SpaceX F9 / Crew Dragon : Crew-2 - LAUNCH - RNDZ - DOCKING: Apr.23/25 - UPDATES

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/esa/status/1385261747301490688

Launch teams have given a GO for launch tomorrow. The countdown has started. We updated our #MissionAlpha blog with new times👉 blogs.esa.int/exploration/22…

📺Livestream with CNES in FR/EN starts 09:32 BST/10:32 CEST👉esa.int/ESA_Web_TV

🚀Liftoff 10:49 BST/11:49 CEST  Go #Crew2

https://twitter.com/thom_astro/status/1385265293723852802

It seems the weather is cooperating, so looks like we will try to launch tomorrow!!! Our friends on the @Space_Station are expecting us to show up and we don’t want to be late. They even installed my bedroom recently and literally made my bed 🛏. Such nice hosts! 🙏 #MissionAlpha

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/launchphoto/status/1385292410171842563

Falcon 9 poised for liftoff at 5:49 a.m. EDT Friday carrying four new astronauts to the International Space Station.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1385300927343521794

All systems and weather are looking good for Falcon 9’s launch of Dragon with four astronauts on board. Webcast will go live tomorrow at ~1:30 a.m. EDT → spacex.com/launches

[FutureSpaceTourist]

[FutureSpaceTourist]

SpaceX and NASA are launching four astronauts to the International Space Station on the Crew-2 mission. Liftoff is scheduled for 5:49 a.m. Eastern (9:49 UTC) from LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

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.

Forum Coverage: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/ind...​

Fleetcam is made possible by Rusty's Seafood and Oyster Bar: https://www.rustysseafood.com/​

[ChrisGebhardt]

https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1385325856009097217

[ddspaceman]

https://twitter.com/Thom_astro/status/1385332968462372866

[Rondaz]

SpaceX Crew-2 on Track for Launch April 23, NASA Celebrates Earth Day in Space Today

Linda Herridge Posted on April 22, 2021

Launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission with astronauts to the International Space Station is on track for Friday, April 23, at 5:49 a.m. EDT. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with Crew Dragon spacecraft will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, along with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet will fly to the International Space Station for a six-month science mission. NASA TV coverage of Crew-2 launch preparations and liftoff will begin at 1:30 a.m. Friday, April 23. The Crew Dragon is scheduled to dock to the space station Saturday, April 24, at approximately 5:10 a.m. EDT.

For an April 23 launch, the U.S. Space Force 45th Weather Squadron continues to predict a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions at the launch pad for liftoff based on Falcon 9 Crew Dragon launch weather criteria. The primary weather concerns for the launch area will be flight through precipitation from isolated, low-topped coastal showers and onshore flow. Conditions continue to improve along the flight path and recovery area for the mission.

Today, Thursday, April 22, is Earth Day. To commemorate this day, NASA is hosting Earth Day in Space. Singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes will join five astronauts living and working aboard the International Space to discuss how we’re all #ConnectedByEarth, asking questions from young people around the world about Earth Day, climate change and how the astronauts study Earth from space.

The event will feature NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, who recently arrived to the space station aboard a Soyuz, joining NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi, the Crew-1 team who arrived last November. It will air live on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s YouTube channel and website at 11 a.m. EDT April 22.

The Crew-1 astronauts are scheduled to depart the space station at 7:05 a.m. Wednesday, April 28. They will participate in their final news conference aboard the microgravity laboratory at 12:30 p.m. EDT Monday, April 26, about their upcoming return to Earth. Media wishing to participate by telephone must call NASA’s Johnson Space Center’s newsroom at 281-483-5111 to RSVP no later than 5 p.m. Friday, April 23. The news conference will air live on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website. Those following the briefing on social media may ask questions using #AskNASA.

Crew-1 worked on a number of experiments as part of Expedition 64 to the International Space Station, including tissue chips that mimic the structure and function of human organs to understand the role of microgravity on human health and diseases, and translate those findings to improve human health on Earth. Astronauts also grew radishes in different types of light and soils as part of ongoing efforts to produce food in space and tested a new system to remove heat from spacesuits.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/crew-2/2021/04/22/spacex-crew-2-on-track-for-launch-april-23-nasa-celebrates-earth-day-in-space-today/

[Rondaz]

Enjoyed my "Ultimate" meal by the ocean: chicken fajita with plenty of fresh avocado! Many thanks to the awesome Food Lab for feeding us like Queens and Kings as we get ready for Launch!

https://twitter.com/Astro_Megan/status/1385309804906811393

[Rondaz]

6 months of space food after this! Thank you to the @NASA_Johnson and @NASAKennedy food lab and food services staff that have been keeping us healthy and well-fed during quarantine. The next time I post about food it will be floating!

https://twitter.com/astro_kimbrough/status/1385362184356597763

[Rondaz]

Take off tomorrow! This evening my last meal (we are not talking about "last meal for obvious reasons) will be composed of:

Roast chicken and mash
Cheese wedge Cheese and baguette platter
Ice cream Ice cream for dessert Bon appétit, go to space

https://twitter.com/Thom_astro/status/1385290025835941893

[Rondaz]

My “Ultimate dinner” - soooooooo good!

https://twitter.com/Aki_Hoshide/status/1385324696812625921

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1385322521940140037

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Great remote shots by Thomas

https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1385288624632176645

Remote cameras are set for the SpaceX Crew-2 launch tomorrow morning!

Liftoff is targeted for 5:49 AM EDT (09:49 UTC)

Updates: forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topi…

[Jansen]

NASA/SpaceX Launch America broadcast now live

[RocketLover0119]

Just passed L-4 hours and 10 minutes, as of now, the crew should be handed over to SpaceX for suit up, due to start shortly

[Jansen]

Crew-2 Mission timeline

11:09 p.m. EDT:  Crew wakeup
12:19:02 a.m. EDT: Chief engineer launch readiness briefing
12:49:02 a.m. EDT: Launch shift arrives in Firing Room 4; Dragon IMU align/configure for launch
1:19:02 a.m. EDT: Dragon prop pressurization
1:29:02 a.m. EDT: Crew weather brief
1:30 a.m. EDT: NASA TV coverage begins
1:39:02 a.m. EDT: Crew handoff to SpaceX
1:49:02 a.m. EDT: Suit donning and checkouts
1:49:02 a.m. EDT: Launch director readiness poll for advance team to enter Blast Danger Area
1:54:02 a.m. EDT: Advance team travels to pad 39A
1:59:02 p.m. EDT: ISS state vector uploaded to Dragon
2:29:02 a.m. EDT: Crew walkout from Neil Armstrong O&C Building
2:34:02 a.m. EDT: Crew departs for pad 39A in Tesla Model Xs
2:54:02 a.m. EDT: Crew arrives at pad 39A
3:14:02 a.m. EDT: Astronauts ingress into Crew Dragon
3:29:02 a.m. EDT: Crew communications checks
3:34:02 a.m. EDT: Verify ready for seat rotation
3:35:02 a.m. EDT: Suit leak checks
3:54:02 a.m. EDT: Hatch closed for flight
5:04:02 a.m. EDT: SpaceX launch director verifies go for propellant load
5:07:02 a.m. EDT: Crew access arm retracts
5:11:02 a.m. EDT: Launch escape system armed
5:14:02 a.m. EDT: 1st and 2nd stage RP-1 fuel load begins; 1st stage LOX load begins
5:33:02 a.m. EDT: 2nd stage LOX load begins
5:42:02 a.m. EDT: 1st stage engine chill begins
5:44:02 a.m. EDT: Dragon transitions to internal power
5:44:32 a.m. EST: Strongback retraction begins
5:44:42 a.m. EDT: 1st stage fully loaded with RP-1
5:45:22 a.m. EDT: Autonomous Flight Termination System final setup
5:45:57 a.m. EDT: M-Vac engine igniter purge
5:46:02 a.m. EDT: 1st stage LOX tank full; Strongback at ~1.7 degrees
5:47:02 a.m. EDT: 2nd stage LOX tank full
5:48:02 a.m. EDT: Flight computer begins final pre-launch checks; Falcon 9 propellant tanks begin pressurizing for flight
5:48:17 a.m. EDT: SpaceX launch director verifies go for launch
5:48:59 a.m. EDT: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence
5:49:02 a.m. EDT: Liftoff
5:49:02 a.m. EDT: Stage 1a abort mode
5:49:12 a.m. EDT: Pitch kick
5:49:55 a.m. EDT: Stage 1 throttle bucket
5:50:04 a.m. EDT: Max-Q
5:50:11 a.m. EDT: Mach 1
5:50:16 a.m. EDT: Stage 1b abort mode
5:51:37 a.m. EDT: Stage 2a abort mode
5:51:38 a.m. EDT: MECO; 1st stage engines cut off
5:51:41 a.m. EDT: Stage separation
5:51:49 a.m. EDT: 2nd stage’s M-Vac engine ignites
5:53:22 a.m. EDT: Bermuda ground station acquires F9 and Dragon signals
5:56:29 a.m. EDT: 1st stage entry burn
5:57:49 a.m. EDT: SECO-1; 2nd stage M-Vac engine shuts down; Orbit insertion
5:58:05 a.m. EDT: 1st stage landing burn
5:58:32 a.m. EDT: 1st stage landing on droneship
6:01:00 a.m. EDT: Dragon separates from 2nd stage; Begin Draco thruster checkouts
6:02:04 a.m. EDT: Dragon nosecone open sequence begins

[RocketLover0119]

Look at the vehicle. Dragon is being reused, as well as the first stage!

First stage supported the Crew 1 flight, and the Dragon flew the Astro dads on the DM2 flight.

Weather is 95% GO

[Jansen]

Suit donning underway

[RocketLover0119]

Suit donning underway!