Space Coast Daily TV to Provide Prelaunch Coverage of SpaceX Commercial Crew Test Flight with Astronauts
By Space Coast Daily // May 7, 2020
NASA and SpaceX targeting 4:32 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 27, for the launch of Demo-2 flight
(NASA) – NASA will provide coverage of the upcoming prelaunch activities for the agency’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley to the International Space Station.
These activities are a part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which is working with the U.S. aerospace industry to launch astronauts on American rockets and spacecraft from American soil for the first time since 2011.
NASA and SpaceX are targeting 4:32 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 27, for the launch of the Demo-2 flight, which will be the first time a commercially built and operated American rocket and spacecraft will carry humans to the space station.
The launch, as well as other activities leading up to the launch, will air live on Space Coast Daily TV.
The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft will launch on a Falcon 9 rocket from the historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The Crew Dragon is scheduled to dock to the space station at 11:29 a.m. Thursday, May 28.
This will be SpaceX’s final test flight of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and will provide data on the performance of the Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon spacecraft and ground systems, as well as in-orbit, docking and landing operations.
The test flight also will provide valuable data toward NASA certifying SpaceX’s crew transportation system for regular flights carrying astronauts to and from the space station.
SpaceX currently is readying the hardware for the first rotational mission, which would happen after data from this mission is reviewed for NASA’s certification.
NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 coverage is as follows:
■ Wednesday, May 20
– Crew arrival news conference at Kennedy, with the following participants (limited in-person media only):
• NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
• Bob Cabana, director, Kennedy Space Center
• NASA astronaut Robert Behnken
• NASA astronaut Doug Hurley
■ Thursday, May 21
– Approximately 6 p.m. or one hour after Flight Readiness Review completion – Post-Flight Readiness Review briefing at Kennedy, with the following representatives:
• Doug Loverro, associate administrator, NASA Human Exploration and Operations
• Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program
• Kirk Shireman, manager, International Space Station Program
• Benji Reed, director of crew mission management, SpaceX
• Norm Knight, deputy director, NASA Johnson Space Center Flight Operations
■ Friday, May 22
– Time TBD – Virtual Demo-2 Crew engagement at Kennedy, with the following participants
• NASA astronaut Robert Behnken
• NASA astronaut Doug Hurley
■ Monday, May 25
– Time TBD or one hour after Launch Readiness Review completion – Prelaunch briefing at Kennedy, with the following representatives:
• Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program
• Kirk Shireman, manager, International Space Station Program
• Hans Koennigsman, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceXNorm Knight, deputy director, NASA Johnson Space Center Flight Operations
• Mike McAleenan, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron
A media phone bridge will be available for this event.
■ Tuesday, May 26
– 10 a.m. – Administrator Countdown Clock Briefing (limited in-person media only)
• NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
• Bob Cabana, director, Kennedy Space Center
• Astronaut representative
■ Wednesday, May 27
– 12:15 p.m. – Space Coast Daily TV launch coverage begins for the 4:32 p.m. liftoff
– 6 p.m. – Administrator postlaunch news conference at Kennedy, with the following representatives:
• NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
• Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
• SpaceX representative
• Kirk Shireman, manager, International Space Station Program
• Astronaut Office representative
■ Thursday, May 28
– 11:29 a.m. – Docking (NASA Television will have continuous coverage from launch to docking)
STAY TUNED TO SPACE COAST DAILY FOR COMPREHENSIVE LAUNCH COVERAGE
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