If all goes as scheduled the SpaceX Crew Dragon will make its first flight to the international space station.
SpaceX and @NASA have completed thousands of hours of tests, analyses, and reviews in preparation for Crew Dragon’s first test flight to the @space_station pic.twitter.com/JvJqeoLKVy
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 28, 2019
Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon are vertical on historic Launch Complex 39A pic.twitter.com/5MarVJTVYK
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 1, 2019
Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rolled out to the launch pad ahead of the spacecraft’s first test flight. Liftoff targeted for 2:49 a.m. EST on March 2 pic.twitter.com/Dud93ZrkgH
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 28, 2019
NASA Video of the New Astronaut Access Arm – Bridge to the Spacecraft
How will astronauts board the SpaceX Crew Dragon? They’ll use the Crew Access Arm, which provides a bridge to the spacecraft from the crew access tower at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A. The Crew Dragon is designed to fly astronauts to the International Space Station on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The first uncrewed flight of the Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is scheduled to launch March 2, 2019. The uncrewed flight is an important step in returning human launches on American rockets and spacecraft to the space station from U.S. soil since 2011.
SOURCES- SpaceX, Twitter, Youtube, NASA
Written By Brian Wang Nextbigfuture
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.