NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are making preparations for their historic return to Earth on Sunday.
The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, called “Endeavor” by astronauts, is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station on Saturday and make its splash off the Florida coast the next day.
Astronauts have spent two months in the orbiting space laboratory.
SPACEX MAKES HISTORY, LAUNCHES NASA ASTRONAUTS TO THE SPACE OF THE FLOOR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2011
“If weather permits, NASA and SpaceX are targeting 2:42 pm EDT on Sunday, August 2 for the crash and conclusion of the Demo-2 test flight mission,” NASA said in a statement. “With this test flight, NASA and the US aerospace industry are marking the first successful launch of a crew to the space station in a commercially built and operated American rocket and spacecraft, and a safe return to Earth for that spacecraft and crew. “
NASA astronauts Bob Behnken (R) and Doug Hurley sit in a Tesla vehicle after exiting the Operations and Checks Building on their way to the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft on launch pad 39A in the Kennedy Space Center on May 30. , 2020 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
(Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
The undocking of the International Space Station is scheduled for 7:34 pm EDT on Saturday.
“The teams will continue to closely monitor Tropical Storm Isaias and assess climate impacts around the Florida peninsula, including potential splash sites in the Gulf of Mexico and along the state’s Atlantic coast,” NASA said in a statement. “NASA and SpaceX will make a decision on a primary splashdown target approximately 6 hours before undocking on Saturday.”
Hurley and Behnken, both veterans of the space shuttle missions, boarded the space laboratory in orbit on May 31 after the eagerly awaited launch of Mission Demo-2 from the Kennedy Space Center on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launch marked the The first time astronauts were launched from American soil since the last space shuttle flight in 2011.
BOARD OF NASA ASTRONAUTS INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AT THE SPACEX HISTORICAL MISSION
The mission is also the first time that a private company, rather than a national government, has sent astronauts into orbit.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is launched into space from the Kennedy Space Center with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft on May 30, 2020.
(Photo by Saul Martinez / Getty Images)
The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft took off on May 30 amid an advertising glow. Formerly known as Capsule 206, the spacecraft was renamed Endeavor, continuing the astronaut tradition by naming its capsules.
“Today was an incredible day,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine shortly after launch. “I can breathe a sigh of relief, but I can also tell you that I won’t celebrate until Bob and Doug are home safely.”
NASA ASTRONAUTS DESCRIBE THEIR HISTORICAL JOURNEY FROM SPACEX TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
NASA astronauts Doug Hurley (right) and Bob Behnken (second right) after boarding the International Space Station, where they were greeted by astronaut and Expedition 63 commander Chris Cassidy (center) and Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin (left) and Ivan Vagner (second left).
(NASA TV)
The mission is an important milestone in the space agency’s Commercial Crew program.
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“This is SpaceX’s final test flight in 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, landing operations and return of the crew. ” NASA said in the statement.
Associated Press contributed to this article.
Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
