Prelaunch Preparations for the Next Space Station Crew on This Week @NASA – October 9, 2020

TL;DR

The next crew for the International Space Station completes pre-launch training, a cargo spacecraft delivers supplies, and preparations for a commercial crew flight continue.

Transcript

Prelaunch preparations for the next space station crew … Science, technology and other cargo arrive at the station … And an update on an upcoming commercial crew flight … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA! The next crew headed to the International Space Station, including our Kate Rubins, wrapped up pre-launch training at t... Read More

Key Insights

• 😘 NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov are preparing to launch to the ISS on October 14.
• 👾 Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft delivered important cargo to the space station.
• 😘 "Butch" Wilmore will join NASA astronauts on Boeing's first crewed flight to the ISS in 2021.
• 🧑‍🚀 Astronauts are practicing activities in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab for future lunar surface missions.
• 💦 The installation of a radiator at Kennedy Space Center will protect an instrument called MSolo that will analyze lunar landing sites and study water on the Moon.
• 👯 NASA is inviting people to share what they would pack in a NASA Moonkit.
• 🥃 The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite has imaged about 75% of the sky and discovered exoplanets beyond our solar system.

Questions & Answers

Q: When is the next crew scheduled to launch to the International Space Station?

The next crew, including NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, is scheduled to launch on October 14 for a six-month mission aboard the ISS.

Q: What cargo did the Cygnus spacecraft deliver to the space station?

The Cygnus cargo spacecraft delivered almost 8,000 pounds of science, technology, and other cargo to the ISS.

Q: Why did "Butch" Wilmore replace Chris Ferguson on the Boeing CST-100 Starliner's first crewed flight?

Chris Ferguson, a former NASA astronaut, decided not to fly for personal reasons, and "Butch" Wilmore will now join NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Nicole Mann on the flight.

Q: What is the purpose of practicing with the exploration spacesuits in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab?

Astronauts are using the Neutral Buoyancy Lab to practice activities that the first woman and next man on the Moon will carry out during the Artemis program, including evaluating tools and developing training techniques.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The next crew, including NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, finishes pre-launch training and is scheduled to launch on October 14 for a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

• Northrop Grumman's Cygnus cargo spacecraft arrives at the station carrying almost 8,000 pounds of science, technology, and other cargo.

• NASA astronaut "Butch" Wilmore will replace Boeing's Chris Ferguson on the Boeing CST-100 Starliner's first crewed flight to the ISS, targeted for 2021.