The start of a new U.S. spacecraft, "CRU dragon" (Crew Dragon), the company SpaceX (space-ex) astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken on Board is scheduled for Wednesday at 16:33 time East coast USA (23:33 GMT). Before launch, the astronauts plan to announce which name they chose for their ship. At Baikonur, expected to arrive the US President Donald trump.
The launch of the carrier rocket "the Falcon 9" (the Falcon 9) will be implemented from pad 39A at the spaceport at Cape Canaveral. After 2 minutes, 33 seconds after the start of the planned separation of the first stage, 10 minutes after the second stage.
Phase of the spacecraft rendezvous with the International space station when the docking station will be about 400 meters, the astronauts will check the possibility of manual control of the ship. The vehicle docking with the ISS is scheduled for may 28 at 11:29 on East coast time USA (18:29 GMT) and 13:55 (20:55 GMT) the planned hatch opening and transfer of the astronauts from the spaceship to the ISS. As announced on its website the National Aeronautics and space administration (NASA), the ship is capable of staying in orbit for about 100 days, but the duration of the current demonstration flight will be determined later, depending on deadlines next start "CRU dragon".
the First start in nine years
"For us it is a crucial moment, – said at a prelaunch press conference on Tuesday, the Director of NASA, Jim Breidenstein. – The whole country will be able to see something amazing – the first time in nine years, American astronauts on American spacecraft start from American soil to the International space station". According to him, a new U.S. spacecraft, "changes the procedure for delivering astronauts and cargo to the ISS and will contribute to commercial activities in earth orbit".
Touching upon the question of the duration of the flight, Jim Breidenstein noted that "here it is necessary to consider many factors". "it is Important that this flight test, a demonstration, ‘ he continued. – The main task is to safely return the astronauts". He noted that the acceptance of the decision on the duration of the flight is influenced by such factors as the expiration date of the solar vehicle, which must not exceed 114 days and favorable weather conditions for landing of the ship.
In the event of an emergency situation, he said, in different parts of the Atlantic ocean located rescue vessels. "We turned for help to the military so they have provided us with in case of divers, helicopters and other tools that might be needed during a rescue operation", he added.
a Consultation with Russian colleagues
As reported earlier, during the preflight briefing at the space flight Center Kennedy head of the program of flights to the ISS kirk schirman, in the discussion of the details of the flight of manned spacecraft "CRU dragon" to the ISS was attended by Russian specialists. According to him, they maintained contacts with NASA since the first demonstration flight of the ship without crew to the ISS in March, and representatives from NASA and gave technical explanations to the Russian colleagues. Kirk schirman noted that such discussions were possible in conditions when between experts of the USA and Russia have established a "excellent contacts and trust".
the Modified Dragon
Crew Dragon is a modification of the cargo ship Dragon, which already delivers cargo to the ISS. In automatic mode, this ship was sent to the station using the carrier rocket Falcon-9 on 2 March 2019 and docked to it the next day. Booster Falcon-9 (eng. "Falcon-9") partially reusable was developed by SpaceX ("space-ex") in 2005-2008 and is designed to orbit reusable spacecraft Dragon ("dragon"), and satellites of various purposes.
NASA has stopped manned flights in 2011, after the completion of the program, use the return of the ships Space Shuttle ("space Shuttle"). Since then, the astronauts delivered to the ISS Russian "Unions". Initially it was assumed that American commercial ships will launch manned missions in 2017.
