Launching America On a Commercial Spacecraft on This Week @NASA – June 5, 2020

TL;DR

NASA successfully launches its SpaceX Demo-2 test flight, marking the return of American astronauts to space from American soil after nearly a decade.

Transcript

Launching America on a commercial spacecraft… A NASA astronaut is headed back to the space station … And new close-up imagery of asteroid Bennu … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA! A new era of American spaceflight got underway on May 30 with the historic launch of NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight to the International Space... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏈 The SpaceX Demo-2 test flight marks a significant achievement in American spaceflight, ending the reliance on Russian launches for sending American astronauts to the ISS.
• 👾 The successful launch and docking of the Crew Dragon spacecraft demonstrate the capabilities of commercial spacecraft in supporting human space exploration.
• 👾 NASA's Commercial Crew Program aims to establish a sustainable human presence in space by partnering with commercial companies for crew transportation to the ISS.
• 😚 NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft captured close-up images of the asteroid Bennu during a reconnaissance pass, preparing for its sample collection attempt.

Questions & Answers

Q: How long has it been since American astronauts launched from American soil?

It has been almost nine years since American astronauts launched from American soil before the SpaceX Demo-2 test flight.

Q: What were some of the firsts achieved during the SpaceX Demo-2 mission?

The firsts achieved during the mission include the first on-orbit tour inside the Crew Dragon, the first in-flight maneuvering of the spacecraft by astronauts, and the first time a space vehicle was flown with a touchscreen.

Q: What is the purpose of the SpaceX Demo-2 test flight?

The purpose of the test flight is to eventually certify SpaceX for regular crew flights to the ISS as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

Q: Who will join the International Space Station's Expedition 63/64 crew as a member?

Astronaut Kate Rubins has been assigned to a six-month mission as a member of the Expedition 63/64 crew of the ISS.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA's historic SpaceX Demo-2 test flight launched American astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station (ISS), marking the start of a new era in American spaceflight.

• The astronauts traveled aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, and achieved several firsts during their journey, including in-orbit tours, in-flight maneuvering, and using touchscreens for space vehicle control.

• After docking with the ISS, Hurley and Behnken were welcomed by fellow NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and began an extended stay to complete the end-to-end test flight for certifying SpaceX for regular crew flights to the station.