SpaceX F9 / Crew Dragon : Crew-7 : KSC LC-39A : 26 August 2023 (07:27 UTC)

[Zed_Noir]

I know the Russian is because of the seat swap agreement and actually not the issue I have with this crew’s mix.

In my opinion, there should be a minimum of 2 US astronauts on each CC launch, but that comment is probably better discussed in the commercial crew, or some other discussion thread on potential astro assignments.

So, knowing one seat is allocated for Russian crew swaps on Dragon, it’s having both a European and Japanese astronaut assigned to this mission I have the issue with.

AIUI, there isn't a sufficient number of US astronauts available that can be assigned to the ISS more then the current assignment roster.

[vp.]

I know the Russian is because of the seat swap agreement and actually not the issue I have with this crew’s mix.

In my opinion, there should be a minimum of 2 US astronauts on each CC launch, but that comment is probably better discussed in the commercial crew, or some other discussion thread on potential astro assignments.

So, knowing one seat is allocated for Russian crew swaps on Dragon, it’s having both a European and Japanese astronaut assigned to this mission I have the issue with.

Because there were no Japanese or Europeans on Crew-6

[Targeteer]

I know the Russian is because of the seat swap agreement and actually not the issue I have with this crew’s mix.

In my opinion, there should be a minimum of 2 US astronauts on each CC launch, but that comment is probably better discussed in the commercial crew, or some other discussion thread on potential astro assignments.

So, knowing one seat is allocated for Russian crew swaps on Dragon, it’s having both a European and Japanese astronaut assigned to this mission I have the issue with.

Because there were no Japanese or Europeans on Crew-6

Presumably Sultan's seat came out of the US allotment?  I vaguely remember it was reimbursement for something but can't remember the details...

[John_Marshall]

Presumably Sultan's seat came out of the US allotment?  I vaguely remember it was reimbursement for something but can't remember the details...

Yes, and, as best as I remember it, that seat would otherwise have gone to Satoshi Furukawa.

[Josh_from_Canada]

Konstantin Borisov said in an instagram post several weeks ago that a new booster is being used for the mission and that they saw it in HangerX, from my understanding the only F9 core there that has yet to fly is B1072

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr0YVeCKbaj/
[May 4]

[GewoonLukas_]

Konstantin Borisov said in an instagram post several weeks ago that a new booster is being used for the mission and that they saw it in HangerX, from my understanding the only F9 core there that has yet to fly is B1072

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr0YVeCKbaj/
[May 4]

Yes that is correct. B1072 is the only Falcon 9 (previously supposed to be FH side for Psyche) yet to fly. B1081, B1082 and B1083 are all supposed to be Falcon 9 cores as well, but none of those have been tested at McGregor.

[jacqmans]

SpaceX Crew-7 astronaut Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA is pictured during training at SpaceX Headquarters in Hawthorne, California. / June 2, 2023

[jacqmans]

This is Crew-7

This is SpaceX Crew-7 with all four crewmembers sitting in the Crew Dragon Endurance that will fly them to the International Space Station.

From left to right it is Konstantin Borisov from Roscosmos, Andreas Mogensen from ESA, Jasmin Moghbeli from NASA and Satoshi Furukawa from JAXA.

[jacqmans]

Konstantin Borisov is an astronaut from Roscosmos that will fly to the International Space Station as part of Crew-7, where he will be a mission specialist.

[Tomness]

This is Crew-7

This is SpaceX Crew-7 with all four crewmembers sitting in the Crew Dragon Endurance that will fly them to the International Space Station.

From left to right it is Konstantin Borisov from Roscosmos, Andreas Mogensen from ESA, Jasmin Moghbeli from NASA and Satoshi Furukawa from JAXA.

That's an awesome line up.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/launchphoto/status/1671537847491231746

Meet the four astronauts of Crew-7 (L-R: Cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov of Roscosmos; Andreas Mogensen of ESA/Denmark; Commander Jasmin Moghbeli; and Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA/Japan). Crew-7 is set to launch to begin their ISS stint in mid-August.

Attached photos are from a large selection taken by Ben for SpaceX and posted on flickr by NASA Johnson

[Josh_from_Canada]

NextSpaceflight has B1081 listed as the first stage for this mission

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6879

[GewoonLukas_]

NextSpaceflight has B1081 listed as the first stage for this mission

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6879

Interesting that Borisov said that they saw it in Hangar X, as B1081 has yet to be tested at McGregor... Most likely a translation issue?

[zubenelgenubi]

Konstantin Borisov said in an instagram post several weeks ago that a new booster is being used for the mission and that they saw it in Hangar X, from my understanding the only F9 core there that has yet to fly is B1072

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr0YVeCKbaj/
[May 4]

NextSpaceflight has B1081 listed as the first stage for this mission

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6879

Interesting that Borisov said that they saw it in Hangar X, as B1081 has yet to be tested at McGregor... Most likely a translation issue?

His statement could have been correct on May 4, but SpaceX/NASA changed plans between then and now?

Or, he misunderstood a statement of "Crew-7 will use a new first stage" for Crew-7 will use the first stage in front of me in Hangar X."

I don't know.

And why would a new booster, 1072.1, be left unused for months and months?  Is it tweaked for lifting Cygnus?  Cygnus is more massive with a full payload than Cargo Dragon 2?  And, will Falcon 9/Cygnus second stage use a Merlin Vac with a full-size engine bell?  Etc.

If there is discussion, it can be split/merged to the appropriate thread.

Falcon 9/Cygnus discussion in this thread, please:
NG buys F9 flights for Cygnus

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

B1081?
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1671313699699580931

A new FALCON 9 first stage booster was installed today at @SpaceX McGregor and is now vertical, ready to begin its initial test campaign, as viewed on @NASASpaceflight’s McGregor Live.

🎥: http://nsf.live/mcgregor

A new Falcon core was raised onto the test stand at McGregor today

[GewoonLukas_]

NextSpaceflight has B1081 listed as the first stage for this mission

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6879

NextSpaceflight now also has August 15th as the launchdate

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1672425068477939716

Falcon 9 booster B1081 is undergoing cryogenic proof testing at SpaceX's Rocket Development and Test Facility at McGregor.

This booster is set to fly the company's seventh crew rotation mission to the ISS later this summer.

nsf.live/mcgregor

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1673436825023553537

Static Fire!
nsf.live/mcgregor

[jacqmans]

[ddspaceman]

Cross post with Exp 69 Thread
https://twitter.com/AstroJaws/status/1674901667156729857