada's next Governor General.."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/governor-general-canada-julie-payette-1.4201614
https://www.facebook.com/DieAstronautin/?hc_ref=NEWSFEEDAccording to http://dieastronautin.de/spannende-aussichten-astronautinnen-trainees-absolvieren-die-naechsten-parabelfluege-im-maerz/ Nicola Baumann has cancelled her training.QuoteUnsere zwei Astronautin-Trainees sind #NicolaBaumann und #InsaThieleEich
Does anyone know the exact birthdate of Norishige Kanai?
Thanks
Does anyone know the exact birthdate of Norishige Kanai?
Thanks
December 5th, 1976
Janet Kavandi, Ph.D. @JanetKavandi
At the 2017 Astronaut Reunion, the female astronauts gathered for a photo. An awesome group of women!
https://twitter.com/JanetKavandi/status/946434732509810688
Yes Epps was replaced.Thank you. Can you tell us more changes?
Yes Epps was replaced.
Is there any word on NASA crew assignments for 2019? A one-year training flow for ISS expeditions seems extremely short. Unless there's astros already in training, but not publicly announced yet?Christina H. Koch is good candidate. She will take part in winter survival training in Russia next month.
Today's lesson: Opening the front door on the Soyuz descent module. For winter survival training next month, nobody's gonna open that hatch but us!
Is there any word on NASA crew assignments for 2019? A one-year training flow for ISS expeditions seems extremely short. Unless there's astros already in training, but not publicly announced yet?
Just saw the announcement that Ellen Ochoa, JSC Center Director, is retiring.http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/000705.html
Ellen Ochoa will retire from NASA as center director of Johnson Space Center in May. From a memo she sent to center employees:
Earlier today at the All Hands, I let people know that I am going to retire from NASA at the end of May. It's a really tough decision to determine when to make that transition; for me, it comes down to my personal situation. I reach 30 years at NASA, and my younger son turns 18, so this summer is a natural point for our family in which to move on to the next phase. We'll be moving to Boise, ID, and I intend to be involved with a number of activities that interest me (including getting back to playing flute, which I once considered for a career!). Of course, I'll continue — always — to be a strong proponent of NASA and STEM activities in general.
We're fortunate to have a team of excellent leaders here at JSC, so I know I'll be leaving JSC in good hands. You'll hear more about JSC leadership plans from Robert Lightfoot later in the spring. In the meantime, I have several months to go as Center Director, and you can count on me to continue to be fully committed to our mission and our people here.
I know it sounds odd, but Epps removal could be linked to the recent ZUMA failure. Epps is one of two group 20 astronauts with connections to the intelligence community. The other is Fisher, who just happened to be on board the ISS when USA 276 (NROL-76) made its unusual close approach to the station. USA 276 in turn has been associated with ZUMA by several observers, mostly due to their similar (target) orbits.
Admittedly, such a speculation might not be the best subject for a first post ;) But be assured, that I normally stay away from such topics. My interest for the upcoming ISS expedition 56/57 is most and for all due to my fellow-countryman Alexander Gerst.
I know it sounds odd, but Epps removal could be linked to the recent ZUMA failure. Epps is one of two group 20 astronauts with connections to the intelligence community. The other is Fisher, who just happened to be on board the ISS when USA 276 (NROL-76) made its unusual close approach to the station. USA 276 in turn has been associated with ZUMA by several observers, mostly due to their similar (target) orbits.
Admittedly, such a speculation might not be the best subject for a first post ;) But be assured, that I normally stay away from such topics. My interest for the upcoming ISS expedition 56/57 is most and for all due to my fellow-countryman Alexander Gerst.
I know it sounds odd, but Epps removal could be linked to the recent ZUMA failure. Epps is one of two group 20 astronauts with connections to the intelligence community. The other is Fisher, who just happened to be on board the ISS when USA 276 (NROL-76) made its unusual close approach to the station. USA 276 in turn has been associated with ZUMA by several observers, mostly due to their similar (target) orbits.
Admittedly, such a speculation might not be the best subject for a first post ;) But be assured, that I normally stay away from such topics. My interest for the upcoming ISS expedition 56/57 is most and for all due to my fellow-countryman Alexander Gerst.
I know it sounds odd, but Epps removal could be linked to the recent ZUMA failure. Epps is one of two group 20 astronauts with connections to the intelligence community. The other is Fisher, who just happened to be on board the ISS when USA 276 (NROL-76) made its unusual close approach to the station. USA 276 in turn has been associated with ZUMA by several observers, mostly due to their similar (target) orbits.
Admittedly, such a speculation might not be the best subject for a first post ;) But be assured, that I normally stay away from such topics. My interest for the upcoming ISS expedition 56/57 is most and for all due to my fellow-countryman Alexander Gerst.
Soichi Noguchi 野口 聡 @Astro_Soichi
Let's get serious with #EVA power tools! My good friend & training mate Drew Morgan on the left.
Have a read of the book 'Dragonfly' by Bryan Burroughs done during the Mir station era. It gives - I was once told by impeccable sources - that it's a very accurate recounting of the Machiavellian shenanigans surrounding crew selection for that era (italics added by zubenelgenubi).
Epps says health and family issues not to blame "and that her overseas training in Russia and Kazakhstan had been successful".No, your question is not fair and the numbers that you have provided are completely deceptive.
http://www.newsweek.com/jeanette-epps-nasa-astronaut-iss-health-family-787650
I believe it is entirely fair to ask why no African American astronauts have served on (not just visited) ISS. The station has been up there since 1998 and something like 230 astro or cosmonauts have visited - and nearly 110 have stayed long-term - during that span. Those are stark numbers staring us in the face.
- Ed Kyle
You're quite right that Mr Abbey being gone casts a different light on the selection process. But some things doubtlessly have stayed the same, even 20 years later. Although many Astronauts didn't like George Abbey - there must have been more than a couple things that he did right. And I actually think if he was still around, he may have fought hard to keep Dr Epps assigned. Unless of course; he took against her for some reason. We'll never know! But during Abbey's tenure, I think we can say that there was a fair amount of diversity in the crew assignments.Have a read of the book 'Dragonfly' by Bryan Burroughs done during the Mir station era. It gives - I was once told by impeccable sources - that it's a very accurate recounting of the Machiavellian shenanigans surrounding crew selection for that era (italics added by zubenelgenubi).
Caution here--and if I'm wrong, may our resident experts on the astronaut/cosmonaut cadres correct me, or Matt--but I'd be leery of any direct comparison of astronaut assignment today to the George Abbey era of astronaut flight assignment, which includes the Shuttle/Mir era.
(Has any astronaut expressed regret after Dr. Abbey's retirement in 2001 that he would no longer be involved in crew selection?)
As the 2019/2020 ISS Expedition assignments are filled in, we may learn (or deduce) more of, or all of "the rest of the story." (As Paul Harvey used to say)
Or it may have to wait for current astronauts to write and publish memoirs--and that could be years or decades away.
You're quite right that Mr Abbey being gone casts a different light on the selection process. But some things doubtlessly have stayed the same, even 20 years later. Although many Astronauts didn't like George Abbey - there must have been more than a couple things that he did right. And I actually think if he was still around, he may have fought hard to keep Dr Epps assigned. Unless of course; he took against her for some reason. We'll never know! But during Abbey's tenure, I think we can say that there was a fair amount of diversity in the crew assignments.Have a read of the book 'Dragonfly' by Bryan Burroughs done during the Mir station era. It gives - I was once told by impeccable sources - that it's a very accurate recounting of the Machiavellian shenanigans surrounding crew selection for that era (italics added by zubenelgenubi).
Caution here--and if I'm wrong, may our resident experts on the astronaut/cosmonaut cadres correct me, or Matt--but I'd be leery of any direct comparison of astronaut assignment today to the George Abbey era of astronaut flight assignment, which includes the Shuttle/Mir era.
(Has any astronaut expressed regret after Dr. Abbey's retirement in 2001 that he would no longer be involved in crew selection?)
As the 2019/2020 ISS Expedition assignments are filled in, we may learn (or deduce) more of, or all of "the rest of the story." (As Paul Harvey used to say)
Or it may have to wait for current astronauts to write and publish memoirs--and that could be years or decades away.
Thanks for the interjection, Mr Cassutt. I hope you can see from my previous post that I was kind of sticking up for Mr Abbey ;)
I have your books, by the way and they're treasured possessions. I hope you can sign them for me one day! It also turns out that you and I have a mutual friend in Colin Burgess. Best regards, Matt Pavletich.
To help understand this news about Dr. Epps being replaced, can anyone describe the process for Astronaut training in Russia, to what extent Russia's space agency has a say in approving U.S. astronauts for Expedition missions, and what the timing of the change might say about who/what/why, etc.? Could her work history (she's ex-CIA) have played a role?
- Ed Kyle
To help understand this news about Dr. Epps being replaced, can anyone describe the process for Astronaut training in Russia, to what extent Russia's space agency has a say in approving U.S. astronauts for Expedition missions, and what the timing of the change might say about who/what/why, etc.? Could her work history (she's ex-CIA) have played a role?
- Ed Kyle
Epps' bg in the CIA had nothing to do with her removal from an ISS assignment. Any such concern -- and in this case it's just not relevant -- would have been addressed back in 2015, when her original assignment was approved by the International Partners, NASA, Roskosmos, ESA, JAXA and others. (That decision typically follows a NASA assignment by several months.... and is the reason you find public reports of astronauts like Meir beginning training at the Gagarin Center six months before NASA issues a press release.) Point being: if an astronaut is announced by the partners, that astronaut has been cleared.
During training, which typically lasts two years, sometimes more, NASA astronauts are subject to technical exams on Soyuz -- all crew members are. And must be proficient in ISS mission tasks -- EVA, robotics, management of scientific experiments, etc. Progress is noted, and judged, and corrections are made if necessary.
It's possible that a NASA or ESA or JAXA astronaut might perform so poorly on a Soyuz-specific exam that Roskosmos would sound an alarm, but Soyuz training takes up a small percentage of ISS training time. Less than airport waiting time (not flight time ;) And even if Roskosmos felt that a NASA/ESA/JAXA crew member wasn't ready on Soyuz, refresher training would be the first option.
Michael Cassutt
In accordance with the plan for preparing crews for space flights in the Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu.A. Gagarin started training after the landing in a wooded swampy area in winter ("winter survival"). Astronauts of the "ROSKOSMOS" Alexander Skvortsov, Oleg Skripochka, Andrei Borisenko, Sergei Ryzhikov, Andrei Babkin, Nikolai Chub, NASA astronauts Anne McClean, Andrew Morgan, Shannon Walker, Christina Cook, Jessica Meir, Richard Arnold, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and astronaut JAXA Soichi Noguchi will take part in the training.This could be the crew members of 2019 (except Richard Arnold and Anne McClain).
This post states Jessica Meir was beginning her training as a member of the Expedition 60/61 backup crew. I have never seen who is training as backup for 58/59 or 59/60. Anyone know who they might be?
Jessica Koch will be back-up for 59/60.This post states Jessica Meir was beginning her training as a member of the Expedition 60/61 backup crew. I have never seen who is training as backup for 58/59 or 59/60. Anyone know who they might be?
Andrew Morgan will be a backup for 58/59!
Jessica Koch will be back-up for 59/60.This post states Jessica Meir was beginning her training as a member of the Expedition 60/61 backup crew. I have never seen who is training as backup for 58/59 or 59/60. Anyone know who they might be?
Andrew Morgan will be a backup for 58/59!
Besides Astronauts Boe, Behnken, Hurley and Williams...are any other astronauts "assigned" to SpaceX and Boeing commercial flights?
I saw a preliminary schedule that had a 4 member crew (3 NASA / 1 CSA-JAXA or ESA) flying a Boeing mission after the initial 2 member flight.
Thank you.
Besides Astronauts Boe, Behnken, Hurley and Williams...are any other astronauts "assigned" to SpaceX and Boeing commercial flights?
I saw a preliminary schedule that had a 4 member crew (3 NASA / 1 CSA-JAXA or ESA) flying a Boeing mission after the initial 2 member flight.
Thank you.
I have no inside information, but I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts that Doug Wheelock will be on USCV-1.
Is Noguchi definitely attached to a Soyuz crew? My impression was that he was aimed at a late 2019 launch, which would imply a USCV?Yes, he is currently assigned to the back-up crew of Soyuz MS-13.
A Boeing astronaut is on the first CST-100 flight. A better than even chance that this will be Chris Ferguson.Mr. Ferguson said this four years ago
“So how about you? Would you like to do it?” I quickly inquired.http://www.americaspace.com/2014/05/29/who-will-fly-aboard-boeings-1st-private-cst-100-space-taxi-one-on-one-interview-with-chris-ferguson-last-shuttle-commander/
“I don’t know. Sure I’d like to go to space again, who wouldn’t like to go to space,” Ferguson mused, as we chuckled.
“But it’s a business for young, steely eyed missile men,” he replied, taking himself out of the running. … Maybe …
Is Noguchi definitely attached to a Soyuz crew? My impression was that he was aimed at a late 2019 launch, which would imply a USCV?
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2017/11/20171107_noguchi.html#app4Is Noguchi definitely attached to a Soyuz crew? My impression was that he was aimed at a late 2019 launch, which would imply a USCV?
I'm wondering if it's possible that some of the crewmembers assigned to Soyuz backup crews could wind up later being assigned to CCV launches, instead of Soyuz?
For the crew members’ round-trip to the ISS, the mission will employ the Russian Soyuz spacecraft or the new US manned spacecraft now being developed by a private company. This consequently requires me to complete the Soyuz spacecraft left-seater training as well as training for a new type of spacecraft that will become a leading player in future manned spaceflight.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), a national research and development agency, is delighted to announce today that JAXA Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide was selected as a crew member of the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 64/65. He will be the second Japanese to assume the post of commander on the ISS in leading the 65th Expedition.
Period of stay in space: Approximately six months starting around May of 2020
Mission:
Expedition 64 (approx. four months): Activities as the ISS Flight Engineer, mainly consisting of maintenance of the ISS facilities (including “Kibo”), scientific experiments, and manipulation of the Mobile Servicing System (MSS)
Expedition 65 (approx. two months): In addition to the above activities, taking the lead as ISS Commander for a successful mission and ensured safety of the crew
Project schedule: Training necessary for the long-duration stay on the ISS scheduled to begin around autumn 2019
Space Nation will send the first Space Nation Astronaut to lower orbit next year and then further out every year after that.Never heard about that.
When Expedition 56 astronaut Drew Feustel relinquishes the helm of the International Space Station (ISS) to Germany’s Alexander Gerst, early in October, more than a year will elapse with no U.S. citizen in command of the multi-national orbiting outpost. From that date, and throughout the entirety of 2019—for the first time in the station’s two-decade history—we will see a 12-month calendar year without a U.S. ISS Commander. NASA has revealed that no fewer than two European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts will command the ISS during this period, together with three Russian cosmonauts.
When Kononenko, Saint-Jacques and McClain land in early July, Skripochka will take command of Expedition 60 and lead ISS operations until he and Hammock-Koch return to Earth on 22 October, concluding a 200-day increment. After a few days as a two-member crew, Soyuz MS-13 will launch on 15 July, carrying Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Skvortsov, Italian ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA’s Drew Morgan. When Skripochka and Hammock-Koch depart on 22 October, Parmitano will command Expedition 61 until his own crew returns to Earth in late January 2020. Shorly thereafter, Soyuz MS-13 will launch with two Russians and an as-yet-unnamed U.S. astronaut. In doing so, Parmitano will be the third European—after Belgium’s Frank de Winne and Germany’s Alexander Gerst—to command the station and the first Italian to do so.
Those Commercial Crew missions presently remain in flux, with the unpiloted test-flights of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner targeted for launch in August 2018, followed by piloted test-flights at year’s end or, more likely, in the first quarter of 2019. Although veteran NASA shuttle and ISS flyers Eric Boe, Doug Hurley, Sunita Williams and former Chief Astronaut Bob Behnken were assigned to the test-flight program in July 2015, it remains to be seen which missions they will actually fly.
“The specific flight assignments for the first Commercial Crew flights haven’t been made yet,” Ms. Dean told AmericaSpace, “but it is not a given that the four “commercial crew cadre” members will be on the first two flights—they may be spread among the first several flights. At this point, everyone has been participating in work on both vehicles and they’ll start focusing on one or the other once they’ve been assigned to a specific flight. And there is a certain amount of space station training that everyone will need, as well.”
NASA Director of Operations - Star City, Russiahttps://twitter.com/Astro_Wheels
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine says he’s pushing to have a current NASA center director and former astronaut, Janet Kavandi, be nominated to be his deputy.
Tim Kopra and Rex Walheim are now listed as a management astronaut (from June 28th, 2018)
at: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/management.
GCTC. “Water survival” starts.
On July 2, 2018 a series of training sessions on the actions after landing of the spacecraft on the water surface starts and will last until July 20, 2018.
Six crews will participate in the “water survival”, including seven Russian cosmonauts, six NASA astronauts, one JAXA astronaut.
The trainings are providing by the training and testing team, which includes instructors, doctors, psychologists, divers, translators and other specialists of the GCTC, as well as representatives of NASA and JAXA.
Before the stage of practical training, which will take place in Noginsk rescue center EMERCOM of Russia, the crew will listen to the theoretical course of disciplines.
First crew to begin this years Cosmonaut Water Survival Training at Star City - L-R Babkin, Tikhonov & Cassidy
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4279
Sergey Ryazanski will leave the TsPK on July, 16.
Six crews will participate in the “water survival”, including seven Russian cosmonauts, six NASA astronauts, one JAXA astronaut.
Meat new #Soyuz 59S backup crew! Water survival training in #Russia
An exciting day for the entire #Starliner and @BoeingSpace team! Let's get ready to fly! Learn more about #Boeing test pilot @Astro_Ferg via @washingtonpost and @wapodavenport.https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/07/24/feature/nasa-trained-boeing-employed-chris-ferguson-hopes-to-make-history-as-a-company-astronaut/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c4f991ffff52
So its official @Astro_Ferg will be flying the first @BoeingSpace #CST100 Starliner as a company Test pilot along with two yet to be named @NASA_Astronauts from the @Commercial_Crew group of four. The @NASA crew will be named Aug. 7.
July 25, 2018
MEDIA ADVISORY M18-111
NASA to Name Astronauts Assigned to First Boeing, SpaceX Flights
NASA will announce on Friday, Aug. 3, the astronauts assigned to crew the first flight tests and missions of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon, and begin a new era in American spaceflight. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will preside over the event, which will begin at 11 a.m. EDT on NASA Television and the agency’s website.
NASA will announce the crew assignments for the crew flight tests and the first post-certification mission for both Boeing and SpaceX. NASA partnered with Boeing and SpaceX to develop the Starliner spacecraft to launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and the Crew Dragon launching atop the Falcon 9 rocket, respectively.
U.S. media are invited to attend the event at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and, afterward, speak with the astronauts about their assignments. Media wishing to attend must contact Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 4 p.m. CDT Wednesday, Aug. 1.
Johnson Space Center Director Mark Geyer and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana will join Bridenstine and representatives from Boeing and SpaceX to introduce the crews.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry as companies develop and operate a new generation of spacecraft and launch systems designed to carry crews safely to and from low-Earth orbit. The Starliner and Crew Dragon will launch American astronauts on American-made spacecraft from American soil to the International Space Station for the first time since NASA retired its Space Shuttle Program in 2011.
Commercial transportation to and from the space station will enable expanded station use, additional research time and broader opportunities of discovery aboard the orbiting laboratory. The station is critical for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight, and necessary for a sustainable presence on the Moon and missions deeper into the solar system, including Mars.
Following the announcement, the astronauts will participate in a Reddit Ask Me Anything at 12:30 p.m. at:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/
Images and video highlights from the announcement will be available at:
https://images.nasa.gov
6) crew: 1 GCTC instructor, Drew Morgan;
Japanese space agency’s vice president and director general for human spaceflight Technology.https://spacenews.com/jaxa-astronaut-charts-future/
July 25, 2018
MEDIA ADVISORY M18-111
NASA to Name Astronauts Assigned to First Boeing, SpaceX Flights
NASA will announce on Friday, Aug. 3, the astronauts assigned to crew the first flight tests and missions of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon, and begin a new era in American spaceflight. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will preside over the event, which will begin at 11 a.m. EDT on NASA Television and the agency’s website.
NASA will announce the crew assignments for the crew flight tests and the first post-certification mission for both Boeing and SpaceX. NASA partnered with Boeing and SpaceX to develop the Starliner spacecraft to launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and the Crew Dragon launching atop the Falcon 9 rocket, respectively.
U.S. media are invited to attend the event at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and, afterward, speak with the astronauts about their assignments. Media wishing to attend must contact Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 4 p.m. CDT Wednesday, Aug. 1.
Johnson Space Center Director Mark Geyer and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana will join Bridenstine and representatives from Boeing and SpaceX to introduce the crews.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry as companies develop and operate a new generation of spacecraft and launch systems designed to carry crews safely to and from low-Earth orbit. The Starliner and Crew Dragon will launch American astronauts on American-made spacecraft from American soil to the International Space Station for the first time since NASA retired its Space Shuttle Program in 2011.
Commercial transportation to and from the space station will enable expanded station use, additional research time and broader opportunities of discovery aboard the orbiting laboratory. The station is critical for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight, and necessary for a sustainable presence on the Moon and missions deeper into the solar system, including Mars.
Following the announcement, the astronauts will participate in a Reddit Ask Me Anything at 12:30 p.m. at:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/
Images and video highlights from the announcement will be available at:
https://images.nasa.gov
NASA’s last space shuttle commander — former U.S. Navy fighter pilot Chris Ferguson — will fly Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner crew capsule on its first piloted test mission to the International Space Station next year.
Interesting quote from Ferguson. I'll have to track down the interview.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Ferguson said the competition between Boeing and SpaceX is “sort of grown-up capture the flag … It probably has a lot more significance to me than it does to, say, somebody from our competition.”
Hey... this is the "Fergie" from the couple of launch/reentry videos I've watched lately??
Some questions mainly on how ISS crew rotation will be done once US spacecraft starts carrying people to space again:
- Why only 2 people per flight on the first missions with long term crew? Shouldn't it be 4?
- Would Russian cosmonauts fly on US spacecraft per this plan?
I presume there will also be backup crews assigned.That is an incorrect assumption. NASA stopped using back-up crews a long time ago.
Butch Wilmore will serve as backup for both the test flight and first mission crews for Boeing's Starliner. Kjell Lindgren will be the backup for both the test flight and first mission crews for SpaceX's Dragon.
Mission positions (e.g. commander, pilot, etc.) have not yet been decided and will be announced at a later time.
And yes, NASA still does name backup crews for ISS Expedition assignments. Has done so all along.That is for long-duration missions. DM-2 and CFT are short-duration missions that don't have backup crews.
Wilmore is backup for Starliner demo. Lindgren is backup for Dragon 2 demo.According to the stament above
Butch Wilmore will serve as backup for both the test flight and first mission crews for Boeing's Starliner.and
Kjell Lindgren will be the backup for both the test flight and first mission crews for SpaceX's Dragon.
According to Johnson Space Center public affairs, Wilmore and Lindgren are the only backups for the astronauts assigned to their respective assigned companies' flight test and first post-certification mission (PCM).
It is still to be seen if Russia or the other international partners assign backups for their crew members (to be announced later) on the PCM flights.
Gregory C. "Ray J" Johnson is now listed on the former astronaut page at: (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/former) from July 24th, 2018.
Astronaut candidate resigns from NASA for first time in 50 years (https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation-now/2018/08/28/nasa-astronaut-candidate-resignation-rare/1124236002/)
What happened ?
Why create a separate thread when there is already a thread about Flight crew assignments where these things are already discussed. This is very confusing a a good way to make sure this discussion will eventually be lost.
Today, long time colleague German astronaut Reinhold Ewald is retiring ! Nice ceremony for a long career (including a space flight to Mir). Farewell !!
Is there a thread somewhere for the two Emirati astronauts who got announced on Monday ?It is in this thread.
UAE names 2 astronauts to International Space Station (https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/uae-names-2-astronauts-to-international-space-station-1.2274003)
Epps Not Sure Why She was Bumped From ISS Mission
NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps reiterated today that she does not know why she was removed from her mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Epps was training in Russia for the Expedition 56/57 mission that launched in June on Soyuz MS-09 when she was informed that she would not fly after all. She was replaced by Serena Auñón-Chancellor.
Epps would have been the first African-American on a long-duration ISS expedition mission.
Speaking at a CSIS event this evening, she said her removal was a “management decision” that she does not yet understand and “we are still working through it.” Asked if it was racially motivated or if the Russians were involved, she emphasized that her training was going well and her work with the Russians was “very friendly and very warm. … I wouldn’t say that the Russians had anything to do with this. … In my opinion I don’t think that they did. Whether race played an issue, I don’t know what’s in the mind of other people, I can’t say that, oh, definitely, or anything like that. So I’m not quite sure of the reasons myself. I do see a lot in the media of people speculating, but it is all speculation at this point.”
She has not been assigned to another mission yet, but is hopeful that’s in her future.
"Whether race played an issue, I don’t know what’s in the mind of other people, I can’t say that, oh, definitely, or anything like that. So I’m not quite sure of the reasons myself. I do see a lot in the media of people speculating, but it is all speculation at this point.”
If the Russians rejected Jeanette Epps because she was a woman or black or both ...or coming from the CIA... ;)
(mod) OK no. That is already farther than we should go on that particular line of inquiry.If the Russians rejected Jeanette Epps because she was a woman or black or both ...or coming from the CIA... ;)
"The UAE astronaut will go to the station in October 2019 for a week and a half on the Soyuz MS-15," a source said.This would require, that Nick Hague will be the commander of Soyuz MS-12 during the descent, because there will be no Russian in this Soyuz.
As expected, the first UAE astronaut will return to Earth on the descent vehicle of the Soyuz MS-12.
"For this, the possibility is being studied that the cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin, who after the emergency landing in October in the spring will again start on the ISS, will spend at the station twice as long as planned - a year instead of six months and will return to Earth on the descent vehicle of Soyuz MS-15 in the first half of 2020, "- said the source.
Interesting news(if correct)
http://militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=496858
Google TranslationQuote"The UAE astronaut will go to the station in October 2019 for a week and a half on the Soyuz MS-15," a source said.This would require, that Nick Hague will be the commander of Soyuz MS-12 during the descent, because there will be no Russian in this Soyuz.
As expected, the first UAE astronaut will return to Earth on the descent vehicle of the Soyuz MS-12.
"For this, the possibility is being studied that the cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin, who after the emergency landing in October in the spring will again start on the ISS, will spend at the station twice as long as planned - a year instead of six months and will return to Earth on the descent vehicle of Soyuz MS-15 in the first half of 2020, "- said the source.
Is this possible?
Interesting news(if correct)
http://militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=496858
Google TranslationQuote"The UAE astronaut will go to the station in October 2019 for a week and a half on the Soyuz MS-15," a source said.This would require, that Nick Hague will be the commander of Soyuz MS-12 during the descent, because there will be no Russian in this Soyuz.
As expected, the first UAE astronaut will return to Earth on the descent vehicle of the Soyuz MS-12.
"For this, the possibility is being studied that the cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin, who after the emergency landing in October in the spring will again start on the ISS, will spend at the station twice as long as planned - a year instead of six months and will return to Earth on the descent vehicle of Soyuz MS-15 in the first half of 2020, "- said the source.
Is this possible?
Yes it is possible, if true, almost all astronauts are trained to land a Soyuz... I know all ESA astronauts have Soyuz landing certification.. So I would assume Hague will have this also, if not he has until February to train for it... And he has already had a Soyuz landing.... plus A Soyuz landing is almost automatic all the way down, there is not much a crew does during decent.
NASA Announces Updated Crew Assignment for Boeing Flight Test
(https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/jsc2011e050736.jpg)
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke has been added to the crew of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner’s Crew Flight Test. He previously served as an International Space Station flight engineer and science officer on Expedition 9, and commanded the station on Expedition 18.
Credits: NASA
NASA astronaut E. Michael “Mike” Fincke has been added to the crew of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner’s Crew Flight Test, scheduled to launch later this year.
Fincke takes the place of astronaut Eric Boe, originally assigned to the mission in August 2018. Boe is unable to fly due to medical reasons; he will replace Fincke as the assistant to the chief for commercial crew in the astronaut office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
This will be Fincke’s fourth trip to space since joining the astronaut corps in 1996. He previously served as an International Space Station flight engineer and science officer on Expedition 9, and commanded the station on Expedition 18. He returned as a mission specialist for the STS-134 crew on space shuttle Endeavour’s final mission. So far, the Pennsylvania native has spent 382 days in space and performed nine spacewalks.
In addition, Fincke, who is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, has served as assistant to the chief for commercial crew in the astronaut office since 2013. In that role, he has worked closely with both Boeing and SpaceX, and with the astronauts assigned to their vehicles on the development and testing of the new spacecraft.
Fincke will begin training immediately alongside NASA’s Nicole Mann and Boeing’s Chris Ferguson, who were both assigned to the mission in August 2018.
The Starliner’s Crew Flight Test will be the first time that the new spacecraft, which is being developed and built by Boeing as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, is launched into space with humans on board. An uncrewed flight test of the Starliner will test the spacecraft’s critical systems prior to Fincke, Ferguson and Mann’s launch.
Follow Fincke on Twitter at @astroironmike.
Here's to a speedy recovery for Eric.
Wasn't Barry Wilmore the Boeing backup?
Astronaut @esa @Thom_astro may soon return aboard the ISS as announced yesterday by the Minister @VidalFrederique during her vows
Here a information from CNES regarding Thomas Pesquet
https://twitter.com/CNES/status/1089465294811291648
Google TranslationQuoteAstronaut @esa @Thom_astro may soon return aboard the ISS as announced yesterday by the Minister @VidalFrederique during her vows
Do we have an information about the name of the Russian cosmonaut (and a possible back-up), who is intended to launch on USCV-1/Crew-1? If they want really to launch in October, then he should have already started his training in Houston.
Nikolai Tikhonov takes part in the current winter survival training, so I think he will get another flight opportunity for a Soyuz flight, maybe Soyuz MS-16 in spring 2020. Also only speculation.Do we have an information about the name of the Russian cosmonaut (and a possible back-up), who is intended to launch on USCV-1/Crew-1? If they want really to launch in October, then he should have already started his training in Houston.
Nikolai Tikonov has posted images of training in Houston on his social media recently, and he seems to have lost his place (yet again) in the Soyuz crew flow after the reorganisation post the MS-10 incident, so perhaps he is a possibility? Just speculating, though?
Wikipedia statesNikolai Tikhonov takes part in the current winter survival training, so I think he will get another flight opportunity for a Soyuz flight, maybe Soyuz MS-16 in spring 2020. Also only speculation.Do we have an information about the name of the Russian cosmonaut (and a possible back-up), who is intended to launch on USCV-1/Crew-1? If they want really to launch in October, then he should have already started his training in Houston.
Nikolai Tikonov has posted images of training in Houston on his social media recently, and he seems to have lost his place (yet again) in the Soyuz crew flow after the reorganisation post the MS-10 incident, so perhaps he is a possibility? Just speculating, though?
I wonder if the reason Wilmore did not rotate into Boe's seat is because he is also backing up the first operational CST-100 too?
Wikipedia states
"""Tikhonov is now assigned as the Soyuz Commander for the Soyuz MS-15 flight scheduled for late 2019."""
I personally thought that he was some sort of Payload Specialist and would only fly with the Russian Nauka module?
Could it be that Wilmore can make another 6 month increment but Finke has reached his radiation allowance, and thus Wilmore would be preferred backing up the operational flight, since Finke is available for the shorter first one
The representative of the Italian Air Forces, Walter Villadei, who is currently undergoing training at the CPC, acted as a guide for the Center’s training base for his countrymen. For several years now he has been training under the Russian astronaut training program and therefore is familiar with the Center’s simulators firsthand.
From today, Akihido Hoshide is undergoing training in the TsPK named after Yu.A. Gagarin on the level of flight engineer-2 transport manned spacecraft (TLC) and the level of the user on the Russian segment of the ISS. The program, in addition to studying the systems of the ship and the station, will include training on the crew’s action in case of landing in various climatic and geographical zones (winter and water “survival”), medical and biological training and a course in learning Russian.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4490Additionally participated Chris Cassidy from NASA, Akihiko Hoshide from JAXA and a represantative from the Italian AirForce, I assume this was Walter Villadei.
In Russia started the winter survival training.
As participants are planned : Thomas Marshburn from NASA, the two cosmonauts from the UAE and from Roscosmos Anatoli Ivanishin, Ivan Vagner, Nikolai Tikhonov, Andrei Babkin and the eight candidates from the 2018 selection.
Currently, Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover are being trained as part of the crew Crew-1, which will be the first crew of the SpaceX Crew Dragon manned spacecraft after the certification flight. Chell Lindgren is trained as part of the Crew-1 backup crew.
The NASA astronaut training at the CPC will be held for five weeks and divided into three training sessions. In the first and second training sessions, the ISS RS systems will be studied and part of the training on emergency procedures will be conducted; in the third, they will be trained on the crew’s actions in case of accidents on the ISS RS.
Does the current plan still call for a cosmonaut to join Hopkins and Glover on their flight?https://twitter.com/RussianSpaceWeb/status/1106382597171699712
With Russians flying on the US Commercial Crew vehicles, will Russia/Roscosmos stop charging NASA for Soyuz flights, assuming that NASA won't be charging the Russians?...
I could see, for example, a scenario that includes a specific amount of Russian cargo on Dragon, Cygnus, and/or DreamChaser to make up the difference for Russia (because Dragon/Starliner are generally cheaper than Soyuz).
https://www.interfax.ru/world/657933QuoteA citizen of the United Arab Emirates Hazzaa Al-Mansuri will be the first person in space in the history of this country, an informed source told Interfax.
"Hazzaa Al-Mansuri should go to the International Space Station on September 25 this year, along with Russian Oleg Skripochka and American Jessica Mier," the agency’s source said.
Currently, Al-Mansuri, along with his compatriot Sultan Al-Neyadi, are conducting training at the Cosmonaut Training Center (CPC).
"The first UAE astronaut will return to Earth on October 3 on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft together with NASA astronaut Nick Haig and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin," the agency’s source said.
The astronaut from the USA, Christine Cook, who flew to the ISS on March 14 with a Russian and an American, will have to stay in orbit, since there are only three places in the ship. She will return to Earth on another ship.
The flight of an UAE astronaut will lead to an extension of the time spent at the station and a member of another expedition. Andrew Morgan will stay longer than planned in orbit, who will go into space on July 20 with Russian Alexander Skvortsov and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Luca Parmitano from Italy.
Skripochka and Meir will work on the ISS until February 6.
So Skripochka and Meir will fly Soyuz MS-15 in Sept, with al-Mansouri? I didn't know that.I suppose that he maybe flying together with Hoshide in spring 2020, because they took part together in the winter survival training two month ago.
What's happened to Cassidy?
http://gctc.ru/main.php?id=4578http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4595
Nicole Mann, Michael Fincke and Barry Willmore arrived in the TsPK for training
If the crewed Starliner test flight becomes a "normal" ISS 6-month crew rotation, this means Ferguson will stay ~6month on the ISS right? He will be the first commercial astro on a long duration mission. How will that work? Will he do pretty much the same thing as NASA astronauts?
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155
The new overview about "Crews in Training".
Jeremy Hansen and Chris Cassidy?Jeremy Hansen is on the left. He's hiding a small jug of Maple Syrup in his left hand.
https://twitter.com/AstroDrewMorgan/status/1129474215357407232
Noguchi was on USCV-1 with Glover and Hopkins, but not sure if he'll stay there with SpaceX delays.
enable Private Astronaut Missions to ISS
New development?Also mentioned here by Mr. Hale.
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/nac_budget_charts_final-1_1.pdf
FY 2020 Budget Strategy/Overview
from page 10Quoteenable Private Astronaut Missions to ISS
ISS provisions for space flight participants in coming yearshttps://twitter.com/SpcPlcyOnline/status/1134480354876841984
New development?
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/nac_budget_charts_final-1_1.pdf
FY 2020 Budget Strategy/Overview
from page 10Quoteenable Private Astronaut Missions to ISS
Private Astronaut Missions
NASA also is enabling private astronaut missions of up to 30 days on the International Space Station to perform duties that fall into the approved commercial and marketing activities outlined in the directive released Friday, with the first mission as early as 2020. A new NASA Research Announcement focus area issued today outlines the path for those future private astronaut missions.
If supported by the market, the agency can accommodate up to two short-duration private astronaut missions per year to the International Space Station. These missions will be privately funded, dedicated commercial spaceflights. Private astronaut missions will use a U.S. spacecraft developed under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
The commercial entity developing the mission will determine crew composition for each mission and ensure private astronauts meet NASA’s medical standards and the training and certification procedures for International Space Station crew members. Market studies identified private astronaut missions to low-Earth orbit as a key element to demonstrate demand and reduce risk for future commercial destinations in low-Earth orbit.
Was Mike Good the last to actually 'touch' the HST on STS-125?
Correct. Grunsfeld made a point of it in fact.Was Mike Good the last to actually 'touch' the HST on STS-125?
I thought it was John Grunsfeld because both him and Drew Feustel conducted the last spacewalk on that mission.
Who is considered an ISS crew member?
Anyone who is on the International Space Station, including NASA astronauts, International Partner astronauts, or private astronauts.
https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1141877804843225088So Skripochka and Meir will fly Soyuz MS-15 in Sept, with al-Mansouri? I didn't know that.I suppose that he maybe flying together with Hoshide in spring 2020, because they took part together in the winter survival training two month ago.
What's happened to Cassidy?
Potential space tourists for the flight on the Russian ship "Soyuz" were found in 2021, they are ready to come to Russia to go through the medical commission to join the first "tourist crew", Space Adventures head of the Russian representative office Sergey Kostenko told RIA Novosti.
At the same time, candidates were found for both places in the Soyuz.
Who exactly will fly to the ISS will be reported according to the procedure after they are approved by the main medical commission. According to the regulations, this will take place one year before the start of semi-annual trainings, that is, one and a half years before the flight. “Only after the decision of the main medical commission do they become candidates for space flight participants,” said Kostenko.
With the crewing situation being in flux until Commercial Crew comes online, what are the plans to alternate ISS-CDR spots between the partners?
It seems that the next few months will see Ovchinin, Parmitano and Skripochka in command, but will one of the Ferguson-Fincke-Mann trio take command during their increment or will they remain Flight Engineers? What about Hopkins? Surely these decisions can't be left until the manifest shapes up, and must have been decided by now?
This has Akihiko Hoshide as FE2 on Soyuz MS-16 and Chris Cassidy as his back-up.
And with Hoshide already named specifically to command Expedition 65
The next mission of Thomas PESQUET is planned from December 2020 to June 2021. The dates are not yet definitively confirmed.So we can accept, that he will be the third person on USCV-2, whatever this will be.
My proposition
What´s then about a NASA Astronaut on Soyuz MS-17 in October 2020?My proposition
The Russians on USCV-1/2 are unlikely.
The Russians on USCV-1/2 are unlikely.Why ?
Why ?
Why ?
As Rogozin said, U.S. spacecrafts should prove their safety at first.
Not to the degree that Soyuz has. It's a political thing.Why ?
As Rogozin said, U.S. spacecrafts should prove their safety at first.
When USCV-1/2 fly both DM-1/2 and Boe-OFT/CFT will have flown. Won’t they have proved their safety by then?
"it's political" .... so keep moving the trampoline, er, goalposts, then?
Per an email sent by NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine to employees on Wednesday (July 10), Ken Bowersox is the new acting associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, replacing the long-serving Bill Gerstenmaier.
Bowersox, who previously served as Deputy Associate Administrator for HEO, is a retired U.S. Naval Aviator with more than two decades of experience at NASA. He is an accomplished astronaut and a veteran of five space shuttle missions and served as commander on the International Space Station.
nikolay.tikhonov
Friends and colleagues! Mark and Aki. With Mark, we were preparing in the backup crew of the ISS 51, and today he will evaluate our test dive with Aki!
Not sure this is the place for this but here goes....Maybe we should create a new thread like "Information about former astronauts/cosmonauts/space flight participants" ?
JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, as he was released from his backup crew assignment for Soyuz 59S with its successful launch, is now slated to begin training to board a United States Crew Vehicle (USCV) while he continues to train for an ISS expedition crew.
The specific vehicle provider and its flight schedule will be announced when more details are available.
Please note that the plan is tentative and may change due to various factors including the USCV development schedule.
It seems like Eric Boe is still in training for a Starliner flight, even after being removed from Boe-CFT.
https://mobile.twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1154091159008010242
50 years after his historic flight, #Apollo 11 astronaut @astromichaelcollins meets with our newest astronaut candidates from the class of 2017. They will be part of the team returning to the moon on future #Artemis missions. Passing on wisdom from one generation of explorers to the next
http://www.ariss-f.org/mission-thomas-pesquet-2020-21/
Google translationQuoteThe next mission of Thomas PESQUET is planned from December 2020 to June 2021. The dates are not yet definitively confirmed.So we can accept, that he will be the third person on USCV-2, whatever this will be.
The first Soyuz with a fully Russian crew will arrive on the ISS next fall, Pavel Vlasov, head of the Cosmonaut Training Center, told Interfax.
"The crew of the spacecraft launching to the ISS in the fall of 2020 may consist entirely of Russian cosmonauts. This is due to the fact that at present there is no agreement between Roscosmos and NASA on whether there will be an American astronaut in this crew," Vlasov said on the sidelines aerospace salon MAKS.
According to Vlasov, at the moment there is a possibility that an agreement on the formation of an international crew will nevertheless be reached.
"American colleagues, due to delays in their ships, can prepare an appeal to Roscosmos with proposals for the formation of an international crew. Then plans to send only Russian cosmonauts can be replayed," said the head of the CPC.
I´ve seen on Wikipedia, that Megan McArthur is the new deputy of the Chief of the Astronaut Office.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_the_Astronaut_Office
Can anyone confirm this?
Though Maj Al Mansouri will be the first Emirati to travel to space, he will not be the last. Dr Al Neyadi has been promised the next spot on a UAE mission to space.
QuoteThe main medical commission at a meeting in the Cosmonaut Training Center decided to exclude from the detachment the most experienced of the current cosmonauts - Fedor Yurchikhin.
This information RIA Novosti confirmed the commander of the cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko. I couldn’t reach Yurchikhin himself.
Answering the question whether Yurchikhin will be able to eliminate the comments, the squad commander replied that the commission’s decision was final. It must be approved by an order to be expelled from the detachment, which will require the collection of an interdepartmental commission.
From: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/future.html (02.10.2019)Is that because of Commercial Crew uncertainty?
Future Expeditions
Future Crew Assignments Under Review
:o
I´ve seen on Wikipedia, that Megan McArthur is the new deputy of the Chief of the Astronaut Office.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_the_Astronaut_Office
Can anyone confirm this?
The crew of the Soyuz MS-16 includes Russian cosmonauts Nikolai Tikhonov and Andrei Babkin and NASA astronaut Christopher Cassidy.
New developments
https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1181837633778905089
As the head of Roscosmos explained, the tests of American commercial ships will be completed no earlier than 2021, so Russia went forward and will be forced to "squeeze" its crews.
Unfortunately, this violates our plans for a set of tests and experiments aboard the ISS Russian segment. “We will have to sacrifice something by reducing our crew to provide space for our American colleagues,” he added.
In addition, after NASA’s request, Roskosmos decided to allocate money for the construction of two additional Soyuz spacecraft, Rogozin said.
I gave yesterday a command to allocate additional funds by Roscosmos to create two ships [Soyuz] additionally. The production capacities of our plant [RSC Energia] are four ships per year, but five ships can be made. There are such opportunities, and we will use them. In addition to our plans for the Federal Space Program, we are now ordering two new ships, "Rogozin told reporters on Thursday.
According to him, one ship will be built for the flight of space tourists in 2021, the second Soyuz is necessary to ensure the flight of international crews to the ISS.
https://tass.ru/kosmos/7065836Fascinating. I wonder what their lead time is going to be on those new ships, and when they'll be available to fly?QuoteI gave yesterday a command to allocate additional funds by Roscosmos to create two ships [Soyuz] additionally. The production capacities of our plant [RSC Energia] are four ships per year, but five ships can be made. There are such opportunities, and we will use them. In addition to our plans for the Federal Space Program, we are now ordering two new ships, "Rogozin told reporters on Thursday.QuoteAccording to him, one ship will be built for the flight of space tourists in 2021, the second Soyuz is necessary to ensure the flight of international crews to the ISS.
Technically speaking, the Boeing Starliner CFT crew members are not expedition crew members. They are flight test crew members. Expedition members won't begin flying aboard Starliner (or Dragon) until after the vehicle has been certified by NASA.then the the crew of Soyuz MS-17 will be EC 63/64.
So it is possible that Expedition 62 will only be a three-person crew, even though there may be six people on board the space station at the time.
and FE-9, Drew Morgan (EV-2)Are there new rules of numbering the FE in the Expedition crews?
Milestone: Our first astronaut begins training in Houston this year. The Italian Air Force has contracted Axiom to provide training to Lieutenant Colonel Walter Villadei as a professional astronaut to crew an Axiom long-duration research mission to ISS.
Thomas Pesquet will again leave the mainland. The French astronaut will be able to leave for a second mission in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in late 2021, announced Thursday the European Space Agency (ESA).
A German by his side?
ESA will also propose to the other ISS member countries to send a new European, German astronaut Matthias Maurer. The project is that the latter briefly join Thomas Pesquet aboard the ISS, which will be "a very beautiful symbol of European friendship," said Frédérique Vidal.
Is it correct to assume, that Kathleen Rubins is the current NASA Director of Operations, Russia?
She took part in some events in Russia in the last days.
Roscosmos decided to provide NASA with two seats on Soyuz-MS spacecraft for flights to the ISS in 2020 and 2021, RIA Novosti was told by Dmitry Rogozin, general director of the state corporation, on Friday.
"We made a fundamental decision to provide NASA with seats on our ships for flights to the ISS. So far they have requested two seats at the end of 2020 - the spring of 2021," Rogozin said.
2020 Astronaut Poster
This same Starliner, now named Calypso, is slated to fly a long-duration mission to the International Space Station, carrying NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Josh Cassada, along with two international partner astronauts.This could mean, Akihiko Hoshide and Thomas Pesquet or one of them and a Russian cosmonaut.
https://starlinerupdates.com/starliner-data-collected-ahead-of-spacecraft-move/QuoteThis same Starliner, now named Calypso, is slated to fly a long-duration mission to the International Space Station, carrying NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Josh Cassada, along with two international partner astronauts.This could mean, Akihiko Hoshide and Thomas Pesquet or one of them and a Russian cosmonaut.
an Astronaut from Japan.As I found out, that at the moment it is not shure, which will fly first (Crew Dragon or Starliner) this could be Soichi Noguchi or Akihiko Hoshide.
an Astronaut from Japan.As I found out, that at the moment it is not shure, which will fly first (Crew Dragon or Starliner) this could be Soichi Noguchi or Akihiko Hoshide.
According to the last known FPIP Soichi Noguchi will fly in the first USCV no matter if it will be a Crew Dragon or Starliner.an Astronaut from Japan.As I found out, that at the moment it is not shure, which will fly first (Crew Dragon or Starliner) this could be Soichi Noguchi or Akihiko Hoshide.
I thought Soichi Noguchi was selected to fly on the first operational Crew Dragon mission with Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover.
This means that Akihiko Hoshide is the one to go up on Starliner.
As of mid-November that was still true.His twitter account https://twitter.com/Astro_Soichi also says USCV-1 crew, nothing about Crew Dragon or Starliner.
Per NASA public affairs:
Serena and Mike are both management astronauts. The astronaut poster does include a few management astronauts, but only those who are still directly supporting the astronaut office. (So, for example, Pat Forrester, as chief astronaut, is included, but Bob Cabana, as KSC center director, is not.)
Mike has actually been supporting the engineering directorate for quite a while. He wasn't on the last astronaut poster, either.
Serena much more recently became what is called a "Special Government Employee" working with LSU Health Sciences Center. She does still have a few NASA activities that she's supporting, but the bulk of her time goes to her work at LSU. (They also pay the bulk of her salary.)
Serena's entry will be moved from Active to Management Astronauts on the NASA website soon.
https://twitter.com/Super_Grover/status/1212822039956008960
AstroSamantha's farewell is the symbol of the Italian inability to recognize merit (the government also has to do)
The astronaut Cristoforetti left the Air Force apparently due to a pressure from the military on the European Space Agency in favor of Walter Villadei, whom the first Conte government wanted to send on a mission with the Russians (and Italian money). You did well to go to work with ESA
There is certainly a political aspect in this affair, linked to the system of relations that governs a bit of everything in Italy, even the designation of an astronaut. Industry insiders say that Samantha has never worked very hard on it, she is very good and convinced that she can make her way even on her own (as the ESA verdict basically confirms). Her competitor, Villadei, seems more equipped from this point of view. The governments that have followed each other in recent years have invested heavily in him, to the point that he fancies a plan by the first Conte government to organize a joint mission with Russia completely financed by Italy: the protagonist should have been Villadei (who he trained as an astronaut in Moscow). Then he skipped everything for the exorbitant costs of the project. But Villadei also obtained a non-secondary role in the General Space Office established in 2017 by the Air Force, the one that defines the policy in the sector and presides over the selection of Italian astronauts. In short, he is a very good pilot - they are all, at that level - but also a "protected investment" of military and political chains of command.
The story of Walter Villadei, the cosmonaut who would be the cause of Cristoforetti's farewell
The Italian astronaut has resigned from the Air Force giving way to controversy: many conspiracy theories but at the basis of abandonment there would be the insistence on proposing an alternative but unsuitable candidate for the International Space Station
The lieutenant colonel Walter Villadei, having failed to pass the first selections as a European astronaut, will never be able to get to the ISS, the international space station, with this label, therefore appearing with NASA, and since we want him to fly to all costs, even at the expense of international reputation and economic outlay, you go to Russia where, for the generous compensation, it seems 2 million at a time but it is difficult to know the exact figure, the Villadei himself trains, as a cosmonaut, so they are called in those parts .
One of the seats on the Soyuz spacecraft this fall at the request of the United States will be allocated to the American astronaut, Pavel Vlasov, head of the Russian Cosmonaut Training Center, told reporters on Thursday.
"The application of the Americans has been considered, on this occasion there is already a decision of the interagency commission that we include Chris Cassidy for the spring start, and there [in the autumn start], in my opinion, Stephen Bowen. One of the astronauts is already included in the autumn start," said Vlasov.
The source says, that the new contract between @Roscosmos and @NASA includes buying of two seats in #SoyuzMS17 and #SoyuzMS18 and NASA will pay $170 million for it. The contract can be signed in April.
Roscosmos statement
https://www.roscosmos.ru/28064/
Google translation
On the replacement of the crew of the Soyuz MS-16QuoteThe Russian members of the main crew of the Soyuz MS-16 manned spacecraft, Roscosmos cosmonauts Nikolai Tikhonov and Andrei Babkin, will be replaced by backups for medical reasons.
The positions of the commander and flight engineer of the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft will now be taken by the cosmonauts of Roscosmos Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Wagner. The changes will affect only the Russian part of the crew, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy continues to prepare for the flight in accordance with the established plan.
The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle with the Soyuz MS-16 manned spacecraft and members of the long-term expedition ISS-63 is scheduled for April 9 this year from launch pad No. 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Expedition 63
Launch: April 9, 2020
Land: October 2020
Chris Cassidy
Anatoly Ivanishin
Ivan Vagner
Though the exact date for Thomas’ mission is yet to be confirmed, he will be the first European astronaut to fly on a US Commercial Crew Vehicle and is expected to be launched in the second half of 2021.
Thomas will fly on either a SpaceX or Boeing spacecraft, both of which are in the testing stages of development
Cosmonaut Nikolai Tikhonov, who was injured in February, whose flight to the International Space Station (ISS) was supposed to take place in April, could fly to the ISS this fall, the head of the Cosmonaut Training Center (CPC) Pavel Vlasov told reporters.
“If the pace of cosmonaut Nikolai Tikhonov’s recovery is as it is now, we hope that we will postpone his flight for a short while. In an ideal scenario, this could be an autumn start. We are ready for this option,” Vlasov said.
He said that postponing a longer expedition to the station is not profitable, since Tikhonov is completely ready and it all depends on his state of health.
So: who is going to fly to ISS with Tom Cruise? @Axiom_Space has a deal with @SpaceX to fly private astronauts to ISS. Sources report Axiom's former @NASA astronaut employee @CommanderMLA Michael López-Alegría is expected to be on the Cruise flight.
arrived in Houston ... it took a lot of resources, but you couldn't wait any longer or the mission (and the whole program) would be delayed.
Can you please tell us the URL?Sorry, it seems deleted again.
I can't find it.
The TsPK has provided a new "Crews in Training" overview.
According to this, on Soyuz MS-17 in October will fly Kathleen Rubins as FE2 and her back-up will be Mark Vande Hei.
Maybe he will fly on an USCV?The TsPK has provided a new "Crews in Training" overview.
According to this, on Soyuz MS-17 in October will fly Kathleen Rubins as FE2 and her back-up will be Mark Vande Hei.
Anyone have any idea what happened to Bowen?
In the crew of the Soyuz MS-17, NASA replaced Bowen with Rubins," the agency’s interlocutor said, without specifying the reason for the replacement.
He added that the astronaut Mark Vande Hai was chosen as the backup for Rubins.
The "crew list" of the Union MS-17 has not yet been officially approved. The approval of the crew will take place in the near future, "a spokesman for Roscosmos told RIA Novosti.
Maybe he will fly on an USCV?The TsPK has provided a new "Crews in Training" overview.
According to this, on Soyuz MS-17 in October will fly Kathleen Rubins as FE2 and her back-up will be Mark Vande Hei.
Anyone have any idea what happened to Bowen?
Cosmonaut Andrei Borisenko is working out spacewalk from the Search module for laying and connecting five electric and information cables for the Science module for its integration into the ISS Russian Segment
The message on the CPC website notes that in July the ISS-65 crew will be preparing for spacewalk (launch - April 9, 2021 at Soyuz MS-18).
It is possible that a separate training Borisenko (not in the crew of the ISS-65) means his flight to the USCV-2 in February 2021.
Cosmonaut Borisenko said that he was encouraged to participate in the Ilon Mask program
He was among the candidates for a flight to the ISS in a manned spaceship in the United States.
A cosmonaut born in Leningrad told why he agreed to participate in the Ilona Mask program. Andrei Borisenko shared his thoughts on the air of the St. Petersburg TV channel.
The astronaut became one of the possible participants in the Space X program Ilona Mask. He became one of the candidates for a flight to the ISS on new manned US ships. According to Borisenko, he gladly agreed to the proposal.
Kononenko in "Evening Urgant" said that Kikina might fly with him in the fall of 2022, and Chub in the spring of 2022.
That is, Chub at the Soyuz MS-21 in March 2022, and Kononenko with Kikina at the Soyuz MS-22 in September 2022.
https://twitter.com/anik1982space/status/1276574577800478720
Google translationQuoteKononenko in "Evening Urgant" said that Kikina might fly with him in the fall of 2022, and Chub in the spring of 2022.
That is, Chub at the Soyuz MS-21 in March 2022, and Kononenko with Kikina at the Soyuz MS-22 in September 2022.
According to rumors, if the Americans do not need a place on the Soyuz MS-18, then Borisenko will fly with Novitsky and Dubrov
On a related topic, are NASA astronauts specifically trained to fly either Dragon or Starliner vehicles, or are they "cross-trained" to fly both? Thank you.
I had wondered who would command that expedition myself. The other question is who is supposed to be the ISS commander after Sergei Ryzhikov; I had wondered if the upcoming JAXA command slot would go to Soichi Noguchi
Can we presume, then, that the rest of Suni Williams' crew will be Matthias Maurer and another international astronaut yet to be determined? Also, are Satoshi Furukawa and Denis Matveyev still active? I've been following crew assignments and was slightly surprised not to see them.
Veteran Astronaut Rex Walheim Retires from NASA
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/veteran-astronaut-rex-walheim-retires-from-nasa-301100588.html
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/veteran-astronaut-rex-walheim-retires-222500426.html
I’m pleased to announce that after 35 years of government service, I have joined @Axiom_Space as Director of Safety & Mission Assurance. With this team's expertise and commercial energy, I look forward to carrying on the work we began at NASA to settle and utilize Low Earth Orbit
https://twitter.com/JimBridenstine/status/1298279772116652035Excellent, excellent NEWS all the NASA Class 20 will be complete one Dr Epps flies. It's a great to have that cloud finally dissipate.
Aug. 25, 2020
RELEASE 20-082
NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps Joins First Operational Boeing Crew Mission to Space Station
NASA has assigned astronaut Jeanette Epps to NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission, the first operational crewed flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on a mission to the International Space Station.
Epps will join NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Josh Cassada for a six-month expedition planned for a launch in 2021 to the orbiting space laboratory. The flight will follow NASA certification after a successful uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 and Crew Flight Test with astronauts.
The spaceflight will be the first for Epps, who earned a bachelor’s degree in physics in 1992 from LeMoyne College in her hometown of Syracuse, New York. She completed a master’s degree in science in 1994 and a doctorate in aerospace engineering in 2000, both from the University of Maryland, College Park.
While earning her doctorate, Epps was a NASA Graduate Student Researchers Project fellow, authoring several journal and conference articles on her research. After completing graduate school, she worked in a research laboratory for more than two years, co-authoring several patents, before the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recruited her. She spent seven years as a CIA technical intelligence officer before her selection as a member of the 2009 astronaut class.
NASA assigned Williams and Cassada to the Starliner-1 mission in August 2018. The spaceflight will be the first for Cassada and third for Williams, who spent long-duration stays aboard the space station on Expeditions 14/15 and 32/33.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry as companies develop and operate a new generation of spacecraft and launch systems capable of carrying crews to low-Earth orbit and to the space station. Commercial transportation to and from the station will provide expanded utility, additional research time and broader opportunities for discovery on the orbital outpost.
For nearly 20 years, the station has served as a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight. As commercial companies focus on providing human transportation services to and from low-Earth orbit, NASA will concentrate its focus on building spacecraft and rockets for deep-space missions.
Follow Epps on social media at:
https://twitter.com/Astro_Jeanette
and
https://www.instagram.com/jeanette.epps/
-end-
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-astronaut-jeanette-epps-joins-first-operational-boeing-crew-mission-to-space/
European astronaut @astro_matthias
finished his 1st training session on the @Space_Station
but Russian segment at the Star City near Moscow.
Without forgetting the "cooking" classes with tastings of Russian food for the # ISS
With @Astro_Raja
https://ria.ru/20200828/ekipazh-1576406868.html
Google translation
"It is proposed to include three Russian cosmonauts in the Soyuz MS-18 crew: Oleg Novitsky, Pyotr Dubrov and Andrey Borisenko," the agency's source said.
As a spokesman for the Roskosmos press service told RIA Novosti, the composition of the crew has not yet been approved.
https://ria.ru/20200828/ekipazh-1576406868.html
Google translation
"It is proposed to include three Russian cosmonauts in the Soyuz MS-18 crew: Oleg Novitsky, Pyotr Dubrov and Andrey Borisenko," the agency's source said.
As a spokesman for the Roskosmos press service told RIA Novosti, the composition of the crew has not yet been approved.
Does that mean the US Segment & Russian crew barter is now off the table? 🤔
Has NASA ever explained why her Expedition assignment was cancelled 2 years ago?
. . .It's surprising to see the order of the names.
SpaceX Crew-2
Launch: Spring 2021
Crew:
Shane Kimbrough
Thomas Pesquet
Megan McArthur
Akihiko Hoshide
. . .
. . .It's surprising to see the order of the names.
SpaceX Crew-2
Launch: Spring 2021
Crew:
Shane Kimbrough
Thomas Pesquet
Megan McArthur
Akihiko Hoshide
. . .
Pesquet is the pilot
NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively, for the mission. JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet will join as mission specialists.
Space Hero mission is about 4th on @Axiom_Space manifest, Mike Suffredini tells @AviationWeek. First up in Oct '21 is flight of 3 private individuals and former @NASA_Astronauts Mike Lopez-Algeria.
Is Loral O’Hara the direct successor of K. Rubins as Director of Operations in Russia?
I thought, he looks like. But maybe, there is someone from NASA who knows it better.
I thought, he looks like. But maybe, there is someone from NASA who knows it better.
I think he is John McBrine like from this photo:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/35627758141/in/photostream/
and https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/expedition-52-crew-members-report-for-qualification-exams ?
Any idea if the fourth seat of the Cruise flight is marketed for a random space tourist or is earmarked for the Cruise film as well.
Director Klim Shipenko announced his intention to go to the International Space Station (ISS) to shoot the film. He told TASS about this on Thursday.
"There is an intention," he said, answering a request to confirm plans to go to the ISS along with the hero of the film, which will be filmed by Roskosmos in cooperation with Channel One and the Yellow, Black and White studio.
Channel One will begin casting in October for the role of the protagonist of the first feature film filmed in space on board the International Space Station, the channel's website reported on Wednesday. Any citizen of the Russian Federation can take part in the selection. Everyone will need to go through the flight commission of Roscosmos and training at the Cosmonaut Training Center.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klim_Shipenko
Does anyone if the Dragon Crew-3 crew has been officially announced? I've seen two different unofficial permutations (Marshburn-Chari-Barron-Borisenko and Marshburn-Chari-Borisenko-Maurer) but am not seeing any official word.
Thanks and best wishes to Mr. Ferguson; he's been a great ambassador for human spaceflight since his last, historic mission.I know most of you know all of this already ;) but for those who were wondering like me - just using Wikipedia and public sites there are currently 23 Shuttle astronauts ages 49-65 listed as active (plus a few in management positions). 8 of these are currently scheduled for flight (in current public NET order):
I have two questions that keep me up at night: 1] Who will wind-up being the last shuttle astronaut to fly in space?
2] Will a shuttle-flown astronaut make it to the moon? Or will John Young be the only astronaut in history to claim that honor?
With the announcement of Michael L.A.'s command of the SpaceX tourist flight, what does the future hold for former
astronauts, and cosmonauts for that matter, getting back into outer space?
Axiom’s Michael Suffredini says that the company has identified the customers for its 1st commercial ISS mission in 4Q/21 and is finalizing contracting with them, and its contract with NASA. “Cautiously optimistic” everything will be in place by end of this month. #IAC2020
Virgin Galactic today announced the appointment of two new pilots into its Pilot Corps, bringing the total number of pilots to eight.
Jameel Janjua and Patrick Moran will be based at Spaceport America, New Mexico, and join the Virgin Galactic team as preparations for commercial service continue.
Exploration requires more than hardware though – and that is why this commitment with ESA includes opportunities for European astronauts to fly with NASA astronauts on future Artemis missions to the Gateway.
In regard to the NASA astronauts who may travel to the Moon on Artemis missions, we plan to use a similar approach to what we did with the Commercial Crew Program. NASA will announce an initial group of astronauts eligible for early lunar missions known as the Artemis Team. Closer to launch, usually within about two years, we will announce specific flight assignments for crew as well as their backups. We will add more members to this team throughout the Artemis program.
The agreement, signed Tuesday, marks NASA’s first formal commitment to launch international crew members to the lunar vicinity as part of NASA’s Artemis missions.
ESA will also receive three flight opportunities for European astronauts to travel to and work on the Gateway.
ESA will also receive three flight opportunities for European astronauts to travel to and work on the Gateway.
looks like I'd better "sweeten" the CSA/Gateway deal a bit with the promise of Canadian Maple Syrup at Gateway through 2040, in addition to the Gateway/Canadarm-3 deal.
I was surprised that our 2% contribution to ISS got us the first non-American/Russian to command ISS in Mr Hadfield.Frank DeWinne ISS-21
I was surprised that our 2% contribution to ISS got us the first non-American/Russian to command ISS in Mr Hadfield.Frank DeWinne ISS-21
Thank you, I'm always forgetting about ESA and their 5 billion. During Expedition 34/35 many of our NEWS reporting agencies got their NEWS wrong as well. That's what I get for listening to the mainstrteam NEWS and NOT NSF.com for my spaceNEWS inputs.I was surprised that our 2% contribution to ISS got us the first non-American/Russian to command ISS in Mr Hadfield.Frank DeWinne ISS-21
Is that list complete on non Russian/American ISS Commanders?I was surprised that our 2% contribution to ISS got us the first non-American/Russian to command ISS in Mr Hadfield.Frank DeWinne ISS-21
Koichi Wakata during ISS-39, Alexander
Gerst during ISS-57, and Luca Parmitano during ISS-61.
For 26 years, Michael Colglazier worked for a company whose theme parks feature a popular attraction named Space Mountain.
When the former Walt Disney Company executive signed on to become Virgin Galactic’s CEO in July, his contract included a free ride to space for himself and three friends aboard his new employer’s SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle.
Virgin Galactic’s former CEO, George Whitesides, has a provision in his contract that will allow him and his wife, Loretta Hildalgo Whitesides, to fly aboard SpaceShipTwo.
Whitesides, who is now the company’s chief space officer, is expected to fly on SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity during one of two upcoming suborbital flight test to be conducted from Spaceport America in New Mexico. The first of the flights is set for later this fall.
It’s a hive of activity here at Spaceport America as preparations to deliver Virgin Galactic’s first spaceflight from New Mexico later this Fall continue to progress well.
If all goes to plan, not only will this flight be the first human spaceflight to depart from New Mexico, it will also mark Virgin Galactic Pilot CJ Sturckow’s sixth time in space, ...
CJ will be alongside our Chief Pilot, Dave Mackay, in the cockpit, as we verify a number of key points to take us to the next stage of our flight test program. ...
While we are planning for CJ and Dave to reach space, if test conditions on the day suggest a shorter burn, that’s fine and we’ll return to fly again soon.
Upon successful completion of this flight, and data review, we will proceed to the next phase of testing, where we will fly four mission specialists in the cabin to test and refine the equipment, procedures, training and overall experience.
It is comical that again the Russians will do anything to make sure that they are the first in something related to space; when NASA announced to do the first woman EVA, Russians made everything possible to put Savitskaya into EVA first. This saga with Russian film from space reminds me that. Nothing was planned for decades but when Axiom announced this filming, Russians just have to beat them no matter how many complications it could bring.
One complication, which does not appear to have been mentioned so far, is that it seems that one of the crew of MS-18, announced yesterday, will need to remain on ISS until Spring 2022. This is the only way that a seat can be created for the 'actress' to return to Earth, within 10/11 days.
Russian cosmonaut may stay on the ISS due to the flight of the actress
https://ria.ru/20201106/mks-1583288804.htmlQuoteOne of the Russian cosmonauts leaving for the International Space Station in the spring of 2021 may have to stay at the station for a period of two to six months due to the shooting of the first feature film in space in the fall of 2021, according to the academician of the Tsiolkovsky Russian Academy of Cosmonautics Alexander Zheleznyakov.QuoteIn April 2021, a crew of Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitsky, Pyotr Dubrov and Sergei Korsakov is to leave for the ISS on the Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft. Their return to Earth on this ship is scheduled for October 2021. At the same time, it is planned that the actress will fly to the station on the Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft in the same month, and it is assumed that after filming the film, she will return to Earth on the Soyuz MS-18, which has only three seats.Quote"There are many options. One of them is that someone from the Soyuz MS-18 crew will have to stay on the ISS for another six months and return to Soyuz MS-19 in April 2022," Zheleznyakov told RIA Novosti.QuoteEarlier it was reported that in December 2021 it is planned to fly to the ISS of the Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft with a Russian cosmonaut and two space tourists.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-former-fighter-pilot-named-second-israeli-to-go-to-space-1.9311356
Eytan Stibbe
Everything turned out to be much more interesting, judging by the piece of the ISS preliminary flight program for 2021, developed by RSC Energia, obtained by Alexander Khokhlov. Someone else will fly with the actress, so Dubrov and Korsakov will have to stay on the ISS for a year. The flight itself - October 5-17
@Astro_Wakata
and
@Astro_Satoshi
will fly to the International Space Station! Koichi will be aboard in 2022 and Satoshi in 2023.
@Astro_Soichi
is now on the ISS.
@Aki_Hoshide
will launch on Crew-2 in spring 2021.
Keep watching JAXA Astronauts!
There is a place for a Japanese, a European or a Canadian on each USCV.That's great, we still have 1 member of the CSA Astronaut Corps who was part of the 2009 NASA group. in Jeremy Hansen. He is the last 2009 astronaut to be assigned a space mission. Dr Jeanette Epps was the 2nd last astronaut from that same class to get her mission.
In 10 places, there will be 5 for the Japanese, 4 for the Europeans and 1 for the Canadians.
then probably :
2022 : USCV-4 with Wakata et USCV-5 with Mogensen, Peake or Christoforetti
2023 : USCV-6 with Furukawa et USCV-7 with Hansen
2024 : USCV-8 with one japanese (Yui ?) et USCV-9 with one european
Is there not supposed to be a cosmonaut on Crew-3 (probably Andrei Borisenko, since he's not on MS-18), then? I thought I'd seen that there would be, and I figured that Expedition 68 would just have four Russians (Shkaplerov, Dubrov, Korsakov, and probably Borisenko).
BTW NASA uses no longer USCV or CST.So does that mean the 2nd operational flight for Boeing will be named Boeing Crew-2?
Mission names are now
SpaceX Crew-1 ...
Boeing Starliner-1 (for the first operational flight).
Please have a look at https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/future.html
BTW NASA uses no longer USCV or CST.
Mission names are now
SpaceX Crew-1 ...
Boeing Starliner-1 (for the first operational flight).
Please have a look at https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/future.html
BTW NASA uses no longer USCV or CST.
Mission names are now
SpaceX Crew-1 ...
Boeing Starliner-1 (for the first operational flight).
Please have a look at https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/future.html
I thought "USCV-n" was used internally by NASA to designate the nth post-certification mission of the Commercial Crew program, regardless of (and perhaps prior to them knowing) which provider flies it. Has that usage been dropped?
Kayla Baron and Raja Chari are tentatively scheduled for launch on Dragon Crew 3 next year.
I'm surprised there weren't a few more of the older veterans included. Bresnick, Cassidy, Behnken, Hurley, Feustel, Hopkins, Walker, Caldwell-Dyson come to mind.
My money's on either Nicole Mann or Anne McClain to make the first Artemis moon landing.Makes sense as both are "pilots".
But not NASA pilots, Mann a fixed wing test pilot, McClain a rotary wing test pilot. The point was to differentiate between pilots and non-pilots of the shuttle days.My money's on either Nicole Mann or Anne McClain to make the first Artemis moon landing.Makes sense as both are "pilots".
But not NASA pilots, Mann a fixed wing test pilot, McClain a rotary wing test pilot. The point was to differentiate between pilots and non-pilots of the shuttle days.My money's on either Nicole Mann or Anne McClain to make the first Artemis moon landing.Makes sense as both are "pilots".
But not NASA pilots, Mann a fixed wing test pilot, McClain a rotary wing test pilot. The point was to differentiate between pilots and non-pilots of the shuttle days.My money's on either Nicole Mann or Anne McClain to make the first Artemis moon landing.Makes sense as both are "pilots".
I don't see that as hurting McClain's odds in this case though. The Apollo Astronauts went thru helicopter training as part of training to fly the Lunar Module. You could argue that makes her more qualified than they were to attempt a lunar landing.
To my early point about the number of rookies, the divide wasn't as extreme as I thought, once I broke down the numbers. But my question about the rookies still stands - with a couple exceptions (Mann, maybe Chari and Baron) are the rest out of the ISS crew "pool" since they are working on Artemis now?
But not NASA pilots, Mann a fixed wing test pilot, McClain a rotary wing test pilot. The point was to differentiate between pilots and non-pilots of the shuttle days.My money's on either Nicole Mann or Anne McClain to make the first Artemis moon landing.Makes sense as both are "pilots".
I don't see that as hurting McClain's odds in this case though. The Apollo Astronauts went thru helicopter training as part of training to fly the Lunar Module. You could argue that makes her more qualified than they were to attempt a lunar landing.
To my early point about the number of rookies, the divide wasn't as extreme as I thought, once I broke down the numbers. But my question about the rookies still stands - with a couple exceptions (Mann, maybe Chari and Baron) are the rest out of the ISS crew "pool" since they are working on Artemis now?
Given the lead time, and the size of this pool (which is going to increase, especially with ESA, JAXA, CSA astronauts), I believe we'll see Chari and Barron flying ISS missions, and several others, too. Those who fly in 2021-2022 might miss out on Artemis II, but my sense is that it would still leave them as candidates for 2-3 NASA seats on Artemis III.
I do think it's a tad premature to be making bets on who gets what mission. Deke Slayton didn't know who was going to be on Apollo 11 until Christmas 1968, probably two weeks before he had to announce the crew and get them training for the first landing. Even if Artemis III holds to 2024, that crew wouldn't need to be named for another three years. Look how today's NASA handled the Commercial Crew cadre: four in the pool in 2015, expanded to flight assignments three years later with the addition of five additional astronauts.
Michael Cassutt
Three of the Crew-3 members have been confirmed. The fourth will be announced at a later date. Tom Marshburn and Raja Chari of NASA along with Matthias Maurer of ESA.
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-esa-choose-astronauts-for-spacex-crew-3-mission-to-space-station
No specific astronaut named but definitely 1 Canadian to be on Artemis 2 mission
And a 2nd to go to Gateway later..
https://twitter.com/NavdeepSBains/status/1339229717409501187
Poor Jeremy Hansen...last of his Class...still unflown since becoming a CSA astronaut in 2009 ...wonder if he did something to upset someone.....
Canadian spots on the ISS are spaced about every 3 years. Hansen is simply a victim of the math.Hansen will fly on USCV-7 in 2023 (the next canadian spot)
Canadian spots on the ISS are spaced about every 3 years. Hansen is simply a victim of the math.Hansen will fly on USCV-7 in 2023 (the next canadian spot)
St. Jacques will fly another ISS long duration mission after Hansen, who will eventually land on the moon later in the decade.The next canadian spot is USCV-7, probably in 2023 for Hansen.
And with approx 3yr tenure as chief, I would not be at all surprised to see him command Artemis III.
Wiseman is young !
He will fly on Artemis II or III.
And what about Vande Hei?
https://ria.ru/20201225/soyuz-1590845817.html
Cross posting this from the ISS schedule thread.With the potential of two movie related Space Flight Participants on MS-19 and the talk of two of the MS-18 crew going for a year to accommodate that, does that mean Mark is targeted for a year long mission?And what about Vande Hei?
https://ria.ru/20201225/soyuz-1590845817.html
Very unlikely. The movie idea has been floating around but so far has not been confirmed, it seems this would be a fully private activity and not supported by any state agency, therefore I think it would be hard for NASA and Roscosmos to accommodate their crew assignments and planing. I don't think that such a vague and external idea could possibly affect any of the NASA astronauts in such a major way.
Deputy prime minister Yuri Borisov on the Russian space movie: “If Roscosmos finds private funding for the actress’ flight, they are free to make this movie. But as long as it depends on me, I will not allow to finance a feature film at public expense.” https://rbc.ru/interview/society/21/12/2020/5fdc8e669a7947043ec1fe49
This year 18 people flew into Space. Plans for next year call for 34 people to fly into Space, almost double. Includes Chinese, American and Russian vehicles. Doesnt include temporary sub-orbital joy riders.
On January 11, 2020, Roskosmos announced that due to medical reasons, cosmonaut Sergei Babkin had been replaced in the Soyuz MS-18 backup crew with Oleg Artemiev.http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2021.html
QuoteOn January 11, 2020, Roskosmos announced that due to medical reasons, cosmonaut Sergei Babkin had been replaced in the Soyuz MS-18 backup crew with Oleg Artemiev.http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2021.html
QuoteOn January 11, 2020, Roskosmos announced that due to medical reasons, cosmonaut Sergei Babkin had been replaced in the Soyuz MS-18 backup crew with Oleg Artemiev.http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2021.html
Does today's announcement mean that the Vande Hei Axiom deal is off the table, or is that still a possibility? Also, for those of you who follow the Russian assignments more closely than me, I'm very puzzled why Artemyev got downgraded from CDR to PLT. Did they just need an experienced guy this close to launch even if he doesn't fly on the prime crew, is he downgraded on the prime crew (it looked like he would be the CDR of MS-21), or what? Or is it known?
Amused yesterday:I don't know what the crew manifest looks like right now. But looks like no one really does, there's a lot of TBD for the
“There is no (approved) ISS program (for 2021) yet, so it really is not known who will fly to replace you,” - Oleg Artemyev in communication with Sergei Ryzhikov and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov.
A little more than three months are left before the launch of the Soyuz MS-18 ...
QuoteOn January 11, 2020, Roskosmos announced that due to medical reasons, cosmonaut Sergei Babkin had been replaced in the Soyuz MS-18 backup crew with Oleg Artemiev.http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2021.html
Does today's announcement mean that the Vande Hei Axiom deal is off the table, or is that still a possibility? Also, for those of you who follow the Russian assignments more closely than me, I'm very puzzled why Artemyev got downgraded from CDR to PLT. Did they just need an experienced guy this close to launch even if he doesn't fly on the prime crew, is he downgraded on the prime crew (it looked like he would be the CDR of MS-21), or what? Or is it known?
Too old to fly?
Three of the Crew-3 members have been confirmed. The fourth will be announced at a later date. Tom Marshburn and Raja Chari of NASA along with Matthias Maurer of ESA.
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-esa-choose-astronauts-for-spacex-crew-3-mission-to-space-station
Quite unexpected news was that Borisenko, by the decision of the MMC (apparently at the end of the year), was recognized as unfit for further training for health reasons and was recommended for expulsion from the cosmonaut corps. Here is such a damn news.
Thanks for clarifying.Too old to fly?
It is my impression that astronauts almost never fly after turning 60. There have been multiple astronauts in their upper 50's getting flights, and I think there have been a couple who have turned 60 during their last flights (e.g., Pavel Vinogradov on Expedition 35/36), but I can only think of three in a long time (not counting John Glenn's shuttle flight) who have launched after turning 60: Story Musgrave on his last flight, Paolo Nespoli on Expedition 52/53, and Tom Marshburn late this year on Crew-3. It may not be an actual rule, but that's what I was thinking of.
My latest Blog, with full analysis of the complexities around Soyuz crewing plans for this year. (Warning! - Long read!!)
https://spacesleuth2.blogspot.com/2021/01/soyuz-plans-unclear-as-gagarin-60th.html
Having a hard time wrapping my head around tourists being designated as pilots and mission specialists, titles previously reserved for career astronauts.They might bring back Payload Specialist someday. There were only a few STS and other flights with those designations early in my life. Russia giving VE-20 crew the usual flight engineer designations. It will be interesting if USOS also starts calling them visiting expeditions to separate them from the main expeditions.
Having a hard time wrapping my head around tourists being designated as pilots and mission specialists, titles previously reserved for career astronauts.Yes, I was surprised to see this as well. The statements that have come out so far have emphasized the extensive training the Ax-1 crew is getting, so I get the impression their role designations are intended to reflect that.
From consoles in the ASOC and BMCC, NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore, Nicole Mann, Mike Fincke, Sunita Williams, Josh Cassada, Jeanette Epps and Matthew Dominick took the opportunity to familiarize themselves with Atlas V countdown operations and launch pad activities
From https://www.ulalaunch.com/explore/blog-detail/blog/2021/02/04/oft-2-combined-teams-simulate-launching-next-starlinerQuoteFrom consoles in the ASOC and BMCC, NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore, Nicole Mann, Mike Fincke, Sunita Williams, Josh Cassada, Jeanette Epps and Matthew Dominick took the opportunity to familiarize themselves with Atlas V countdown operations and launch pad activities
Will the NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick be the 4th crew member for the Starliner-1 mission in 2022?
Lindgren has previous Dragon experience, as he backed up the DM-2 and Crew-1 crews. What surprises me is that Crew-4 is coming up so soon: I had figured that Starliner would get two or three flights in a row to catch up to Dragon.
Maybe NASA realizes that asking Boeing to basically do 5 flight in a row with about a 6 month intervals in between flights is pushing their luck. Especially since the test flights haven't flown yet.
N° 5–2021: Call for media: Second spaceflight for Samantha CristoforettiOne seat for her on board Dragon v2 Crew-4 (USCV-4) as MS ??
26 February 2021
Media representatives are invited to a virtual press event at 10:00 GMT (11:00 CET) on Wednesday, 3 March, to learn more about the next spaceflight of Italian ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.
This will be the second spaceflight for Samantha, who is a member of ESA’s astronaut class of 2009. During her first mission ‘Futura’ in 2014–15, she spent 200 days in space, carrying out science and operations on the International Space Station as a flight engineer for Expeditions 42 and 43.
Programme
11:00–11:45 CET: Press briefing, online
So Crew-4 with Lindgren/Hines ?
So Crew-4 with Lindgren/Hines ?
Or would it be Starliner-1, with Williams/Cassada/Epps?
So Wakata on Starlink-1 is not a done deal ?
I saw it in the ISS schedule thread
So Wakata on Starlink-1 is not a done deal ?
I saw it in the ISS schedule thread
Others presumably know way more than me, but my impression was that Wakata flying there was presumed but not finalized.
NASA has signed a contract with a U.S. commercial company Axiom Space of Houston to fly a NASA astronaut on an upcoming Soyuz rotation on Soyuz MS-18, scheduled to launch April 9. In exchange, NASA will provide a seat on a future U.S. commercial spacecraft, expected to launch in 2023, as part of a space station crew rotation mission.
...
NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei will launch aboard the Soyuz for a full expedition aboard the International Space Station.
<snip>
I could see Axiom even sending one of their own professionals (Lopez-Alegria or Whitson, or who knows else they haven't announced yet) for a full 6-month expedition simply to run commercial experiments full time.<snip>
There's been a lot of discussion on this on other threads, but the upshot seems to be that there isn't a clear regulatory basis for NASA to enforce those lifetime radiation limits on private astronauts. There's always a possibility that NASA could choose to be a stickler about it since they can set the rules for visitors to the ISS, but it's probably not in their interest to do so, as they are an exploration agency, not a regulatory agency. It's not really their mandate to "protect" well-informed private professionals from making their own decisions weighing career opportunities vs. health risks (as people do all the time in high-risk professions).<snip>
I could see Axiom even sending one of their own professionals (Lopez-Alegria or Whitson, or who knows else they haven't announced yet) for a full 6-month expedition simply to run commercial experiments full time.<snip>
Don't think Lopez-Alegria or Whitson can stay at the ISS for 6 months in the future. They will go over their lifetime radiation dosage limit.
Cosmonaut Korsakov may become one of the first Russian participants in flight on CrewDragon
He has already passed the necessary measures necessary for the manufacture of space equipment.
MOSCOW, March 14. / TASS /. Cosmonaut Sergei Korsakov, who was originally scheduled to fly on Soyuz MS-18 in April, is one of the first Russian contenders to fly on the American Crew Dragon spacecraft. This was announced by the head of the Cosmonaut Training Center. Yu. A. Gagarin (GCPC) Pavel Vlasov.
"Sergei is one of the first applicants to fly on the Crew Dragon, he passed the necessary measures necessary for the manufacture of space equipment," Vlasov said on the air of the Komsomolskaya Pravda radio.
On Wednesday, Roskosmos announced that cosmonaut Sergei Korsakov was removed from the main crew of the Soyuz MS-18 crewed spacecraft, and NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei was appointed to replace him. In the backup crew, instead of Dmitry Petelin, NASA astronaut Anne McClain was appointed. The launch of Soyuz MS-18 is scheduled for April 9th.
Earlier, Dmitry Rogozin, the general director of Roscosmos, said that the state corporation is not yet ready to send Russian cosmonauts on board the Crew Dragon spacecraft developed by SpaceX. According to him, flights are possible after the American ship passes certification. So far, we are talking about technical advice on cross-flights.
Negotiations on the Soyuz crew
Vlasov said that negotiations on the inclusion of American astronauts in the main and backup crews of the Soyuz MS-18 crewed spacecraft were conducted six months before the decision was made.
"The fact that the American side would attempt to include its astronaut in our crew was known at least six months before this event. This took shape only at the beginning of March. On March 2, by the decision of an interdepartmental commission, Mark Vande Hei was included in the prime crew. and Anne McClain was included as flight engineer-2 of the backup crew, "Vlasov said.
He explained that negotiations on this topic had been going on for a long time. “Realizing that Crew Dragon is a new ship, that there may be surprises with a postponement and so on, the American side has been negotiating for a long time to hedge. astronauts, "- said Vlasov.
According to the head of the GCPC, this practice will be logical in the future as well. “It will be continued when we perform flights with mixed crews: our astronauts will fly on Crew Dragon, on American commercial ships, and NASA astronauts will fly on ours. for one crew member, you need to interrupt the expedition, then the segment remains uninhabited. Russian or American. This situation must be avoided, and there is logic in such actions, "he said.
Vlasov said that the cosmonaut training began before the official decision was made to include the astronauts in the crew.
Is Kayla Barron actually assigned to SpaceX Crew-3?
spacefacts.de shows that on their Spaceflights page.
According to NASA:
"Expeditions are marked, not by change of command, but from Soyuz undocking to Soyuz undocking."
Reid Wiseman is back to "Active Astronauts" (April 6, 2021).
Not sure if anyone has noted this yet but Drew Feustel is the new Deputy Chief Astronaut. Not sure why Tingle is out of the role so quickly, it seems like he only took it a few months back.
Reid Wiseman is back to "Active Astronauts" (April 6, 2021).Not sure if anyone has noted this yet but Drew Feustel is the new Deputy Chief Astronaut. Not sure why Tingle is out of the role so quickly, it seems like he only took it a few months back.
Could Tingle have replaced Wiseman as Chief of the Astronaut Office?
That is a possibility, although that brings up the question of what happened to Wiseman? he has been Chief astronaut for like four months. Maybe a flight opportunity that was to good to turn down showed up?
That is a possibility, although that brings up the question of what happened to Wiseman? he has been Chief astronaut for like four months. Maybe a flight opportunity that was to good to turn down showed up?
Agreed. The next two bigger slots I can think of are backup commander of the Boeing Crewed Flight Test (unless Suni Williams has that job) and then probably commander of Starliner-2 (an early flight of a new ship) or commander of Artemis 2 (the return to lunar orbit). Neither would completely make sense, though: Starliner-2 isn't for a while, Artemis 2 may be further away than that, and Wiseman wasn't in the Artemis Generation--though there is precedent for the Chief of the Astronaut Office getting important flights.
I would think it more likely that Scott Tingle is getting ready for another ISS expedition assignment.
Not sure if anyone has noted this yet but Drew Feustel is the new Deputy Chief Astronaut. Not sure why Tingle is out of the role so quickly, it seems like he only took it a few months back.
“I believe it’s now too late to develop a suit and do the training for Crew-3,” Jurczyk said, referring to a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission scheduled for launch Oct. 23. “So most likely the earliest mission to have a cosmonaut on it would be Crew-4.”
Can we then assume that Kayla Barron will be the fourth crew member of Crew-3 ?
And Cristoforetti and a Russian for Crew-4.
Source: Kikina will be the only woman in the cosmonaut corps.
MOSCOW, May 4 - RIA Novosti. Anna Kikina, the only woman in the Russian squad of cosmonauts, has joined the crew for the 2022 flight to the ISS, a source in the rocket and space industry told RIA Novosti.
"Crews for the flight in 2022 are scheduled. Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveev and Sergei Korsakov will be preparing for the flight in the spring.
Sergei Prokopyev, Anna Kikina and Dmitriy Petelin will fly in the fall," - told the source.
Earlier it was reported that Roscosmos director general Dmitry Rogozin instructed the Cosmonaut Training Center to introduce Anna Kikina into one of the next crews of Soyuz spacecraft to fly to the ISS in 2022.
Recently, in an interview with RIA Novosti, Kikina said that there is no exact information on her assignment to the crew yet.
In 2020, the Roscosmos State Corporation tweeted that Kikina would go to the International Space Station in two years. In addition, Cosmonaut Squad Leader Oleg Kononenko previously reported that the flight was possible in the fall of 2022.
Kikina was enrolled in the cosmonaut squadron as a candidate for cosmonaut-testers in 2012, having passed the first open selection. Prior to that, the squadron recruited either military pilots or members of the rocket and space industry. In 2014, Kikina was enrolled in the cosmonaut squadron after completing general space training. In 2017, Kikina took part in the international isolation experiment SIRIUS, simulating a flight to the moon.
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/stephen-g-bowen
Stephen Bowen "is currently in training as backup for NASA SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the ISS."
NASA Experience:
Barron reported for duty in August 2017 and completed two years of training as an Astronaut Candidate. She is currently in training for NASA SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station.
Biography of Kayla Barron (https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/barron-k.pdf)QuoteNASA Experience:
Barron reported for duty in August 2017 and completed two years of training as an Astronaut Candidate. She is currently in training for NASA SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station.
Maybe we should check all astronaut bios just in case other assignments are mentioned such as back up for Crew-3.
"Crews for the flight in 2022 are scheduled. Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveev and Sergei Korsakov will be preparing for the flight in the spring.
Sergei Prokopyev, Anna Kikina and Dmitriy Petelin will fly in the fall," - told the source.
I've asked many questions at Russian forum, but there is holidays so we must wait for clarify these unresolved questions!
"Crews for the flight in 2022 are scheduled. Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveev and Sergei Korsakov will be preparing for the flight in the spring.
Sergei Prokopyev, Anna Kikina and Dmitriy Petelin will fly in the fall," - told the source.
Is there any word on MS-23 (the 6-month visiting crew)? It seems odd that Prokopyev is not down to command that flight, as he's backing up Misurkin and getting training on singlehandedly operating the Soyuz.
You are right that Prokopyev is the tentative back-up for MS-20 and has been working with Misurkin on the Soyuz adaptations. However, Shkaplerov (up) and Novitsky (down) will have to fly single-handed with the movie crew, so perhaps it isn't such a specialised task as we've been led to believe.
Meanwhile MS-23 is probably the first mission where Glavkosmos will be marketing the seats directly, without any involvement from Space Adventures:-
https://spacenews.com/glavkosmos-to-sell-seats-on-soyuz-missions/
Duration may be subject to negotiations with potential clients? Who knows!!
Posted by: Tobias_Corbett
« on: 05/04/2021 03:51 am »Insert Quote
Kjell Lindgren's NASA Biography states that he is both training to Command Crew 4 but also training as backup of Crew 3. It can probably be extrapolated that he backed up Crew 2
More questions for MS-19 and MS-20 prime and back-up crews!
Do you know any update for these 4 crews composition? And for MS-21 prime we know the RIA Novosti composition of prime and back-up crews, but no MS-20 back-up?
I have only this:
MS-19) http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms19.htm (http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms19.htm);
MS-20) http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms20.htm (http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms20.htm);
MS-21) http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms21.htm (http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms21.htm);
MS-22) http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms22.htm (http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms22.htm).
The State Commission has completed the selection of candidates for participation in space flight for filming the feature film "Challenge" (working title). Based on the results of medical and creative selection, it was decided to recommend Yulia Peresild and Klim Shipenko to the prime crew, Alena Mordovina and Alexei Dudin to the backup crew. Filming will take place at the International Space Station. The start of the expedition is scheduled for October 5, 2021 from the Baikonur cosmodrome on the Soyuz MS-19 manned transport spacecraft.
Why the page: http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 was also turned off ... what happened? ? ?
Kayla Barron Joins NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 Mission to Space Station
NASA has assigned Kayla Barron to serve as a mission specialist for the agency’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station, which is targeted to launch as early as Oct. 23.
This will be the first spaceflight for Barron, who became a NASA astronaut in January 2020 after completing two years of training. She will join NASA astronauts Raja Chari and Tom Marshburn, as the mission’s commander and pilot, respectively, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, who also will serve as a mission specialist.
This will be the third crew rotation mission on SpaceX’s human space transportation system and its fourth flight with astronauts, including the Demo-2 test flight, to the space station through NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Barron was born in Pocatello, Idaho, but considers Richland, Washington, her hometown. She earned a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 2010. She earned a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Cambridge, in England, in 2011, as Gates Cambridge Scholar. Lt. Cmdr. Barron earned her submarine warfare officer qualification and deployed three times while serving aboard the USS Maine. At the time of her selection as an astronaut candidate in 2017, she was serving as the flag aide to the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy.
NASA previously assigned Chari, Marshburn, and Maurer to the mission in December 2020. This will be the first spaceflight for Chari and Maurer. It will be the third spaceflight for Marshburn, who previously served as a crew member of the space shuttle STS-127 mission in 2009 and Expedition 34/35 aboard the space station, which concluded in 2013.
When Barron, Chari, Marshburn, and Maurer arrive at the orbiting laboratory, they will become expedition crew members for the duration of their six-month science mission. The crew will have a slight overlap with the Crew-2 astronauts, who arrived April 24. This will mark the second time commercial crew missions have overlapped on the station. The Crew-1 astronauts, who ended their mission with a splashdown off the coast of Panama City, Florida, on Sunday, May 2, were aboard the station with the Crew-2 astronauts for a seven-day direct crew handover. Increasing the total number of astronauts aboard the station enables the agency to boost the number of science investigations conducted in the unique microgravity environment.
Follow the Crew-3 astronauts on social media:
Kayla Barron:
Instagram: @Astro_Kayla
Facebook: NASA Astronaut Kayla Barron
Raja Chari:
Twitter: @Astro_Raja
Instagram: @Astro_Raja
Facebook: NASA Astronaut Raja Chari
Tom Marshburn:
Twitter: @AstroMarshburn
Matthias Maurer:
Twitter: @Astro_Matthias
Instagram: @ESAMatthiasMaurer
Facebook: Matthias Maurer
Find more information on NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at:
https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew
-end-
Why the page: http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 was also turned off ... what happened? ? ?
Today http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 has been turned on!
Why the page: http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 was also turned off ... what happened? ? ?
Today http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 has been turned on!
Anyone else noticed that Soyuz MS-19 has a "spare crew", I assume this is so that if the movie project falls through Shkaplerov won't have to fly alone.
http://en.roscosmos.ru/22112/
Odd that on here Klim Shipenko and Yulia Peresild (the Russian director and actor going to the ISS for a movie project) are specifically considered part of the ISS-66 crew, not EP-20 (which would be the next visiting Expedition after Al Mansouri's EP-19 flight), in fact EP-20 has been the designation officially given to the MS-20 #dearMoon (minus the Moon) ISS flight. Could this mean that Shipenko and Peresild will remain on the ISS for a full six month stay? This seems really counterintuitive, it would reduce the number of professional astronauts on the ROS to one for six months and it seems like way more time than is needed to do the filming parts of the movie.
Has anyone seen an official statement saying Shipenko and Peresild will land on MS-18 with Novitsky? because this release from Roscosmos seems to indicate they will remains on the ISS until the end of Expedition 66.
With Stephanie Wilson as a backup for Crew-3 and no flight assignment yet, wondering if she will be on Crew-4/5 or a possible Soyuz once the agreement with Russia has been reached.
With Stephanie Wilson as a backup for Crew-3 and no flight assignment yet, wondering if she will be on Crew-4/5 or a possible Soyuz once the agreement with Russia has been reached.
Me, too. I suspect she'll either be Crew-4 MS-2 or Soyuz MS-21 FE2.
With Stephanie Wilson as a backup for Crew-3 and no flight assignment yet, wondering if she will be on Crew-4/5 or a possible Soyuz once the agreement with Russia has been reached.
Me, too. I suspect she'll either be Crew-4 MS-2 or Soyuz MS-21 FE2.
Wilson’s more likely to be MS2 on Crew-4 because they already announced the crews for Soyuz-MS 21 through Soyuz-MS 23. Those three Soyuz missions have all Russian crews.
Loral O'Hara was the Astronaut Office’s Director of Operations in Russia, any idea who may be filling that role now?
I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this or not, but I saw this the other day cited on collectspace.com: https://tass.com/science/1303107. Apparently, more cosmonauts will be flying one-year expeditions after Pyotr Dubrov.
I'm wondering if this will mean some Americans who fly on Soyuz in the future (assuming an arrangement is made) will get a year-long mission, like Vande-Hei and Dubrov right now.
Apparently, Alex Skvortsov will officially command MS-23, the next tourist mission; see https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ru&tl=en&u=https://ria.ru/20210629/kosmos-1738986670.html. I hope the link comes through right.
With all these Russian tourist Soyuz flights, crew assignments, and mission lengths aboard the ISS are bound to get interesting. Another year-long mission perhaps?
With all these Russian tourist Soyuz flights, crew assignments, and mission lengths aboard the ISS are bound to get interesting. Another year-long mission perhaps?
I suspect so. If so, what I'll be curious to see is whether the tourist flight gets folded in with a regular crew rotation flight and becomes a taxi flight like TMA-18M (with the extra Soyuz moving down the line) or whether it will stay as it is now and there will be room for even more spaceflight participants than previously planned.
Glavkosmos, who are marketing the 'tourist' flights for Roscosmos, have made it very clear that they are marketing specific double tourist flights, beginning with two in 2023/4 and are also able to sell single seats on crew rotation flights, if there is demand.
Montelbano says negotiations with Roscosmos on crew exchanges for future flights are ongoing thru State Dept. Russia planning to fly movie mission this fall which would mean Vande Hei and Dubrov wld stay for a year, so would have American on board throughout that time.
http://spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/aunon_serena.htm
Apparently, this source says Serena Auñón-Chancellor retired from the NASA astronaut corps two years ago, but I'm not sure if this link is a good source.
I tried looking for further confirmation on other sites, but couldn't find anything. Is this info official?
NASA lists her as a Management Astronaut.
NASA lists her as a Management Astronaut.
Was Auñón-Chancellor's reassignment to Management Astronaut for undisclosed reasons, or does it have to do with the story of her emotional breakdown in space?
NASA will not make an official announcement for weeks or months, but two sources say the space agency is moving several astronauts from Boeing's Starliner spacecraft onto SpaceX's Crew Dragon vehicle for upcoming missions to the International Space Station.
The most likely scenario is that Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada, and Jeannette Epps will now fly on the SpaceX Crew-5 mission, targeted for launch no earlier than August 2022 on a Falcon 9 rocket. They are likely to be joined by an international partner astronaut, probably Japan's Koichi Wakata, for the mission.
Shouldn't there be a Russian (presumably Petelin, since that commercial crew flight would seem to be "linked" to MS-22) on Crew-5? Also, is this confirmation that Crew-5 will fly ahead of CST-1, or is that still technically up for grabs?
I think you're correct. Assuming Korsakov gets added to Crew-4 (which I believe looks likely), I'd find it odd for Petelin not to be on Crew-5 which would leave either Wakata, Mann, Cassada, or Epps off of Crew-5.
Still unsure who would fill up the 3rd seat for BOE-CFT and 2-3 seats on Starliner-1.
Also wondering if moving these rookies into sooner flights has anything to do with the Artemis Astronauts or just simply trying to get rookies flying sooner since they've been waiting.
I presume Epps would then move to MS-22
Mann and Cassada will, in fact, be flying together.
Epps was already bounced by the Russians once. That does not bode well for them flying her.
Mann and Cassada will, in fact, be flying together.
NASA has reassigned astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada to the agency’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station as part of the Commercial Crew Program.
Mann and Cassada will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively, for the Crew-5 mission. Additional crew members will be announced later.
Crew-5 is expected to launch no earlier than fall 2022 on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The duo and their crewmates will join an expedition crew aboard station for a long duration stay to conduct science activities for the benefit of humanity and exploration.
“Nicole and Josh have done a tremendous job pioneering the training and path forward for astronauts to fly on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. They have gained experience that they will take forward as they train to fly in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft and serve aboard the International Space Station,” said Kathryn Lueders, associate administrator of the Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The NASA team is fortunate to have two commercial crew partners and will continue to work with Boeing and SpaceX to prepare NASA astronauts and our international partners to fly to and from the International Space Station on U.S. spacecraft.”
Mann and Cassada previously were assigned to missions on NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test and NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission, respectively. NASA decided it was important to make these reassignments to allow Boeing time to complete the development of Starliner while continuing plans for astronauts to gain spaceflight experience for the future needs of the agency’s missions.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Mike Fincke, and Suni Williams will continue to provide experience for Boeing as the agency prepares for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. Additional Boeing flight assignments will be made in the future.
Mann is a California native and a colonel in the Marine Corps. She earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science in mechanical engineering with a specialty in fluid mechanics from Stanford University. She is an F/A-18 test pilot with more than 2,500 flight hours in more than 25 aircraft. NASA selected Mann as an astronaut in 2013. This will be her first trip to space.
“It has been the opportunity of a lifetime to train on a brand-new spacecraft, the Boeing Starliner, and it has been fantastic to work with the Boeing team,” Mann said. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to train on another new spacecraft – the SpaceX Crew Dragon – and appreciate the teams at NASA who have made that possible. I am ready to fly and serve on the International Space Station.”
Cassada grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and is a physicist and U.S. Navy test pilot. He attended college in Michigan and then completed his Ph.D. research at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory before becoming a naval aviator. Cassada has accumulated more than 4,000 flight hours in over 45 different aircraft. NASA selected him as an astronaut in 2013. This will be his first spaceflight.
“It has been great to spend the last few years training with the joint Boeing and NASA team, and I am really looking forward to now have a chance to also train with SpaceX on a new spacecraft. Cross training on both programs is a unique opportunity to learn, but also to provide valuable insight to future astronauts flying these spacecraft,” Cassada said. “And, of course, Nicole and I are incredibly excited to get to work aboard the International Space Station, executing current operations and also contributing to future exploration beyond low-earth orbit.”
Can someone can shed some light on this question...Cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky just completed his third long duration mission with a total of 531 days in space.I have no inside information. But picking a leader in anything, length of experience is not the only factor. It can range from him not wanting the command position, to the type of work he did on the ISS, to people picking the crew not thinking he has the right skills, to thinking he is ideally suited for the roles he has worked on. Unless an insider tells us, which I doubt will happen, we'll never know.
How is it that a crew member with all of that experience has never been assigned CDR of the ISS whereas other members with a fraction of his experience were?
Thank you.
Can someone shed some light on this question...Cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky just completed his third long duration mission with a total of 531 days in space.
How is it that a crew member with all of that experience has never been assigned CDR of the ISS whereas other members with a fraction of his experience were?
Thank you.
Found this on Facebook at one of the groups. Did someone seen this on another source?
Sorry i can't find it anymore in the group. But this website also have put it on their site:
http://www.spacefacts.de/schedule/e_schedule.htm
On the same group someone posted that astronaut Kaylan Barron was selected for Crew 3. Way before the official announcement. Also in the past with other crew assignments. No idea where he/she gets the info. Next time I'm going to ask the person.
I've seen no indication that the seat is going to Jessica Watkins. If I remember correctly she was last working in the spacesuit department at NASA. I'm thinking the seat might go to Jasmin Moghbeli who I've seen in the background of a few Crew-3 training pictures. The seat could also maybe go to Stephanie Wilson who is a backup of Crew-3.
Watkins, being a geologist, would seem a prime candidate for an early Artemis lunar landing and NASA might want her to get a flight as soon as possible before that.
See the 30 Oct post in the Crew-4 thread.Watkins, being a geologist, would seem a prime candidate for an early Artemis lunar landing and NASA might want her to get a flight as soon as possible before that.
Yeah, I agree, I just hadn't seen her in any training pictures or backup crews, but I'd be happy if she does indeed get added to Crew-4.
See the 30 Oct post in the Crew-4 thread.Watkins, being a geologist, would seem a prime candidate for an early Artemis lunar landing and NASA might want her to get a flight as soon as possible before that.
Yeah, I agree, I just hadn't seen her in any training pictures or backup crews, but I'd be happy if she does indeed get added to Crew-4.
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=52608.0
Speaking of Artemis, any thoughts on when the crew for Artemis 2 will be announced?
NASA has assigned Jessica Watkins to the Crew-4 mission, set to launch on a Crew Dragon spacecraft in April 2022. She joins NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Robert Hines, and ESA's @AstroSamantha. Watkins and Hines are the 3rd and 4th class of 2017 astronauts to fly.
.@NASA has assigned astronaut Jessica Watkins to the upcoming @SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the space station.
Man, Epps just can't catch a break.
Man, Epps just can't catch a break.
After the latest stunt by the Russians creating a rubbish pile in the vicinity of the space station, the chances of them getting offered a seat likely dropped a notch or two.
If the Russian agencies are indeed that segmented, then one has to wonder who is in charge, and how or why could such a boneheaded move be condoned.
It seems unlikely they will see a cosmonaut as part of Crew 5I disagree, there's still time to work out the details in time for launch.
It seems unlikely they will see a cosmonaut as part of Crew 5I disagree, there's still time to work out the details in time for launch.
After the latest stunt by the Russians creating a rubbish pile in the vicinity of the space station, the chances of them getting offered a seat likely dropped a notch or two.Unfounded oppinion/statement as Roscosmos has no binding say and decision authority over these MoD tests in their current organisation structure.
After the latest stunt by the Russians creating a rubbish pile in the vicinity of the space station, the chances of them getting offered a seat likely dropped a notch or two.
To my knowledge, that was the Russian military, not Roscosmos. If the plans for the seat exchange program have survived as much as they already have, I'm not sure if this would do it in.
https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1460701442063351815QuoteNASA has assigned Jessica Watkins to the Crew-4 mission, set to launch on a Crew Dragon spacecraft in April 2022. She joins NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Robert Hines, and ESA's @AstroSamantha. Watkins and Hines are the 3rd and 4th class of 2017 astronauts to fly.
Officially confirmed. Very excited for her; wouldn't be surprised if she gets Artemis III later on.
Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina will fly on SpaceX Crew-5, in the fall of 2022
Who is going to fill NASA's seat on Soyuz MS-22?
Who is going to fill NASA's seat on Soyuz MS-22?
Epps (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jeanette-j-epps/biography)?
1. She already has Soyuz training. (And perhaps her Sokol suit and seat liner from MS-09 would still be available.)
2. She is currently assigned to Starliner-1, but Starliner program delays have led to an exodus, with Cassada (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/josh-a-cassada/biography) & Wakata (https://humans-in-space.jaxa.jp/en/astronaut/wakata-koichi/) being transferred from Starliner-1 and Mann (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/nicole-a-mann) from CFT, all to SpaceX Crew-5.
3. Epps is the only NASA member* of her class (Astronaut Group 20, graduated November 2011) yet to fly, and putting her on MS-22 would likely get her in space a full year before Starliner-1.
* CSA Astronaut Hansen (https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/canadian/active/bio-jeremy-hansen.asp), one of the five international partner members of Group 20, has yet to receive a flight assignment.
Who is going to fill NASA's seat on Soyuz MS-22?
Epps (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jeanette-j-epps/biography)?
1. She already has Soyuz training. (And perhaps her Sokol suit and seat liner from MS-09 would still be available.)
2. She is currently assigned to Starliner-1, but Starliner program delays have led to an exodus, with Cassada (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/josh-a-cassada/biography) & Wakata (https://humans-in-space.jaxa.jp/en/astronaut/wakata-koichi/) being transferred from Starliner-1 and Mann (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/nicole-a-mann) from CFT, all to SpaceX Crew-5.
3. Epps is the only NASA member* of her class (Astronaut Group 20, graduated November 2011) yet to fly, and putting her on MS-22 would likely get her in space a full year before Starliner-1.
* CSA Astronaut Hansen (https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/canadian/active/bio-jeremy-hansen.asp), one of the five international partner members of Group 20, has yet to receive a flight assignment.
That could depend on why she got pulled off of MS-09. I'm guessing either O'Hara, Wilson, or maybe Bowen.
Here is the digital version published by astronaut Kjell LindgrenExpedition 67 crew members:
https://twitter.com/astro_kjell/status/1470141648424296450
Interesting that the text of the release mentions "two international partners", with no reference to a third NASA crew member. Perhaps Hansen? Or even Peake?
What about Andreas Mogensen? He’s due for a ISS expedition assignment.
What is the real story about what is going on with Ms. Epps? Is her delay simply related to the Starliner issues?
Or him, yes. I had sort of figured he might be the last to get one, though, for the same reason he got a short flight instead of a long flight last time.
What makes Morgensen different from the rest of the ESA astronauts?
After replacing only one cosmonaut with the Soyuz MS-19 mission, maybe the russians could have been replaced Dubrov with Misurkin on the tourist flight Soyuz MS-20. Probably Dubrov don't have commander solo training, and/or the russians want to get a one-year medical data from him.
But I can't understand why they don't return Misurkin, Maezawa and Hirano with Soyuz MS-19, as have happened many times before, letting a fresher Soyuz docked to the ISS, even not needing those extra days.
Or maybe it's not possible the swap because all the entire mission belongs to the purchaser tourists?
Soyuz MS-20 (№752) was ordered specifically for a tourist mission while Soyuz MS-19 (№749) is one of the standard ISS crew rotational vehicles.
Soyuz MS-20 (№752) was ordered specifically for a tourist mission while Soyuz MS-19 (№749) is one of the standard ISS crew rotational vehicles.
Are you suggesting that MS-20 was manufactured differently so that it lacked the on-orbit endurance of MS-19?
I presume it was whatever they did to make it easier for one cosmonaut to operate it.
Oh, that make sense...
But I'm doubtious Mr. Shipenko have had more FE1 formation than Mr. Maezawa; I think both of them had a similar formation.
NASA lists astronauts such as Don Pettit and Michael Barratt as eligible for flight assignment, but they are both close to 65 years old. Is it actually possible that they will fly again, given that the soonest assignment would be at least a year out?
NASA lists astronauts such as Don Pettit and Michael Barratt as eligible for flight assignment, but they are both close to 65 years old. Is it actually possible that they will fly again, given that the soonest assignment would be at least a year out?
Story Musgrave, Paolo Nespoli……..this is who I was thinking of…..any more?
Soyuz MS-20 (№752) was ordered specifically for a tourist mission while Soyuz MS-19 (№749) is one of the standard ISS crew rotational vehicles.
Oh, right.Are you suggesting that MS-20 was manufactured differently so that it lacked the on-orbit endurance of MS-19?
I presume it was whatever they did to make it easier for one cosmonaut to operate it.
Both MS-19 (up) and MS-18 (down) were able to be operated by a single cosmonaut, so I doubt that there was anything special about MS-20 in this regard. AFAIK the adaptations to make Soyuz operable by one cosmonaut are software changes and a handheld tablet style device which allows certain controls which are otherwise out of reach, to be operated from the centre seat.
Are there any updates as to who has been assigned the third seat on this years first Boeing Starliner flight?
Matthew Dominick is currently the backup CDR. Maybe he might move into the PLT spot?
Matthew Dominick is currently the backup CDR. Maybe he might move into the PLT spot?
I thought he was just Suni Williams' backup, but I could be wrong.
There aren't any backups on the Starliner-1 mission. Just the CFT.
Not sure if this is official yet but .... Fingers crossed!Will Mr Hansen beat Dr Epps to orbit? These are the last 2 astronauts from the NASA Group, "The Chumps" to have not flown yet. Epps is the last NASA astro and Hansen is the last International Mission Specialists to fly. David ST-Jacques, the other Canadian International astro from the 2009 class flew Expedition 58/59.
https://twitter.com/CDNSpacegal/status/1478524354220773377
https://twitter.com/CDNSpacegal/status/1478528412612534273
If my understanding is correct and IF the schedule remains anything like currently expected than Epps would be on the first actual crew swap Starliner flight and may be there to do a brief handover with Hansen as she leaves and he arrives. Still a lot of IF's. If Starliner works, if etc, etc.
So he is not the CSA astronaut on Artemis II?No, the CSA astronaut on Artemis II will be either Joshua Kutryk or Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons from the 2017 selection group. Jeremy Hansen was selected with David Saint-Jacques in 2009 for ISS missions.
Further tweets of the thread rumor Crew-7 to be Jonny Kim, Tracy Caldwell, Jeremy Hansen and a Russian.
If my understanding is correct and IF the schedule remains anything like currently expected than Epps would be on the first actual crew swap Starliner flight and may be there to do a brief handover with Hansen as she leaves and he arrives. Still a lot of IF's. If Starliner works, if etc, etc.
It looks like it would be the other way around, actually--CST-1 in Fall 2023 and Crew-7 in Spring 2024.
???Isn't that what I said? You say I'm wrong way round and then say the exact same thing. Epps on CST in fall 2023 and Hansen on Crew 7 in spring 24. So how am I wrong? I said "she leaves and he arrives."
I am Space Oriented! She leaves ISS as he arrives at ISS I assumed that was clear because I was talking about handover which is the time they spend together at ISS, ie. spring 2024 . You must be an Earth dweller and Earth oriented and read what I said as leaving Earth and arriving back on Earth. I have always been Space oriented since childhood :D
So he is not the CSA astronaut on Artemis II?No, the CSA astronaut on Artemis II will be either Joshua Kutryk or Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons from the 2017 selection group. Jeremy Hansen was selected with David Saint-Jacques in 2009 for ISS missions.
Here’s my prediction:I don't believe Bresnik is one of the 18 "Artemis" astronauts chosen for the program.
Randolph Bresnik -CDR
Stephanie Wilson
Kayla Barron
Josh Kutryk.
If we're doing predictions...
Commander - Scott Tingle
Pilot - Anne McClain
Mission Specialist - Joe Acaba
Mission Specialist - Jenni Sidey-Gibbons
If we're doing predictions...
Commander - Scott Tingle
Pilot - Anne McClain
Mission Specialist - Joe Acaba
Mission Specialist - Jenni Sidey-Gibbons
I heard on the ISSlive feed that Anne McClain was assigned to an ISS program office, meaning she's not on the active flight crew list, correct?
In addition, the crews of Soyuz MS spacecraft with launches in 2023-2024 for the first time include cosmonauts from the 2018 set: Konstantin Borisov, Alexander Gorbunov, Alexander Grebenkin, Alexei Zubritsky, Sergey Mikayev and Oleg Platonov.
If Roscosmos and NASA sign an agreement on "crossover" flights to the ISS, Anna Kikina is scheduled to join the main crew of Crew Dragon (flight USCV-5), the launch of which is expected in August 2022, and NASA astronaut Francisco Rubio will join the main crew of Soyuz MS-22 instead.
Has something changed with the plans for the Soyuz MS-23 tourist or UAE flight? The Roscosmos press release about Nikolai Chub (seen, for example, in the MS-22 thread) not getting a visa and one or two other things I have seen have talked about Oleg Kononenko's Soyuz crew being the MS-23 crew (but still in April 2023), not the MS-24 crew.
My understanding is that the "tourist" flight is now MS-25.
ESA also discussed with Roscosmos to have an astronaut on Soyuz MS23 to avoid a too big European absence on the ISS during the flight of Hansen.
ESA also discussed with Roscosmos to have an astronaut on Soyuz MS23 to avoid a too big European absence on the ISS during the flight of Hansen.
That surprises me. I had presumed that ESA would have a seat on Crew-6 (and then Furukawa on Starliner-1), which would be around the same time if MS-23 launches the end of this year.
The discussions would have started in August 2019
https://tass.ru/kosmos/6948536
https://tass.ru/interviews/7657531
The latest future crews from GCTC:
The latest future crews from GCTC:
The latest future crews from GCTC:
Crazy how some of the cosmonauts who flew recently (Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Ryzhikov) already will be training for their next missions meanwhile I'm wondering when the astronauts they flew with (2013 class especially) will be getting their next mission assignments.
Can you translate that to English, please? It’s kinda hard for me to read Russian.
Is it possible that a NASA astronaut will fly on the first crewed flight of Starship with Jared Isaacman?
Hard to see Rubio and Kikina exchange happening now.
I'm sorry if I missed something, but could we get a real update on Astronaut Epps flight status? What is the big mystery?
Very surprising to see a non-US astronaut as pilot.It is the autonomous Crew Dragon. The commander and the pilot mostly monitored the readouts.
https://twitter.com/Commercial_Crew/status/1507019111179730944
Very surprising to see a non-US astronaut as pilot.It is the autonomous Crew Dragon. The commander and the pilot mostly monitored the readouts.
Someone has edited wikipedia saying Tim Peake is backup for Mogensen, does anyone have a source for this or is it purely speculative?
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/03/29/nasa-astronaut-two-cosmonauts-set-for-wednesday-return-to-earth/Axiom might asked him to take a short trip back to the ISS.
Per this Spaceflight Now article, following the landing of Soyuz-MS 19, Mark Vande Hei will retire from the NASA Astronaut Corps.
Not sure if he'll stay at NASA with a different role.
Who is the leading contender for the third seat on the first Boeing Starliner mission?For a short stay at the ISS. Maybe only a 2 person crew is needed for the CFT mission.
Who is the leading contender for the third seat on the first Boeing Starliner mission?
The reason for a third CFT astronaut was because Boeing wanted an employee of their own to fly aboard Starliner. In this case, it was Chris Ferguson.
But since Ferguson dropped out, I don’t see a need for a third crew member. A two-person crew is sufficient enough to carry out CFT similar to Demo-2.
Who is the leading contender for the third seat on the first Boeing Starliner mission?
I had wondered if it had been long enough that they might be able to add Eric Boe back in.
I was also wondering--does anyone know anything recent about the status of the seat that went to Axiom in the MS-18 deal and when that might be?
Who is the leading contender for the third seat on the first Boeing Starliner mission?
I had wondered if it had been long enough that they might be able to add Eric Boe back in.
I was also wondering--does anyone know anything recent about the status of the seat that went to Axiom in the MS-18 deal and when that might be?
The seat from MS-18 has morphed into a UAE astronaut six month stay on board the ISS in 2023 on Crew-6.
The seat from MS-18 has morphed into a UAE astronaut six month stay on board the ISS in 2023 on Crew-6.
The seat from MS-18 has morphed into a UAE astronaut six month stay on board the ISS in 2023 on Crew-6.
Oh, interesting! Would this be instead of or in addition to a cosmonaut (presumably Fedyayev)? I had assumed Satoshi Furukawa was up for Crew-6.
The logic would be that there is at least one Russian on Dragon with the seat swap agreement. We'll see.
Maybe UAE and JAXA has come to an agreement to insert the UAE astronaut ahead of Furukawa. It would avoid the need to pay Roscosmos in the near future.The logic would be that there is at least one Russian on Dragon with the seat swap agreement. We'll see.
That's what I kind of figured, but since the UAE astronauts were originally supposed to fly with Russia, I wasn't sure.
Maybe UAE and JAXA has come to an agreement to insert the UAE astronaut ahead of Furukawa. It would avoid the need to pay Roscosmos in the near future.
Maybe UAE and JAXA has come to an agreement to insert the UAE astronaut ahead of Furukawa. It would avoid the need to pay Roscosmos in the near future.The logic would be that there is at least one Russian on Dragon with the seat swap agreement. We'll see.
That's what I kind of figured, but since the UAE astronauts were originally supposed to fly with Russia, I wasn't sure.
Tikhonov portrait from 2016:
Axiom Space has announced today Walter Villadei as back-up crew member of Ax-2.
Axiom Space has announced today Walter Villadei as back-up crew member of Ax-2.
Will Villadei be backing up Whitson or Shoffner?
Axiom Space has announced today Walter Villadei as back-up crew member of Ax-2.
Will Villadei be backing up Whitson or Shoffner?
So now that we know Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will be Commander and Pilot respectively for BOE-CFT. Are we alright to assume that Mike Fincke will be commander on Starliner-1. There is also the case of Matthew Dominick who seems to also be training on the Starliner.Big difference: Starliner will fly once a year, as will Crew Dragon after Starliner-1 flies. Up to now and onward thru Q2 2023 Crew Dragon flies every six months. It's reasonable to publish crew lists a year out, but not three years out.
I'm hoping once CFT flies successfully NASA will publish the crews (NASA Astronauts) for hopefully 1-3 of the Starliner flights since that's what they've been doing with SpaceX. But I guess it will all depend on when the Starliners fly since NASA won't want to announce too far ahead.
I would guess Mike Fincke as commander of Starliner-1 with Matthew Dominick commanding Starliner-2. And Jeanette Epps stays on Starliner-1 as Mission Specialist 1 or 2.
Maybe if Eric Boe is cleared of his medical issues, he could fly as pilot on either Starliner-1 or Starliner-2.
Yes, I agree. If Boe does ever fly, I can't imagine a two-time Shuttle PLT would not want the CDR spot.
Dominick is currently Starliner-1 backup CDR, so a likely contender either for Starliner-1 PLT or perhaps Starliner-2 CDR.
Yes, I agree. If Boe does ever fly, I can't imagine a two-time Shuttle PLT would not want the CDR spot.
Dominick is currently Starliner-1 backup CDR, so a likely contender either for Starliner-1 PLT or perhaps Starliner-2 CDR.
I guessed Boe as pilot because he was originally the CFT Joint Operations Commander (before Fincke replaced him). To me, that’s a form of the pilot role similar to Behnken’s assignment on Demo-2.
Is it true, however, that actually Boe would have been commander if Ferguson had not been brought in to push him into the pilot's seat?
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/15/russian-space-chief-dismissed-nasa-gets-deal-for-joint-crews/
Cosmonaut Anna Kikina also will launch in September aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule along with NASA astronauts Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada and veteran Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. Launch had been targeted for Sept. 1, but NASA officials are no longer saying when the mission might get underway, indicating a delay may be in the offing.
NASA also announced Friday that astronaut Loral O’Hara will launch aboard the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft next spring, along with Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub. Cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev will join astronauts Steve Bowen and Woody Hoburg aboard a SpaceX capsule that’s also targeting a spring 2023 launch.
Human Spaceflight @esaspaceflight
It's like walking on the #Moon, so they say. 🌚
Astronauts @Astro_Andreas and @NASA's Kate Rubins are exploring a fjord in #Norway 🇳🇴
for the grand @ESA_CAVES
#geology finale. ⛏️👨🚀👩🚀
More on this @ESA training #ForwardToTheMoon:
https://blogs.esa.int/caves/2022/07/18/geology-finale-for-astronauts-on-a-moon-like-fjord%ef%bf%bc/
Cosmonaut Borisov will fly to the ISS on the Crew Dragon spacecraft in the spring of 2024
Is it known yet what the nationality of the fourth member of Crew-7 will be--U.S. or a third international astronaut? It seems like they need an LDF veteran in there somewhere.
Unofficial sources say that Satoshi Furukawa will be the fourth Crew-7 member, which means that all four members could be each from one nation.
https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson/status/1552396176460107777
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-astronaut-shane-kimbrough-to-retire
So now that we know Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will be Commander and Pilot respectively for BOE-CFT. Are we alright to assume that Mike Fincke will be commander on Starliner-1. There is also the case of Matthew Dominick who seems to also be training on the Starliner.I kinda hope Eric Boe commands a Starliner mission, & that Don Pettit flies as a mission specialist on either a Space x or Boeing mission, I also read that Tracy Caldwell Dyson is supposed to fly on the Soyuz but some sites like spacefacts say she’s been replaced by Konstantin Borisov so I’m wondering if she’ll be a mission specialist on Boeing Starliner crew 2, or if she’ll fly on space X Crew 8 & serve as commander of expedition 71 or 72.
I'm hoping once CFT flies successfully NASA will publish the crews (NASA Astronauts) for hopefully 1-3 of the Starliner flights since that's what they've been doing with SpaceX. But I guess it will all depend on when the Starliners fly since NASA won't want to announce too far ahead.
I would guess Mike Fincke as commander of Starliner-1 with Matthew Dominick commanding Starliner-2. And Jeanette Epps stays on Starliner-1 as Mission Specialist 1 or 2.No, Eric Boe would serve as commander.
Maybe if Eric Boe is cleared of his medical issues, he could fly as pilot on either Starliner-1 or Starliner-2.
I kinda hope Eric Boe commands a Starliner mission, & that Don Pettit flies as a mission specialist on either a Space x or Boeing mission, I also read that Tracy Caldwell Dyson is supposed to fly on the Soyuz but some sites like spacefacts say she’s been replaced by Konstantin Borisov so I’m wondering if she’ll be a mission specialist on Boeing Starliner crew 2, or if she’ll fly on space X Crew 8 & serve as commander of expedition 71 or 72.
Don petit at 67 or 68 flying in space would be epic.I kinda hope Eric Boe commands a Starliner mission, & that Don Pettit flies as a mission specialist on either a Space x or Boeing mission, I also read that Tracy Caldwell Dyson is supposed to fly on the Soyuz but some sites like spacefacts say she’s been replaced by Konstantin Borisov so I’m wondering if she’ll be a mission specialist on Boeing Starliner crew 2, or if she’ll fly on space X Crew 8 & serve as commander of expedition 71 or 72.I'd like to see Boe fly again, too, but I'd be surprised if Pettit flew again at 67. Spacefacts still has Tracy Caldwell Dyson on MS-24, and Borisov was announced to fly on Crew-7.
Don't think assignments have been set yet but ... TRACY!!!I kinda hope Tracy commands expedition 71 or 72.
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1542092751432450048
With Hansen pointed towards a 2024 flight, do we definitely know that he is not in the running for Artemis-2?I have a feeling Stephanie Wilson we’ll be selected to be on Artemis one.
A visual overview to the flight crew assignments.
Much of the launch dates are tentative. Comments and corrections are welcome. :)
I have a feeling Stephanie Wilson we’ll be selected to be on Artemis one.
it’s kinda weird cuz Wikipedia which isn’t a great source for who was what mission specialist on the shuttle, they have borisov flying on Boeing starliner 1 as pilot and I’m like with the stuff going on politically right now not a chance I’ll leave it at that it would be either a nasa astronaut or an ESA astronaut assigned to pilot crew 1 or crew 2 crew 1 I have that feeling since Matthew Dominick will be the pilot, Mike fincke as commander, and Satoshi furukawa & Jeanette Epps are on that mission well I know Epps is they have to confirm furukawa, he hasn’t been confirmed yet. So my 2 cents is either a rookie like Jonny Kim or a veteran Drew Morgan, Scott tingle and or Jessica Meir would get that 3rd seat and if not a nasa astronaut that would get that spot space x crew 7 on the crew dragon, I could see Alex Gerst a veteran in the ESA or Aki Hoshide a veteran from JAXA would get that spot flies as MS 1 on Crew 7. I also have that feeling that Suni Williams will command starliner 3 down the line, either that or her & Stephanie Wilson will get selected to Artemis 2 along with Joe Acaba & Mike Hopkins.I would guess Mike Fincke as commander of Starliner-1 with Matthew Dominick commanding Starliner-2. And Jeanette Epps stays on Starliner-1 as Mission Specialist 1 or 2.
Maybe if Eric Boe is cleared of his medical issues, he could fly as pilot on either Starliner-1 or Starliner-2.
I had presumed that Dominick would be Starliner-1 PLT with Fincke, Epps, and an international astronaut (probably Furukawa), but I could see him ending up in a Kjell Lindgren situation (backup several times in a row) and getting a command slot a little further down the line.
I'd be surprised if Boe flew as pilot, since he piloted the shuttle twice.
it’s kinda weird cuz Wikipedia which isn’t a great source for who was what mission specialist on the shuttle, they have borisov flying on Boeing starliner 1 as pilot and I’m like with the stuff going on politically right now not a chance I’ll leave it at that it would be either a nasa astronaut or an ESA astronaut assigned to pilot crew 1 or crew 2 crew 1 I have that feeling since Matthew Dominick will be the pilot, Mike fincke as commander, and Satoshi furukawa & Jeanette Epps are on that mission well I know Epps is they have to confirm furukawa, he hasn’t been confirmed yet. So my 2 cents is either a rookie like Jonny Kim or a veteran Drew Morgan, Scott tingle and or Jessica Meir would get that 3rd seat and if not a nasa astronaut that would get that spot space x crew 7 on the crew dragon, I could see Alex Gerst a veteran in the ESA or Aki Hoshide a veteran from JAXA would get that spot flies as MS 1 on Crew 7. I also have that feeling that Suni Williams will command starliner 3 down the line, either that or her & Stephanie Wilson will get selected to Artemis 2 along with Joe Acaba & Mike Hopkins.
It would be logical for the commanders of Artemis II and III to be astronauts who have piloted a spacecraft and in the Artemis group are: Glover, Chari ... Mann, Moghbeli ... Dominick
We can add former pilots who are in a hierarchical position or in the Artemis group, but who have no experience piloting a spacecraft: Bresnik, Tingle, Wiseman, McClain ... Rubio
In my opinion, Glover is the favorite to be the commander of Artemis III, Wiseman for Artemis II.
Guys its the Artemis program... its pretty clear that commanders for these missions will be female. At least for the first couple of missions. I could see either McClain, Koch or Wilson for Artemis 2 and 3. Tingle and Acaba as pilots.
Astronauts who will be walking on the moon will be mission specialists (will not have role as cmdr or pilot). We'll surely see the likes of Meir, Watkins and Glover walk on the moon. My 2 cents...
Hansen has been officially announced a crew member for an ISS expedition. I believe he’s tentatively scheduled to be launched in 2024 on Space X Dragon Crew 8.
Has CSA's Jeremy Hansen not been officially tapped for a mission yet? He was a longtime CF-18 fighter pilot, though not a test pilot from what I gather. He and Epps are the last 2 of their Astronaut class who haven't flown yet.
Has CSA's Jeremy Hansen not been officially tapped for a mission yet? He was a longtime CF-18 fighter pilot, though not a test pilot from what I gather. He and Epps are the last 2 of their Astronaut class who haven't flown yet.
In today's [Aug 4th] Crew 5 briefing there was a tease from Kathy L that there would be
a Canadian on the next Artemis mission. [unless she meant the Crew 6 mission and I misunderstood]
I assumed that would be Hansen but no further data was supplied like role and there were
no followups in the Q&A.
Carl
Edit: to clarify which briefing.
I predict Kutryk will be assigned to Artemis II. He has flight test experience and this will be a test flight. And NASAs choice for the first woman to fly to the moon won’t be a Canadian. Or if they want an all-veteran crew it would have to be David St. Jacques.
My prediction:
Scott Tingle CDR
Stephanie Wilson
Kathleen Rubins
Josh Kutryk.
I'm curious where you got your ISS CDR information?I get it from spacefacts
My understanding has been that 60 at the point of assignment to a mission is generally the cut-off point, thus allowing astros to fly by age 61-62 at the latest.
My understanding has been that 60 at the point of assignment to a mission is generally the cut-off point, thus allowing astros to fly by age 61-62 at the latest.Tom marshburn he was 60 while in space turned 61 in space.
[Borisov] is on Crew-7, launching in Spring 2024--Spacefacts is wrong there. I know I've seen it, and I'm nearly positive Oleg Kononenko has confirmed it. (The manned launches page and the upcoming expeditions page also do not always agree.) As far as Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, the red doesn't mean she's not flying: that just means that she was part of that group of updates (there was one or more in red font, just like in blue font or brown font).thanks for letting me know that on Caldwell & borisov.
There is no more "Artemis Group"
Reid Wiseman, current chief astronaut, has stated that all 42 active NASA astronauts are available for Artemis missions
[Borisov] is on Crew-7, launching in Spring 2024--Spacefacts is wrong there. I know I've seen it, and I'm nearly positive Oleg Kononenko has confirmed it. (The manned launches page and the upcoming expeditions page also do not always agree.) As far as Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, the red doesn't mean she's not flying: that just means that she was part of that group of updates (there was one or more in red font, just like in blue font or brown font).they haven’t announced who the crew 7 MS1 is it’s not furukawa according to multiple sources borisov is MS2, I have a feeling Tim peake will be assigned to space x crew 8 as either pilot or mission specialist. Don’t know who will be assigned as commander the launch isn’t until 2024 maybe drew feustel gets assigned to command that mission or someone like a Randy bresnik or a Scott tingle. Cuz bresnik was selected as a pilot back in 04.
No harm no foul. I thought Victor Glover was a shoo-in to command Artemis 3
they haven’t announced who the crew 7 MS1 is it’s not furukawa according to multiple sources borisov is MS2
Seems that Tunisia wants to fly a woman with Russia to ISS in 2024.
No harm no foul. I thought Victor Glover was a shoo-in to command Artemis 3
I suspect it will either be someone with previous CDR experience or more Artemis experience (e.g., Bresnik), but I could see that.
[Borisov] is on Crew-7, launching in Spring 2024--Spacefacts is wrong there. I know I've seen it, and I'm nearly positive Oleg Kononenko has confirmed it. (The manned launches page and the upcoming expeditions page also do not always agree.) As far as Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, the red doesn't mean she's not flying: that just means that she was part of that group of updates (there was one or more in red font, just like in blue font or brown font).they haven’t announced who the crew 7 MS1 is it’s not furukawa according to multiple sources borisov is MS2, I have a feeling Tim peake will be assigned to space x crew 8 as either pilot or mission specialist. Don’t know who will be assigned as commander the launch isn’t until 2024 maybe drew feustel gets assigned to command that mission or someone like a Randy bresnik or a Scott tingle. Cuz bresnik was selected as a pilot back in 04.
You are forgetting Jeremy Hansen. If Furukawa flies on Crew-7 then Hansen flies on Starliner-1, or vice-versa.
That’s the issue Boeing hasn’t come out and told us who’s flying the first starliner mission if Hansen doesn’t fly on starliner one he’ll fly on starliner 2.You are forgetting Jeremy Hansen. If Furukawa flies on Crew-7 then Hansen flies on Starliner-1, or vice-versa.
Do we know that it will be a third international astronaut and not a second American?
I am wondering if the time has come to split this thread into 2 parts: one for confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments and a second one for speculation. Hey, I love reading everyone's guesses and reasoning, but it would be great to come straight to real information. I would still enjoy both parts, of course!
someone should create a separate thread on predictions for Boeing starliner & the space x crew dragon crew assignments.I am wondering if the time has come to split this thread into 2 parts: one for confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments and a second one for speculation. Hey, I love reading everyone's guesses and reasoning, but it would be great to come straight to real information. I would still enjoy both parts, of course!
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree. I thought this thread was for "confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments" not speculations but was biting my tongue hoping they would run out of gas soon but they seem to go on forever. Speculation should maybe be a thread associated with a particular flight?
"Boeing crew dragon" ? lol that's a new one. No worries, Bill Nelson also have them mixed up...someone should create a separate thread on predictions for Boeing crew dragon crew assignments, & starliner crew assignments.I am wondering if the time has come to split this thread into 2 parts: one for confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments and a second one for speculation. Hey, I love reading everyone's guesses and reasoning, but it would be great to come straight to real information. I would still enjoy both parts, of course!
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree. I thought this thread was for "confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments" not speculations but was biting my tongue hoping they would run out of gas soon but they seem to go on forever. Speculation should maybe be a thread associated with a particular flight?
I fixed it."Boeing crew dragon" ? lol that's a new one. No worries, Bill Nelson also have them mixed up...someone should create a separate thread on predictions for Boeing crew dragon crew assignments, & starliner crew assignments.I am wondering if the time has come to split this thread into 2 parts: one for confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments and a second one for speculation. Hey, I love reading everyone's guesses and reasoning, but it would be great to come straight to real information. I would still enjoy both parts, of course!
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree. I thought this thread was for "confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments" not speculations but was biting my tongue hoping they would run out of gas soon but they seem to go on forever. Speculation should maybe be a thread associated with a particular flight?
is caldwell gonna command the station like on expedition 71 or 72 I haven’t heard anything.Yes.https://imgur.com/5YMstdx according to GCTC !
Is that Tracy Caldwell-Dyson showing as Loral O'Hara's backup? I can sometimes figure out the Cyrillic alphabet but am having trouble here.
I read on spacefacts today that Caldwell was rumored to have been removed from Soyuz MS24, it says their gonna have a space flight participant on the next two Soyuz flights. So idk what’s going on if someone could confirm this as fact not fiction or if it’s false or if it just got announced let me know. Theirs rumors of a Belarusian space tourist that’ll fly with ovchinin and land with kononenko & O’Hara, & a Turkish space flight participant would fly on Soyuz MS25, and would land with ovchinin & Chubb, so I wonder if Hansen & borisov will swap spots Hansen to crew 7 borisov to crew 8 or if it’ll be borisov & furukawa that fly on crew 7 & Hansen & Caldwell on crew 8. Or if Caldwell will fly on crew 7 or Boeing starliner mission one or if furukawa fly’s on the first Boeing starliner mission. Nasa hasn’t come out and released any statement yet but if these two space flight participants fly they’ll have Caldwell fly on either the space x crew dragon or the Boeing starliner, idk about Caldwell all these changes it’s weird. Only Americans lined ik for the Soyuz are Rubio & O’Hara. Whenever someone comes out with a statement please let me know.
that’s what it was but their was another flag on MS24.I read on spacefacts today that Caldwell was rumored to have been removed from Soyuz MS24, it says their gonna have a space flight participant on the next two Soyuz flights. So idk what’s going on if someone could confirm this as fact not fiction or if it’s false or if it just got announced let me know. Theirs rumors of a Belarusian space tourist that’ll fly with ovchinin and land with kononenko & O’Hara, & a Turkish space flight participant would fly on Soyuz MS25, and would land with ovchinin & Chubb, so I wonder if Hansen & borisov will swap spots Hansen to crew 7 borisov to crew 8 or if it’ll be borisov & furukawa that fly on crew 7 & Hansen & Caldwell on crew 8. Or if Caldwell will fly on crew 7 or Boeing starliner mission one or if furukawa fly’s on the first Boeing starliner mission. Nasa hasn’t come out and released any statement yet but if these two space flight participants fly they’ll have Caldwell fly on either the space x crew dragon or the Boeing starliner, idk about Caldwell all these changes it’s weird. Only Americans lined ik for the Soyuz are Rubio & O’Hara. Whenever someone comes out with a statement please let me know.My schedule for MS-25 contains the flag of Tunesia. It's not the Turkish flag.
Moderator:Neither is it the place for speculation not anchored in some kind of fact or logical deduction from fact.
The thread is for current and future assignments, not alternate histories discussions of past possible assignments.
I’m on Wikipedia & spacefacts & that the Soyuz, crew dragon collaboration missions after crew 7 ends for awhile after O’Hara lands on a Soyuz crew swap with a Belarusian astronaut, and the next one that lands has a Tunisian astronaut & on crew 7 on Wikipedia when you look up list of crew dragon flights they have an American flag as one of the mission specialists on crew 7, so I wonder if Caldwell got bumped to crew 7 nasa hasn’t come out and publicly said anything yet it’s kinda been hush hush which it’s like just announce something, but I just wondered Jeremy Hansen Will he more than likely be on crew 8, I can tell you I was on a space website and they said that the Boeing starliner test flight got bumped to February and no later than early to mid February. Idk how true that is but if someone could confirm that if they’ve heard that let me know the only confirmed crew member for starliner 1 is Jeanette Epps, Satoshi furukawa has yet to be confirmed for starliner 1 by JAXA, & the commander and pilot have yet to be confirmed by nasa, & the fourth astronaut the supposed American for crew 7 has yet to be confirmed by nasa on the space x crew 7, the only confirmed crew members are moghbeli, morgensen, & borisov, i’m not trying to speculate anything or start rumors but if anyone that’s works for nasa that’s on here can say something I’d appreciate It.Moderator:Neither is it the place for speculation not anchored in some kind of fact or logical deduction from fact.
The thread is for current and future assignments, not alternate histories discussions of past possible assignments.
We have the party thread 🥳 or the homeless thread for unbridled speculation.
About Starliner, yes its being pushed back to NET February as mentionned on the NASA/Boeing media teleconference yesterday. As for Wikipedia, you have to remember that its been updated by regular people. I often see mistakes and update stuff on there. As of now there is no news on that mission specialist for Crew-7... could be an american but I doubt it would be Caldwell-Dyson as she's started training for Soyuz.I’m on Wikipedia & spacefacts & that the Soyuz, crew dragon collaboration missions after crew 7 ends for awhile after O’Hara lands on a Soyuz crew swap with a Belarusian astronaut, and the next one that lands has a Tunisian astronaut & on crew 7 on Wikipedia when you look up list of crew dragon flights they have an American flag as one of the mission specialists on crew 7, so I wonder if Caldwell got bumped to crew 7 nasa hasn’t come out and publicly said anything yet it’s kinda been hush hush which it’s like just announce something, but I just wondered Jeremy Hansen Will he more than likely be on crew 8, I can tell you I was on a space website and they said that the Boeing starliner test flight got bumped to February and no later than early to mid February. Idk how true that is but if someone could confirm that if they’ve heard that let me know the only confirmed crew member for starliner 1 is Jeanette Epps, Satoshi furukawa has yet to be confirmed for starliner 1 by JAXA, & the commander and pilot have yet to be confirmed by nasa, & the fourth astronaut the supposed American for crew 7 has yet to be confirmed by nasa on the space x crew 7, the only confirmed crew members are moghbeli, morgensen, & borisov, i’m not trying to speculate anything or start rumors but if anyone that’s works for nasa that’s on here can say something I’d appreciate It.Moderator:Neither is it the place for speculation not anchored in some kind of fact or logical deduction from fact.
The thread is for current and future assignments, not alternate histories discussions of past possible assignments.
We have the party thread 🥳 or the homeless thread for unbridled speculation.
thank you for letting me know.About Starliner, yes its being pushed back to NET February as mentionned on the NASA/Boeing media teleconference yesterday. As for Wikipedia, you have to remember that its been updated by regular people. I often see mistakes and update stuff on there. As of now there is no news on that mission specialist for Crew-7... could be an american but I doubt it would be Caldwell-Dyson as she's started training for Soyuz.I’m on Wikipedia & spacefacts & that the Soyuz, crew dragon collaboration missions after crew 7 ends for awhile after O’Hara lands on a Soyuz crew swap with a Belarusian astronaut, and the next one that lands has a Tunisian astronaut & on crew 7 on Wikipedia when you look up list of crew dragon flights they have an American flag as one of the mission specialists on crew 7, so I wonder if Caldwell got bumped to crew 7 nasa hasn’t come out and publicly said anything yet it’s kinda been hush hush which it’s like just announce something, but I just wondered Jeremy Hansen Will he more than likely be on crew 8, I can tell you I was on a space website and they said that the Boeing starliner test flight got bumped to February and no later than early to mid February. Idk how true that is but if someone could confirm that if they’ve heard that let me know the only confirmed crew member for starliner 1 is Jeanette Epps, Satoshi furukawa has yet to be confirmed for starliner 1 by JAXA, & the commander and pilot have yet to be confirmed by nasa, & the fourth astronaut the supposed American for crew 7 has yet to be confirmed by nasa on the space x crew 7, the only confirmed crew members are moghbeli, morgensen, & borisov, i’m not trying to speculate anything or start rumors but if anyone that’s works for nasa that’s on here can say something I’d appreciate It.Moderator:Neither is it the place for speculation not anchored in some kind of fact or logical deduction from fact.
The thread is for current and future assignments, not alternate histories discussions of past possible assignments.
We have the party thread 🥳 or the homeless thread for unbridled speculation.
is Boeing starliner crew 1 gonna fly before space x crew 7. Cuz idk which one is gonna fly firstAbout Starliner, yes its being pushed back to NET February as mentionned on the NASA/Boeing media teleconference yesterday. As for Wikipedia, you have to remember that its been updated by regular people. I often see mistakes and update stuff on there. As of now there is no news on that mission specialist for Crew-7... could be an american but I doubt it would be Caldwell-Dyson as she's started training for Soyuz.I’m on Wikipedia & spacefacts & that the Soyuz, crew dragon collaboration missions after crew 7 ends for awhile after O’Hara lands on a Soyuz crew swap with a Belarusian astronaut, and the next one that lands has a Tunisian astronaut & on crew 7 on Wikipedia when you look up list of crew dragon flights they have an American flag as one of the mission specialists on crew 7, so I wonder if Caldwell got bumped to crew 7 nasa hasn’t come out and publicly said anything yet it’s kinda been hush hush which it’s like just announce something, but I just wondered Jeremy Hansen Will he more than likely be on crew 8, I can tell you I was on a space website and they said that the Boeing starliner test flight got bumped to February and no later than early to mid February. Idk how true that is but if someone could confirm that if they’ve heard that let me know the only confirmed crew member for starliner 1 is Jeanette Epps, Satoshi furukawa has yet to be confirmed for starliner 1 by JAXA, & the commander and pilot have yet to be confirmed by nasa, & the fourth astronaut the supposed American for crew 7 has yet to be confirmed by nasa on the space x crew 7, the only confirmed crew members are moghbeli, morgensen, & borisov, i’m not trying to speculate anything or start rumors but if anyone that’s works for nasa that’s on here can say something I’d appreciate It.Moderator:Neither is it the place for speculation not anchored in some kind of fact or logical deduction from fact.
The thread is for current and future assignments, not alternate histories discussions of past possible assignments.
We have the party thread 🥳 or the homeless thread for unbridled speculation.
is Boeing starliner crew 1 gonna fly before space x crew 7. Cuz idk which one is gonna fly firstWe don't know either.
This makes it sound like the Tunisian flight will be a full-length one and not a spaceflight participant: https://www.republicworld.com/science/space/roscosmos-to-launch-tunisias-first-woman-to-international-space-station-in-2024-articleshow.html. Does anyone know anything more about this?so does that mean someone else will get bumped to crew 7 as pilot that being someone like a Matthew dominick or a Jonny Kim. Only confirmed member of starliner crew 1 is Jeanette Epps Satoshi furukawa is still to be confirmed.
This makes it sound like the Tunisian flight will be a full-length one and not a spaceflight participant: https://www.republicworld.com/science/space/roscosmos-to-launch-tunisias-first-woman-to-international-space-station-in-2024-articleshow.html. Does anyone know anything more about this?
MBRSC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Space_Centre) participation in this mission is a byproduct of a 2021 agreement between NASA and Axiom to fly a NASA astronaut, Mark T. Vande Hei (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_T._Vande_Hei), onboard Soyuz MS-18 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-18) (launch) and Soyuz MS-19 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-19) (return) in order to ensure a continuing American presence onboard the ISS. In return, Axiom received the rights to a NASA owned seat onboard SpaceX Crew-6. Axiom provided the flight opportunity to MBRSC professional crew member through an agreement with the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates_Space_Agency). Later the astronaut was confirmed to be Sultan Al Neyadi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Al_Neyadi).
is Mike fincke the commander or pilot of Boeing starliner crew 1 I’ve only read stuff nasa and Boeing have yet to confirm it, unless Matthew dominick is gonna be the first rookie to command a Boeing mission. Or if Eric boe is medically able to fly Again idk I just looked on Wikipedia and Satoshi furukawa has supposedly been confirmed for space x crew 7 he’ll probably command the second half of expedition 70 if he has been confirmed can someone from JAXA confirm it.is Boeing starliner crew 1 gonna fly before space x crew 7. Cuz idk which one is gonna fly firstWe don't know either.
On Thursday, Boeing said (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47917.msg2399970#msg2399970) that in addition to flying their CFT (Crewed Flight Test) in February 2023, they are targeting having a Starliner ready for the Fall 2023 crew rotation mission opportunity. (Boeing's Mark Nappi called it PCM-1 for Post Certification Mission 1, but we also see it go by Starliner-1 and Boeing-1.)
But some statements from ESA (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Introducing_Huginn) and from Andreas Mogensen (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55543.msg2387378#msg2387378) suggest SpaceX Crew-7 will get the slot.
However TASS & Roscosmos suggest (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55543.msg2399306#msg2399306) a Crew-7 mission in 2024.
NASA hasn't said anything on the subject, though we might learn more during the pre-flight briefing next month for Crew-5.
is Mike fincke the commander or pilot of Boeing starliner crew 1 I’ve only heard stuff nasa and Boeing have yet to confirm it, unless Matthew dominick is gonna be the first rookie to command a Boeing mission. Or if Eric boe is medically able to fly Again idk I just looked on Wikipedia and Satoshi furukawa has supposedly been confirmed for space x crew 7 he’ll probably command the second half of expedition 70 if he has been confirmed can someone from JAXA confirm it.is Boeing starliner crew 1 gonna fly before space x crew 7. Cuz idk which one is gonna fly firstWe don't know either.
On Thursday, Boeing said (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47917.msg2399970#msg2399970) that in addition to flying their CFT (Crewed Flight Test) in February 2023, they are targeting having a Starliner ready for the Fall 2023 crew rotation mission opportunity. (Boeing's Mark Nappi called it PCM-1 for Post Certification Mission 1, but we also see it go by Starliner-1 and Boeing-1.)
But some statements from ESA (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Introducing_Huginn) and from Andreas Mogensen (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55543.msg2387378#msg2387378) suggest SpaceX Crew-7 will get the slot.
However TASS & Roscosmos suggest (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55543.msg2399306#msg2399306) a Crew-7 mission in 2024.
NASA hasn't said anything on the subject, though we might learn more during the pre-flight briefing next month for Crew-5.
Quoting Wikipedia's SpaceX Crew-6 § Crew (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Crew-6#Crew):QuoteMBRSC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Space_Centre) participation in this mission is a byproduct of a 2021 agreement between NASA and Axiom to fly a NASA astronaut, Mark T. Vande Hei (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_T._Vande_Hei), onboard Soyuz MS-18 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-18) (launch) and Soyuz MS-19 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-19) (return) in order to ensure a continuing American presence onboard the ISS. In return, Axiom received the rights to a NASA owned seat onboard SpaceX Crew-6. Axiom provided the flight opportunity to MBRSC professional crew member through an agreement with the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates_Space_Agency). Later the astronaut was confirmed to be Sultan Al Neyadi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Al_Neyadi).
That looks correct to me.
I'm confused here. I was talking about the Tunisian who's supposed to fly on Soyuz, not the UAE flight on Crew-6. ...You think you're confused?
Quoting Wikipedia's SpaceX Crew-6 § Crew (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Crew-6#Crew):QuoteMBRSC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Space_Centre) participation in this mission is a byproduct of a 2021 agreement between NASA and Axiom to fly a NASA astronaut, Mark T. Vande Hei (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_T._Vande_Hei), onboard Soyuz MS-18 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-18) (launch) and Soyuz MS-19 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-19) (return) in order to ensure a continuing American presence onboard the ISS. In return, Axiom received the rights to a NASA owned seat onboard SpaceX Crew-6. Axiom provided the flight opportunity to MBRSC professional crew member through an agreement with the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates_Space_Agency). Later the astronaut was confirmed to be Sultan Al Neyadi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Al_Neyadi).
That looks correct to me.
I'm confused here. I was talking about the Tunisian who's supposed to fly on Soyuz, not the UAE flight on Crew-6. As far as I know, that has always been planned to be a 6-month flight, but I thought the Tunisian flight was going to be as a spaceflight participant. Sorry if I'm missing something.
I'm confused too John. Let's get things straight:
Nah mate, you're rationalizing.
If you were making logical deductions you'd be using phrases like "something, something therefore".
The phrases you actually used were "assuming", "seems likely", "probably" - clear markers of speculation.
Kindly cut it out.
who’s commanding expedition 68
Am I correct in thinking that if Crew-7 flies in late 2023, it'll only have one U.S. crew member (Moghbeli) and Soyuz MS-23 will also only have one U.S. crew member (Caldwell)? So potentially their increment will be 2 U.S., 3 Russians, Mogensen of Denmark and possibly Furukawa of Japan or Hansen of Canada?
Past precedent (at least during 7-crew ops) has typically seen 3 U.S. crew, 3 Russian crew and one IP. Is this expected to change?
Also, flying in such close proximity to Artemis II, is Hansen definitively out of the running for the lunar-orbit mission? In other words, is he unquestioningly aimed at ISS and Kutryk/Sidey-Gibbons at Artemis?
Apologies for the questions/speculation/rambling/curiosity.
I think Soyuz MS26 through MS29 or MS30 is supposed to have three cosmonauts.Quoting Wikipedia's SpaceX Crew-6 § Crew (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Crew-6#Crew):QuoteMBRSC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Space_Centre) participation in this mission is a byproduct of a 2021 agreement between NASA and Axiom to fly a NASA astronaut, Mark T. Vande Hei (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_T._Vande_Hei), onboard Soyuz MS-18 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-18) (launch) and Soyuz MS-19 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-19) (return) in order to ensure a continuing American presence onboard the ISS. In return, Axiom received the rights to a NASA owned seat onboard SpaceX Crew-6. Axiom provided the flight opportunity to MBRSC professional crew member through an agreement with the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates_Space_Agency). Later the astronaut was confirmed to be Sultan Al Neyadi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Al_Neyadi).
That looks correct to me.
I'm confused here. I was talking about the Tunisian who's supposed to fly on Soyuz, not the UAE flight on Crew-6. As far as I know, that has always been planned to be a 6-month flight, but I thought the Tunisian flight was going to be as a spaceflight participant. Sorry if I'm missing something.
I'm confused too John. Let's get things straight:
- Crew-6's Sultan Al Neyadi's flight is a 6 months stay.
- Crew-7's still got one seat unannounced yet (probably between Hansen and Furukawa).
- Starliner-1 only has Epps assigned. We'll likely see an international partner in that 4th seat (Hansen or Furukawa)
- Crew-8 and over, no assignments known yet.
- MS-23 has O'hara confirmed. Caldwell-Dyson as backup.
Now for the speculation zone:
- MS-24 was thought to have Caldwell-Dyson as prime crew but its now looking like a Belarussian visitor for a short duration stay, with a Russian cosmonaut staying for a full year.
- MS-25 would be the Tunisian woman for a short duration stay, with another Russian cosmonaut staying for a full year.
- MS-26 would have 3 Russian cosmonauts.
If its true, there would be no crew swap of NASA astronaut on Soyuz and Roscosmos cosmonaut on Dragon for quite a while.
Am I correct in thinking that if Crew-7 flies in late 2023, it'll only have one U.S. crew member (Moghbeli) and Soyuz MS-23 will also only have one U.S. crew member (Caldwell)? So potentially their increment will be 2 U.S., 3 Russians, Mogensen of Denmark and possibly Furukawa of Japan or Hansen of Canada?
Past precedent (at least during 7-crew ops) has typically seen 3 U.S. crew, 3 Russian crew and one IP. Is this expected to change?
Also, flying in such close proximity to Artemis II, is Hansen definitively out of the running for the lunar-orbit mission? In other words, is he unquestioningly aimed at ISS and Kutryk/Sidey-Gibbons at Artemis?
Apologies for the questions/speculation/rambling/curiosity.
I think launch of space x crew 7 is going for early 2024 now Boeing starliner crew 1 I think is supposed to fly first but could be wrong. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.
SpaceX Crew-7, Huginn mission patch, 2023
ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen (DK) is scheduled to fly on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station on its seventh crewed operational flight called Crew-7, the thirteenth overall Crew Dragon orbital flight. Flying with commander NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, Andreas will serve as spacecraft pilot - the first non-US astronaut assigned in this capacity. Two more crew members are to be named at a later date.
The name of Andreas’s second mission to the Space Station is ‘Huginn’. Inspired by Norse mythology, the name is taken from one of two ravens who serve as helper spirits of the god Odin. Called Huginn and Muninn, these two birds sit on Odin’s shoulders and are sent flying across the world at dawn. They return at night to inform him of the many events they have seen and heard. In Old Norse, ‘Huginn’ means ‘thought’ and ‘Muninn’ means ‘mind’ or ‘memory’.
The mission patch itself, designed by ESA graphic designer Karen Lochtenberg, is rendered in the red and white of the Danish flag, and ESA’s own ‘Deep Space Blue’ colour.
The raven Huginn is depicted flying to the right, moving into the future as he glides over an Earth-rise horizon, which could also be seen as the Moon or Mars. His wing includes shading in the shape of Andreas’s homeland, Denmark, while the white of the wing’s highlight – referred to by the designer as the ‘swoosh’ – depicts the journey to the Space Station from Andreas’s birthplace in Copenhagen.
Two stripes on Huginn’s back depict the distinctive solar arrays of the Station, and represent Andreas’s second spaceflight. Six stars in the background form a constellation that resembles the Viking symbol for 'safe travels'.
Related article: Introducing Huginn (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Introducing_Huginn)
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2022/08/SpaceX_Crew-7_Huginn_mission_patch_2023
Image credit: ESA
The article clarifies also that the two Turkish astronauts should fly on Axiom-3.
What about Jeanette Epps? Has she been bumped from Starliner-1?
The selection process for the Turkish astronauts is carried out by the Tübitak Space Technology Research Institute in Ankara, with the support of Axiom and under the direction of the Turkish Space Agency on behalf of the Turkish government. In the case of Saudi Arabia, the responsibility for selection rests with its Space Commission.
https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1572661190370672640I’m surprised fincke didn’t get the command he has more experience than tingle. I mean no disrespect to tingle.
have they announced who’s gonna command expedition 70 yet or no.https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1572661190370672640I’m surprised fincke didn’t get the command he has more experience than tingle. I mean no disrespect to tingle.
https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1572661190370672640I’m surprised Fincke didn't get the command since he has more experience than Tingle. I mean, no disrespect to Tingle.
that one did surprise some people but raja chari or grinder as he’s known by is an amazing test pilot.https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1572661190370672640I’m surprised Fincke didn't get the command since he has more experience than Tingle. I mean, no disrespect to Tingle.
It's not uncommon for a spacecraft commander to have less experience than the pilot. On SpaceX Crew-3, the commander Raja Chari was making his first flight while pilot Tom Marshburn was on his third flight.
I imagine test-piloting credentials still count in these contexts. Chari and Tingle are both military test pilots, whereas Marshburn and Fincke are not.
Then you have anomalies like Crew-4, where a military test pilot (Hines) flies as PLT to a civilian physician CDR (Lindgren), but the same precedent didn't apply on Crew-3. Strange.
NASA, especially the astronaut office, judges Starliner to be a more demanding flying challenge than Dragon, at least for the first few piloted flights. They want the CDR to be a test pilot, for now. Not sure if that will apply to Starliner-2, but it does explain the difference between the two vehicles and crewing.
My guess is that the crew interfaces on the Dragon is easier to use than the more physical interfaces on the Starliner. Touch screens on the Dragon versus the buttons and readouts of the Starliner (late 90ish military cockpit look & feel).NASA, especially the astronaut office, judges Starliner to be a more demanding flying challenge than Dragon, at least for the first few piloted flights. They want the CDR to be a test pilot, for now. Not sure if that will apply to Starliner-2, but it does explain the difference between the two vehicles and crewing.
Interesting! I'm not looking to derail the thread, but is there a short answer to what makes Starliner more demanding? Is it the previous problems, the way the vehicle is flown, or something else?
Spacefacts is showing Jeremy Hansen on Crew-7 now--has there been an announcement about that (whether official or unofficial)? As of last I knew, from the pictures posted in the Crew-7 thread recently, Satoshi Furukawa was in training for that flight.I think it’s official, if furukawa doesn’t fly on crew 7 or Starliner 1, he’ll probably fly on starliner 2. Or crew dragon crew 8.
Spacefacts is showing Jeremy Hansen on Crew-7 now--has there been an announcement about that (whether official or unofficial)? As of last I knew, from the pictures posted in the Crew-7 thread recently, Satoshi Furukawa was in training for that flight.
I think it’s official, if furukawa doesn’t fly on crew 7 or Starliner 1, he’ll probably fly on starliner 2. Or crew dragon crew 8.
Neither of these is official. Hansen was a reasonable speculation from one poster many comments upthread: Canada was owed ISS increments in 2019 (that was St. Jacques) and 2024, so some CSA astronaut is likely in the long-duration flow soon.
Don't forget that CSA has a seat on Artemis II.
Michael quick question Ik Wikipedia isn’t a reliable source but is Frank Rubio landing on space x crew 6, & is it gonna be only 3 astronauts launching and 4 landing, & I’m reading that fedayev was reassigned to space x crew 7 so if that’s the case borisov would be reassigned to crew 8 but idk how true that is, idk if nasa has released a statement or if Roscommos has released a statement again I don’t know.The information on RussianSpaceWeb comes from reliable government and industry sources. ROSCOSMOS and NASA are in a denial/stall tactics game until the official January 11th public announcement despite the decisions by the senior engineers occurring within TsNIIMash research institute and other Roscosmos entities in a joint meeting. It has since been handed over to the more political Chief Designer Council for their January 10th meeting ahead of the state commission meeting which will direct their representatives to the ISS MCB to inform the ISS partners of the decision. The descion results will become official publicly as either a press wire or in a press conference. The official announcement format has yet to be determined as of the timestamp of writing this.
The information on RussianSpaceWeb comes from reliable government and industry sources. ROSCOSMOS and NASA are in a denial/stall tactics game until the official January 11th public announcement despite the decisions by the senior engineers occurring within TsNIIMash research institute and other Roscosmos entities in a joint meeting. It has since been handed over to the more political Chief Designer Council for their January 10th meeting ahead of the state commission meeting which will direct their representatives to the ISS MCB to inform the ISS partners of the decision. The descion results will become official publicly as either a press wire or in a press conference. The official announcement format has yet to be determined as of the timestamp of writing this.
I imagine Kononenko will ensure a continuous 3-person Russian presence on the ISS.
It is the sole preferred scenario sent to the Chief Designers Council which will either select the current rapidly expedited crewed MS-22 landing scenario in March which had existed since the event or the preferred scenario which the ISS MCB also preferred after recommendations from the investigative committee. Then the semi-political state commission will make the decision formal and official ahead of the Director General of Roscosmos making it public.The information on RussianSpaceWeb comes from reliable government and industry sources. ROSCOSMOS and NASA are in a denial/stall tactics game until the official January 11th public announcement despite the decisions by the senior engineers occurring within TsNIIMash research institute and other Roscosmos entities in a joint meeting. It has since been handed over to the more political Chief Designer Council for their January 10th meeting ahead of the state commission meeting which will direct their representatives to the ISS MCB to inform the ISS partners of the decision. The descion results will become official publicly as either a press wire or in a press conference. The official announcement format has yet to be determined as of the timestamp of writing this.
So what we've heard is official, then? Interesting! Thanks!
Have you heard anything about why Kononenko is launching by himself on MS-23 instead of having it launch unmanned?
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-to-host-media-update-on-space-station-plans-soyuz-statusQuoteJan 10, 2023
MEDIA ADVISORY M23-003
NASA to Host Media Update on Space Station Plans, Soyuz Status
NASA will host a media teleconference at 9 a.m. EST Wednesday, Jan. 11, to discuss results from the investigation of the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-22 external coolant leak and the forward strategy for uninterrupted human operations aboard the International Space Station.
Live audio of the call will stream on the agency’s website at:
https://www.nasa.gov/live
Briefing participants include:
Joel Montalbano, International Space Station program manager, NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston
Sergei Krikalev, Human Space Flight Programs executive director, Roscosmos
Media interested in participating by phone must contact the Johnson newsroom no later than one hour before the start of the call at 281-483-5111 or [email protected].
The leak was first detected around 7:45 p.m. on Dec. 14, 2022, when pressure sensors in the spacecraft’s cooling loop showed low readings. At the time of the leak, Roscosmos cosmonauts were preparing to conduct a spacewalk. The spacewalk was postponed, so no crew members exited the space station or were exposed to the leaking coolant.
NASA provided an additional inspection of the Soyuz exterior using the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm on Dec. 18. The agency and Roscosmos specialists have continued to closely monitor Soyuz spacecraft systems. NASA and Roscosmos are concluding their work together to develop a course of action following the analysis.
The Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft carried NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin into space after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 21.
For updates, follow along on NASA’s space station blog at:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/
-end-
Photo caption:QuoteThe Soyuz MS-22 crew ship is pictured on Oct. 8, 2002, in the foreground docked to the Rassvet module as the International Space Station orbited 264 miles above Europe. In the background, is the Prichal docking module attached to the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module.
Credits: NASA
I do have a question when are they gonna announce the crew for Space X crew 8 they’ve been hush hush about it Ik the Boeing crewed flight test is in April of this year, & the space x crew 6 is scheduled to launch in February.
I thought the US Crew flight in first half of 2024 would be the first operational Starliner (so between Crew-7 and Crew-8) ?
For Crew Dragon, Roscosmos declined to start the crew swap until Dragon 2 had completed three operational flights, and I seem to recall that they intended to do the same with Starliner.I thought the US Crew flight in first half of 2024 would be the first operational Starliner (so between Crew-7 and Crew-8) ?
You are correct. I wonder if they're putting a cosmonaut on the first Starliner flight. I recall reading that part of the delay for putting cosmonauts on Dragon was thanks to Rogozin, and he is no longer in charge now. Maybe Yuri Borisov feels differently.
Also, I don't know Russian, so I couldn't begin to guess, but it would make sense to me if the Telegram post were referring to USCV-8 (which could be either vehicle), not Crew-8 (which would be Dragon).
For Crew Dragon, Roscosmos declined to start the crew swap until Dragon 2 had completed three operational flights, and I seem to recall that they intended to do the same with Starliner.
https://tass.com/science/1489645
However, Roscosmos has apparently assigned the next two cosmonauts, one for Crew-7 and one for Crew-8, with nobody assigned to the Starliner flights.For Crew Dragon, Roscosmos declined to start the crew swap until Dragon 2 had completed three operational flights, and I seem to recall that they intended to do the same with Starliner.
https://tass.com/science/1489645
Correct. That's what I was saying may have been thanks to Rogozin and therefore might be different now.
Prokopyev will command Exp69 through his crew's return to Earth in September 2023.
Mogensen will command Exp70a from September 2023 through his crew's return to Earth in early 2024.
Kononenko will command Exp70b from early 2024 through his crew's return to Earth in March 2024.
As such, Mogensen becomes the first Danish commander of the ISS.
And Prokopyev will do the longest single continuous ISS command, eclipsing Mike L-A's 202 days on Exp14.
Could the Crew-8 announcement mean that Starliner-1 is now H2 2024 ?
Prokopyev will command Exp69 through his crew's return to Earth in September 2023.
Mogensen will command Exp70a from September 2023 through his crew's return to Earth in early 2024.
Kononenko will command Exp70b from early 2024 through his crew's return to Earth in March 2024.
As such, Mogensen becomes the first Danish commander of the ISS.
And Prokopyev will do the longest single continuous ISS command, eclipsing Mike L-A's 202 days on Exp14.
This may be a nomenclature issue. I had perhaps mistakenly assumed that the names "Crew-7" and "Crew-8" referred to Crew Dragon missions, and that "Starliner-1" would refer to the Starliner flight. I also think the seat-swap deal was for one seat swap per year, so using two Dragon missions that have an intervening Starliner mission would work out.Could the Crew-8 announcement mean that Starliner-1 is now H2 2024 ?Roscosmos only said "Crew-8" and nothing about spacecrafts.
I think Russians probably says: if Americans fly their astronauts on Starliner, why ours not?
Roscosmos only said "Crew-8" and nothing about spacecrafts.
I think Russians probably says: if Americans fly their astronauts on Starliner, why ours not?
This may be a nomenclature issue. I had perhaps mistakenly assumed that the names "Crew-7" and "Crew-8" referred to Crew Dragon missions, and that "Starliner-1" would refer to the Starliner flight. I also think the seat-swap deal was for one seat swap per year, so using two Dragon missions that have an intervening Starliner mission would work out.
So is Bowen no longer commanding expedition 69 cuz Ik it’s not a reliable source but Wikipedia has Bowen talking command in September idk if that’s true if it isn’t that’s a travesty. Considering this is bowen’s 4th flight.
Announcement of the crew to fly on the Artemis II mission around the Moon and back to Earth – Johnson Space Center.
Artemis 2 (officially Artemis II) is the second scheduled mission of NASA's Artemis program and the first scheduled crewed mission of NASA's Orion spacecraft, currently planned to be launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) in November 2024.
The crewed Orion spacecraft will perform a lunar flyby test and return to Earth. This is planned to be the first crewed spacecraft to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Formerly known as Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the mission was renamed after introducing the Artemis program. The crewed mission initially intended to collect samples from a captured asteroid in lunar orbit by the now-canceled robotic Asteroid Redirect Mission.
This is also planned to be the first crewed launch from LC-39B since STS-116.
NASA will introduce the primary and backup crew for Artemis II. It is to be expected that the crew will consist of 3 NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency.
Following the NASA routine, the backup crew is expected to launch with Artemis III and land on the Moon.
Announcement of the crew to fly on the Artemis II mission around the Moon and back to Earth – Johnson Space Center.
Artemis 2 (officially Artemis II) is the second scheduled mission of NASA's Artemis program and the first scheduled crewed mission of NASA's Orion spacecraft, currently planned to be launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) in November 2024.
The crewed Orion spacecraft will perform a lunar flyby test and return to Earth. This is planned to be the first crewed spacecraft to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Formerly known as Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the mission was renamed after introducing the Artemis program. The crewed mission initially intended to collect samples from a captured asteroid in lunar orbit by the now-canceled robotic Asteroid Redirect Mission.
This is also planned to be the first crewed launch from LC-39B since STS-116.
NASA will introduce the primary and backup crew for Artemis II. It is to be expected that the crew will consist of 3 NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency.
Following the NASA routine, the backup crew is expected to launch with Artemis III and land on the Moon.
If what you mention is true, I doubt NASA will announce the backup crew for Artemis II as this would unveil who will be flying on Artemis III, which is by far the most important mission. I don't think the backup crew will be the ones flying on Artemis III. This isn't a typical ISS mission. Objectives for Artemis II and III are very different. BTW where did you get this info?
The final four Hungarian astronauts have been selected for the Axiom seat. Is it known what is the flight ? in the ISS calendar it is said to be AX-5. I did not even know there was an AX-5, I thought the SpaceX Axiom deal covered four missions.
Hungary’s Professional Astronaut Candidates Presented (https://hungarytoday.hu/hungarys-professional-astronaut-corps-presented/)
Announcement of the crew to fly on the Artemis II mission around the Moon and back to Earth – Johnson Space Center.
Artemis 2 (officially Artemis II) is the second scheduled mission of NASA's Artemis program and the first scheduled crewed mission of NASA's Orion spacecraft, currently planned to be launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) in November 2024.
The crewed Orion spacecraft will perform a lunar flyby test and return to Earth. This is planned to be the first crewed spacecraft to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Formerly known as Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the mission was renamed after introducing the Artemis program. The crewed mission initially intended to collect samples from a captured asteroid in lunar orbit by the now-canceled robotic Asteroid Redirect Mission.
This is also planned to be the first crewed launch from LC-39B since STS-116.
NASA will introduce the primary and backup crew for Artemis II. It is to be expected that the crew will consist of 3 NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency.
Following the NASA routine, the backup crew is expected to launch with Artemis III and land on the Moon.
If what you mention is true, I doubt NASA will announce the backup crew for Artemis II as this would unveil who will be flying on Artemis III, which is by far the most important mission. I don't think the backup crew will be the ones flying on Artemis III. This isn't a typical ISS mission. Objectives for Artemis II and III are very different. BTW where did you get this info?
https://www.facebook.com/events/1116307635992277/?ref=newsfeed
Michael, does that indicate that Artemis II does not require a backup crew? Or will one be announced at a future time?
Just confirmed with NASA -- and I don't know where the original info came from, though that Facebook entry makes it seem official -- only the prime crew will be announced on April 3.
Michael we know the crew of the first two starliner missions have been announced with the exception of one crew member on the first crewed mission, I keep hearing starliner 1’s maiden voyage has been pushed back to next year, the Boeing crewed flight test they said would launch no earlier than July 21st. Have they announced the crew of space x crew 8, or when they’ll announce it, I wonder if they’ll announce it after crew 7 launches, cuz I keep reading and hearing through the grapevine due to tingle, fincke & Epps flight being pushed back that crew 8 was gonna fly first what’s the deal with that. If that’s true or not. Again I get spacefacts isn’t a reliable source, that I get, but Ik one Russian cosmonaut has been announced for crew 8 they just haven’t announced the other 3 crew members.Announcement of the crew to fly on the Artemis II mission around the Moon and back to Earth – Johnson Space Center.
Artemis 2 (officially Artemis II) is the second scheduled mission of NASA's Artemis program and the first scheduled crewed mission of NASA's Orion spacecraft, currently planned to be launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) in November 2024.
The crewed Orion spacecraft will perform a lunar flyby test and return to Earth. This is planned to be the first crewed spacecraft to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Formerly known as Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the mission was renamed after introducing the Artemis program. The crewed mission initially intended to collect samples from a captured asteroid in lunar orbit by the now-canceled robotic Asteroid Redirect Mission.
This is also planned to be the first crewed launch from LC-39B since STS-116.
NASA will introduce the primary and backup crew for Artemis II. It is to be expected that the crew will consist of 3 NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency.
Following the NASA routine, the backup crew is expected to launch with Artemis III and land on the Moon.
If what you mention is true, I doubt NASA will announce the backup crew for Artemis II as this would unveil who will be flying on Artemis III, which is by far the most important mission. I don't think the backup crew will be the ones flying on Artemis III. This isn't a typical ISS mission. Objectives for Artemis II and III are very different. BTW where did you get this info?
https://www.facebook.com/events/1116307635992277/?ref=newsfeed
Just confirmed with NASA -- and I don't know where the original info came from, though that Facebook entry makes it seem official -- only the prime crew will be announced on April 3.
Michael Cassutt
The four currently active Canadian astronauts are rookies Joshua Kutryk, Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons, Jeremy Hansen, and veteran David Saint-Jacques. My guess is that it's Jeremy Hansen who became an astronaut in 2011. He is the first Canadian astronaut to train NASA astronauts. David Saint Jacques has already flown and with so few available flight assignments it's likely they will let another get flight experience. Kutryk and Sidey-Gibbons are too green, only being in the astronaut office since 2020. I'm certain our PM would be rooting for a Canadian woman to fly, but, I don't think the Americans want the first woman to fly to the moon to be a non-American, and one of their astronauts will have that distinction.Sidey Gibbons will prolly either be on this mission Artemis 2 or Artemis 4 or 5. That’s my theory.
Michael I keep reading on space sites not just spacefacts but others that crew dragon mission 8 is gonna launch in February or March of next year, they already have a cosmonaut announced Aleksandr grebyonkin is the lone crew member that supposedly has been announced I’m not trying to speculate but I also keep hearing Boeing starliner mission 1 with tingle, fincke, Epps & an astronaut TBA their flight got pushed back to late summer, early fall 2024 idk how true this is but if you or someone could confirm it to me I’d appreciate it. Ik the Boeing crewed flight test got pushed back to July of this year that I do know cuz it was all over twitter.Announcement of the crew to fly on the Artemis II mission around the Moon and back to Earth – Johnson Space Center.
Artemis 2 (officially Artemis II) is the second scheduled mission of NASA's Artemis program and the first scheduled crewed mission of NASA's Orion spacecraft, currently planned to be launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) in November 2024.
The crewed Orion spacecraft will perform a lunar flyby test and return to Earth. This is planned to be the first crewed spacecraft to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Formerly known as Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the mission was renamed after introducing the Artemis program. The crewed mission initially intended to collect samples from a captured asteroid in lunar orbit by the now-canceled robotic Asteroid Redirect Mission.
This is also planned to be the first crewed launch from LC-39B since STS-116.
NASA will introduce the primary and backup crew for Artemis II. It is to be expected that the crew will consist of 3 NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency.
Following the NASA routine, the backup crew is expected to launch with Artemis III and land on the Moon.
If what you mention is true, I doubt NASA will announce the backup crew for Artemis II as this would unveil who will be flying on Artemis III, which is by far the most important mission. I don't think the backup crew will be the ones flying on Artemis III. This isn't a typical ISS mission. Objectives for Artemis II and III are very different. BTW where did you get this info?
https://www.facebook.com/events/1116307635992277/?ref=newsfeed
Just confirmed with NASA -- and I don't know where the original info came from, though that Facebook entry makes it seem official -- only the prime crew will be announced on April 3.
Michael Cassutt
Michael we know the crew of the first two starliner missions have been announced with the exception of one crew member on the first crewed mission, I keep hearing starliner 1’s maiden voyage has been pushed back to next year, the Boeing crewed flight test they said would launch no earlier than July 21st. Have they announced the crew of space x crew 8, or when they’ll announce it, I wonder if they’ll announce it after crew 7 launches, cuz I keep reading and hearing through the grapevine due to tingle, fincke & Epps flight being pushed back that crew 8 was gonna fly first what’s the deal with that. If that’s true or not. Again I get spacefacts isn’t a reliable source, that I get, but Ik one Russian cosmonaut has been announced for crew 8 they just haven’t announced the other 3 crew members.Announcement of the crew to fly on the Artemis II mission around the Moon and back to Earth – Johnson Space Center.
Artemis 2 (officially Artemis II) is the second scheduled mission of NASA's Artemis program and the first scheduled crewed mission of NASA's Orion spacecraft, currently planned to be launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) in November 2024.
The crewed Orion spacecraft will perform a lunar flyby test and return to Earth. This is planned to be the first crewed spacecraft to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Formerly known as Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the mission was renamed after introducing the Artemis program. The crewed mission initially intended to collect samples from a captured asteroid in lunar orbit by the now-canceled robotic Asteroid Redirect Mission.
This is also planned to be the first crewed launch from LC-39B since STS-116.
NASA will introduce the primary and backup crew for Artemis II. It is to be expected that the crew will consist of 3 NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency.
Following the NASA routine, the backup crew is expected to launch with Artemis III and land on the Moon.
If what you mention is true, I doubt NASA will announce the backup crew for Artemis II as this would unveil who will be flying on Artemis III, which is by far the most important mission. I don't think the backup crew will be the ones flying on Artemis III. This isn't a typical ISS mission. Objectives for Artemis II and III are very different. BTW where did you get this info?
https://www.facebook.com/events/1116307635992277/?ref=newsfeed
Just confirmed with NASA -- and I don't know where the original info came from, though that Facebook entry makes it seem official -- only the prime crew will be announced on April 3.
Michael Cassutt
The four currently active Canadian astronauts are rookies Joshua Kutryk, Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons, Jeremy Hansen, and veteran David Saint-Jacques. My guess is that it's Jeremy Hansen who became an astronaut in 2011. He is the first Canadian astronaut to train NASA astronauts. David Saint Jacques has already flown and with so few available flight assignments it's likely they will let another get flight experience. Kutryk and Sidey-Gibbons are too green, only being in the astronaut office since 2020. I'm certain our PM would be rooting for a Canadian woman to fly, but, I don't think the Americans want the first woman to fly to the moon to be a non-American, and one of their astronauts will have that distinction.Sidey Gibbons will prolly either be on this mission Artemis 2 or Artemis 4 or 5. That’s my theory.
Given that NASA just announced the new CFT launch date of July 21 and that all attention is on the Artemis II reveal this Monday, it shouldn't be a surprise that information on Starliner-1 and Crew-8 is still to come. Many informed sources, on NSF and elsewhere, have noted that Boeing and NASA almost certainly need a year's gap between CFT and Starliner-1, so I would expect that change to be made official any time after April 3.
Crew Dragon Demo-2 launched on 30 May 2020, and Crew-1 launched on 16 November 2020, but the circumstances are very different now. In 2020 NASA was paying for Soyuz seats and had no alternatives, so they wanted to fly Crew-1 as soon as it was safe to do so. Now, NASA has no particular urgency to fly Starliner-1, and in fact it would be somewhat disruptive, since crew assignments depend on Spacecraft type. Much simpler to just fly Crew-8 in Spring 2024 and Starliner-1 in Fall 2024.Given that NASA just announced the new CFT launch date of July 21 and that all attention is on the Artemis II reveal this Monday, it shouldn't be a surprise that information on Starliner-1 and Crew-8 is still to come. Many informed sources, on NSF and elsewhere, have noted that Boeing and NASA almost certainly need a year's gap between CFT and Starliner-1, so I would expect that change to be made official any time after April 3.
I had not heard about the one-year gap. I was expecting something closer to what Space-X had. Thanks!
Given that NASA just announced the new CFT launch date of July 21 and that all attention is on the Artemis II reveal this Monday, it shouldn't be a surprise that information on Starliner-1 and Crew-8 is still to come. Many informed sources, on NSF and elsewhere, have noted that Boeing and NASA almost certainly need a year's gap between CFT and Starliner-1, so I would expect that change to be made official any time after April 3.
I had not heard about the one-year gap. I was expecting something closer to what Space-X had. Thanks!
I would think the Apollo designations would be used, perhaps slightly modified (LLP for Lunar Lander Pilot rather than LMP), with the Mission Specialists staying in orbit tasked with a suite of observations. One MS might become a Crew Module Pilot to run things in orbit with another MS being more science-oriented. So my guess is CDR, LLP, CMP, MS.
Someone has edited the English language wikipedia biographies of Michael Barratt and Matthew Dominick to write that they are pilot and commander of Crew-8, respectively.
I'd be surprised if one of the Mission Specialists didn't land, particularly as Watkins (a non-test pilot) would almost certainly be a Mission Specialist if she flew and almost certainly would not serve as CDR or PLT. It seems plausible that the CDR and one MS will land, with the PLT and the other MS remaining in lunar orbit. Or vice versa. Possibly.
I'd be surprised if one of the Mission Specialists didn't land, particularly as Watkins (a non-test pilot) would almost certainly be a Mission Specialist if she flew and almost certainly would not serve as CDR or PLT. It seems plausible that the CDR and one MS will land, with the PLT and the other MS remaining in lunar orbit. Or vice versa. Possibly.
Wouldn't be more likely that the MS involved in the landing be qualified and trainewd to fly the lander in an emergency?
AIUI, the SpaceX HLS lander lands autonomously without the need of a pilot, once the landing site is selected. SpaceX plans to land an uncrewed precursor HLS lander prior to Artemis-3......I'd be surprised if one of the Mission Specialists didn't land, particularly as Watkins (a non-test pilot) would almost certainly be a Mission Specialist if she flew and almost certainly would not serve as CDR or PLT. It seems plausible that the CDR and one MS will land, with the PLT and the other MS remaining in lunar orbit. Or vice versa. Possibly.
Wouldn't be more likely that the MS involved in the landing be qualified and trainewd to fly the lander in an emergency?
NASA appears to be sticking with their hyped "crew selection criteria" of a person of color and a woman with the Artemis-3 Lunar landing, still with a 2 person crew. When the entire 4-person crew could be included in the landing party.
But that is what everyone has understood, and in particular the mainstream media. So now, if for instance the landing crew of Artemis III was a Caucasian male and a Caucasian female, the backlash would be enormous. I do not see NASA taking such a risk.
Ok I won’t speculate I was replying to what Ben e said. Who he wanted to see fly on Artemis 3 & who I wanted to see.
Ok but bresnik & Watkins haven’t been assigned to Artemis 3 no one has. They won’t announce that until late next year I do have a quick question has it been confirmed if Matt Dominick is commanding & Michael Barratt is piloting space x crew 8 or is that just rumors. I just wondered cuz of Dominick got assigned to that mission wouldn’t they have to replace him on the backup commander seat of the first starliner mission that I wonder.
Thank you
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1647245216947027972
Shouldn't there be an international astronaut, or is Crew-8 different?
Difficult to call this flight "space tourism".
https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=6276so I do have a question when crew 8 is in orbit or middle of next year late this year will they announce Epps replacement on the starliner crew 1. Cuz that mission was originally slated for august or September of next year, does anyone know if they’ll push it back. And we know kononenko is commanding expedition 70 any news on expedition 71 I’m trying not to speculate but nasa & Roscommos have been hush hush about expedition 71, I mean kononenko takes command from prokopyev in late September, of this year, unless it’s morgensen from September to March & kononenko from late March to mid April 2024 for expedition 70, but if anyone knows what’s going on please let me know. I’d appreciate what’s going on with the starliner. We know tingle & fincke have been assigned as commander and pilot with two other astronauts TBA. But if anyone who’s close to nasa knows anything it be greatly appreciated.
Translated with DeepL. Image taken from the GCTC page
(Bold is mine)
Joint training of backup crews took place in the CPC
| Preparation
April 26, 2023
The duplicating crew of the ISS-70, like the main crew, continues to prepare for the upcoming expedition. Yesterday, astronauts and astronauts "fixed" accidents aboard the ISS.
For the backup crew of manned transport spaceship "Soyuz" Alexei Ovchinin, Oleg Platonov and Tracy Dyson, and "doubles" mission Crew-7 consisting of Matthew Dominic, Michael Barratt, Janette Epps and Alexander Grebenkin specialists simulated two scenarios of major emergency situations in the Russian segment of the station. One of the accidents the cosmonauts and astronauts had to parry, working together.
They successfully handled the situation of depressurization on the ISS RS simulator. After searching for a leaky compartment, the crews repaired the malfunction.
Astronauts and astronauts showed high results in this part of the test. The actions of Crew-7 mission duplicators were evaluated by the committee, and the crew of Soyuz spacecraft continued training.
The next emergency situation, which was introduced by the Center instructors, was a "fire" on the station. Having analyzed the situation, the crew decided to "leave" the ISS on the manned spacecraft.
Astronauts and astronauts moved from the hall of the Russian segment of the station to the simulator of Soyuz spacecraft. Wearing gas masks, Alexey Ovchinin, Oleg Platonov and Tracy Dyson donned spacesuits and took their places in the spacecraft. Then the crew performed "undocking" from the station and "urgent descent" to Earth.
====================
So probably they will be the astronauts assigned to the Crew-8 flight
As another question: What is happening with Pettit? The ISS thread implies that he is on the March 2024 (Soyuz MS-25), but he seems more likely to be pointed at the Sept 2024 (Soyuz MS-26)? After all, isn't he Caldwell-Dyson's backup, not the other way around?
https://twitter.com/tonyquine/status/1654803044075200514
So the female Tunisian cosmonaut project is off the table?
So the female Tunisian cosmonaut project is off the table?No Bucks, No Buck Rogers. Kremlin got to pay back their IOUs. Ergo Belarus getting a Soyuez Ride. Worth 80 million a pop.
Am I right in thinking this will produce a situation with only 2 Russians on the ISS in the late summer of 2024?You are presuming Starliner-1 will fly in around August 2024. The Russians are better off planning for their ISS crew rotation, that NASA Crew-9 will be more likely flown on a Crew Dragon with a Russian aboard.
Kononenko and Chub are flying a year from Sept 2023-Sept 2024.
Grebyonkin flies on Crew-8 from Feb-Aug 2024.
No Russian (?) on Starliner-1, so from Aug 2024 onwards (assuming there's a U.S. astronaut on the Sept 2024 Soyuz), there will be 5 USOS and 2 ROS.
Unless of course the Russians have changed their position and are happy for a cosmonaut to be on Starliner-1?
Or perhaps fly Ovchinin, Platonov and Gobunov on the Sept 2024 Soyuz and hold Pettit for the Mar 2025 Soyuz?
Am I right in thinking this will produce a situation with only 2 Russians on the ISS in the late summer of 2024?
Please excuse if not the right place to bring this up. Should not we be using the now-limited lifetime of ISS to keep pushing mission durations for at least a couple crew members at a time? What is wrong with an 18-month mission? Or 2 years , building towards 3 years? I thought one of the prime directives of station was to push these boundaries.? We could also be using our assets to get as many Artemis Acccords representative astronauts into space as possible, before the End.
At his seniority level get Don back up there ASAP. ;)
I think we need to get real about the odds we don't have any station by 2030, and maybe not a moon landing either. The public has a short attention span!
https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155
Have I misread this, or does this state that the ISS command for Exp 70, 71, 72 and 73 will all be Russians?
MOSCOW, June 8. /TASS/. The inaugural selection of cosmonauts for space flights to the future Russian Orbital Station (ROS) is planned for 2023-2024, the press office of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center reported on Thursday.
"First targeted selection of cosmonauts for flights to the ROS is planned for 2023-2024," the press service announced.
The training center added that active cosmonauts from the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos would also participate in the flights to Russia’s future orbital outpost.
In April 2021, then-Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said that the condition of the International Space Station left much to be desired and Russia might focus on creating its own orbital outpost. Work on the future orbital station’s conceptual design is currently underway.
Deputy Prime Minister, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said in October last year that Russia had already determined the preliminary cost of its future orbital station.
Deputy Chief Designer of the Energia Space Rocket Corporation (part of the State Space Corporation Roscosmos), ROS Chief Designer Vladimir Kozhevnikov told TASS in February that Russia would launch the first research/energy module at the end of 2027 and the nodal, gateway, basic and special-purpose modules in 2028-2030.
Media representatives are invited to a press event on Friday 16 June at 16:00 CEST in Stockholm with Marcus Wandt, member of the ESA astronaut reserve, and learn more about a future spaceflight with Axiom Space.
Press Conference details
Time: 16:00 (doors open at 15:30)
Venue: Rödbodgatan 6, Stockholm or via Zoom
ESA Web TV offers a livestreaming of the complete event (from 16:00): www.esa.int/ESA_Web_TV (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Web_TV)
Participants
- David Parker, ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration
- Mats Persson, Swedish Minister for Education
- Anna Rathsman, Director General of Swedish National Space Agency
- Marcus Wandt, ESA Project Astronaut
As part of Indian PM's visit to the USA, India is signing onto the Artemis Accords
ISRO and NASA will also carry out a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.
https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/in-focus/story/india-to-sign-artemis-accords-for-space-exploration-isro-nasa-to-launch-joint-mission-to-iss-386747-2023-06-22QuoteIndia to Sign Artemis Accords for Space Exploration; ISRO-NASA to Launch Joint Mission to ISS
The Artemis Accords are based on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and serve as a non-binding framework of principles to guide civil space exploration
The White House on Thursday said that India has decided to join the Artemis Accords, an agreement that brings together like-minded nations in the field of civil space exploration
The White House announced that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have also agreed to collaborate on a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.
These developments were revealed prior to the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden at the Oval Office.
The Artemis Accords are based on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and serve as a non-binding framework of principles to guide civil space exploration and utilisation in the 21st century.
The accords are part of an American-led initiative to return humans to the moon by 2025 and eventually expand space exploration to Mars and beyond.
Furthermore, NASA and ISRO are working on establishing a strategic framework for cooperation in human spaceflight this year. The senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also mentioned that several partnerships are being formed in the field of semiconductors.
...
Cooperation in advanced computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum information science is also being fostered through the establishment of a joint Indo-US quantum coordination mechanism and the signing of an implementation arrangement on artificial intelligence, advanced wireless, and quantum technologies.
Both countries are working together on 5G and 6G technologies, including Open Radio Access Network (RAN) systems, with plans for field trials, rollouts, and scale deployments in both markets.
“Here we'll be announcing partnerships on open ran, field trials and rollouts, including scale deployments in both countries with operators and vendors of both markets. This will involve backing from the US International Development Finance, for cooperation and to promote the deployments in India,” the official said.
...
These various initiatives aim to enhance cooperation between India and the United States across multiple sectors, promoting technological advancements, innovation, and shared goals in space exploration, semiconductors, critical minerals, advanced telecommunications, and higher education.
The Main Medical Commission has recommended that cosmonaut Oleg Platonov be removed from the duplicate crew of the Soyuz MS-24 manned spacecraft, the 70th and 71st long-duration expeditions to the International Space Station.
The main crew of the Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft and the ISS-70/71 expeditions includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub and NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara. Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin and NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson continue to prepare to duplicate the main crew. Alexei Ovchinin duplicates both Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub.
The Soyuz MS-24 manned spacecraft is scheduled to be launched by a Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle from Baikonur Cosmodrome on September 15, 2023.
With today removal of Platonov, here is the current situation in the futur Soyuz crews :
Prime -- Back-Up
MS-24 : Kononenko/Chub/O'Hara -- Ovchinin/Dyson
MS-25 : Novitsky/Dyson/Vasilevskaya -- Vagner/Pettit/Lenkova
MS-26 : Ovchinin/Platonov (Vagner can replace but no conformation yet)/Tunisian or Pettit -- Ryzhikov/Mikayev/???
If the Tunisian flight is perform on MS-26, Dyson will have a year stay on ISS.
With today removal of Platonov, here is the current situation in the futur Soyuz crews :
Prime -- Back-Up
MS-24 : Kononenko/Chub/O'Hara -- Ovchinin/Dyson
MS-25 : Novitsky/Dyson/Vasilevskaya -- Vagner/Pettit/Lenkova
MS-26 : Ovchinin/Platonov (Vagner can replace but no conformation yet)/Tunisian or Pettit -- Ryzhikov/Mikayev/???
If the Tunisian flight is perform on MS-26, Dyson will have a year stay on ISS.
Would Vagner jump ahead of Mikaev, Marc? Last I knew, he was Mikaev's backup for MS-27.
Mikayev is paired with Ryzhikov since 1 year and an half so according to some sources I have, Roscosmos is less likely to split both Sergey and would prefer to go ahead with Vagner paired with Ovchinin.
But maybe Platonov is only grounded for few weeks and will be able to stay on MS-26 as planned. We need to wait to have more info coming officlay or not from Roscosmos
Sorry to commit the carnal sin of speculating, but I imagine it would be to make up for the lost U.S. seat on March's Soyuz MS-23?
O'Hara has moved one seat to the right, but Rubio's stay has essentially taken up two U.S. crew spots on Soyuz.
Per Rob Navias, the ISS commands over the next year as presently defined are as follows:
Mogensen commands Expedition 70 from Sept 2023 to Feb 2024
Kononenko commands Expedition 70/71 from Feb to Sept 2024
Ovchinin commands Expedition 72 from Sept 2024
On Soyuz MS-26 Platonov was replaced by Vagner.
https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155
The scheduled launch of this mission is expected to take place no earlier than August 2024, as stated in a NASA press release. Departing from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, aboard a SpaceX rocket and spacecraft, the mission is projected to spend up to 14 days docked at the ISS.
Although NASA and Axiom Space have not yet confirmed the final crew of the mission named Ax-4, details about Muotri's journey to space remain confidential. However, it has been disclosed that the Brazilian scientist's trip is scheduled for November 2024. This timeline aligns with Axiom's planning for the ISS: the first mission took place in April 2022, followed by the second in May 2023, the third is scheduled for November of this year, and the Ax-4 mission will follow this trajectory.
Last month, the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI) officially announced Muotri's upcoming trip to the International Space Station.
It'll be interesting to see how the Ax commands pan out over the next year or so. With only Lopez-Alegria and Whitson as Axiom astronauts, and a requirement from NASA that commanders must be former NASA astronauts, does that mean the two will essentially alternate, flight by flight? Hence, Whitson as Ax-4 CDR?Think Axiom will need to expand their former NASA Astronaut roster. Just to be sure there is a former Astronaut available in case of either Lopez-Alegria or Whitson getting down-check from whatever reason.
It'll be interesting to see how the Ax commands pan out over the next year or so. With only Lopez-Alegria and Whitson as Axiom astronauts, and a requirement from NASA that commanders must be former NASA astronauts, does that mean the two will essentially alternate, flight by flight? Hence, Whitson as Ax-4 CDR?Think Axiom will need to expand their former NASA Astronaut roster. Just to be sure there is a former Astronaut available in case of either Lopez-Alegria or Whitson getting down-check from whatever reason.
With only Lopez-Alegria and Whitson as Axiom astronauts, and a requirement from NASA that commanders must be former NASA astronauts, does that mean the two will essentially alternate, flight by flight? Hence, Whitson as Ax-4 CDR?
Rex Walheim is on Axiom's payroll. While the website shows him as "Safety Officer", a management role, is he considered as part of the company's pool of Astronauts that can fly a mission?
New press release from JAXA: Takuya Onishi has been selected for another long-term stay on the ISS in 2025, and Kimiya Yui's stay has been pushed back from 2024 to 2025. (Not entirely sure what that means re: who's flying on which crew rotation mission.)
https://www.jaxa.jp/press/2023/11/20231114-1_j.html
New press release from JAXA: Takuya Onishi has been selected for another long-term stay on the ISS in 2025, and Kimiya Yui's stay has been pushed back from 2024 to 2025. (Not entirely sure what that means re: who's flying on which crew rotation mission.)
https://www.jaxa.jp/press/2023/11/20231114-1_j.html
With Gerst pictured last year doing NBL training with Pettit, a possible place for him on Crew-9 would potentially see them flying together in late 2024.
Unless Gerst (and Pesquet) are being held back for ESA Gateway flights, of course...
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20231114/p2g/00m/0sc/029000c gives more information.
Is it safe to assume (not speculating, folks) that this means that there is very likely to be an Indian on Crew-9, since we know that the international seat on that flight will not go to Kutryk or to Yui or to Onishi or to anyone from ESA?
Per Rob Navias, the Crew-9 assignment will be announced next week.
There are a few rumours swirling around (including a very surprising possible candidate for CDR), but let's wait and see...
There are a few rumours swirling around (including a very surprising possible candidate for CDR), but let's wait and see...
Interesting. I've heard at least three or four rumors myself for CDR and PLT (presuming Cardman) but absolutely nothing on MS-1 (replacing Kanai). Looking forward to finding out!
Just announced, Crew-9:
CDR Cardman
PLT Hague
MS1 Wilson
MS2 Gorbunov
Nice to see Wilson get another assignment. With Pettit hopefully arriving in September and Fincke in the spring, we should see the final three active "Sardines" in orbit together early next year.
There are a few rumours swirling around (including a very surprising possible candidate for CDR), but let's wait and see...
Interesting. I've heard at least three or four rumors myself for CDR and PLT (presuming Cardman) but absolutely nothing on MS-1 (replacing Kanai). Looking forward to finding out!
Just announced, Crew-9:
CDR Cardman
PLT Hague
MS1 Wilson
MS2 Gorbunov
Michael Cassutt
There are a few rumours swirling around (including a very surprising possible candidate for CDR), but let's wait and see...
Interesting. I've heard at least three or four rumors myself for CDR and PLT (presuming Cardman) but absolutely nothing on MS-1 (replacing Kanai). Looking forward to finding out!
Just announced, Crew-9:
CDR Cardman
PLT Hague
MS1 Wilson
MS2 Gorbunov
Michael Cassutt
Just wondering, how are crew members selected for SpaceX Dragon missions?
Does NASA select them or SpaceX?
Also, once the (NASA) astronauts are chosen for a flight, who assigns their specific role (ie: CDR, PLT, MS)?
Thank you.
More precisely, Astronauts for NASA missions is chosen by the opaque NASA Astronaut Office, AIUI.<snip>
Just wondering, how are crew members selected for SpaceX Dragon missions?
Does NASA select them or SpaceX?
Also, once the (NASA) astronauts are chosen for a flight, who assigns their specific role (ie: CDR, PLT, MS)?
Thank you.
It all depends on who is buying the SpaceX Dragon missions. Axiom assigns its crew members, private buyers like Isaacman assign theirs... NASA assigns its ISS crews, including CDR, PLT or MS roles.
MC
Exp-73 :
Soyuz : Ryzhikov / Mikayev / Russian or Tourist
Starliner-1 : Tingle / Fincke / Kutryk / Yui
Exp-74 :
Soyuz : Kud-Sverchkov / Zubritsky / NASA
Crew-10 : NASA / NASA or ESA / Onishi / Russian
I thought Petit had exceded his lifetime radiation dosage
I thought Petit had exceded his lifetime radiation dosage
Not that I've heard, but I could have missed something.
During his fourth mission to the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Don Pettit will serve as a flight engineer and member of the Expedition 71/72 crew. After blasting off to space, Pettit will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to help prepare crew for future space missions.
Pettit will launch on the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft in September 2024, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. The trio will spend approximately six months aboard the orbital laboratory.