Official Space X Crew -8 picture with Roscosmos cosmonaut and Mission Specialist Aleksandr Grebenkin, and Pilot Michael Barratt, Commander Matthew Dominick, and Mission Specialist Jeanette Epps, all 3 NASA astronauts. Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford
< period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>NASA</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>Established in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government that succeeded the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). It is responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Its vision is "To discover and expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity." Its core values are "safety, integrity, teamwork, excellence, and inclusion." NASA conducts research, develops technology and launches missions to explore and study Earth, the solar system, and the universe beyond. It also works to advance the state of knowledge in a wide range of scientific fields, including Earth and space science, planetary science, astrophysics, and heliophysics, and it collaborates with private companies and international partners to achieve its goals.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}] "tabindex ="0" function ="link" > NASA and< period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>SpaceX</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>Commonly known as SpaceX, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. is a private American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company that was founded by Elon Musk in 2002. Headquartered in Hawthorne, California, the company designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. SpaceX's ultimate goal is to reduce space transportation costs and enable the colonization of Mars.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex ="0" function ="link" >Space X are targeting no earlier thanThursday,February22, for the launch of the company’sCrew -8 objective to the< period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>International Space Station</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>The International Space Station (ISS) is a large spacecraft in orbit around the Earth that serves as a research laboratory and spaceport for international collaboration in space exploration. It was launched in 1998 and has been continuously occupied by rotating crews of astronauts and cosmonauts from around the world since 2000. The ISS is a joint project of five space agencies: NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada). It orbits the Earth at an altitude of approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles), and provides a unique platform for scientific research, technological development, and human space exploration.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex ="0" function ="link" >InternationalSpaceStationCrew -8 hardware and ground systems processing continues for theSpace XDragon spacecraft andFalcon 9 rocket as operations groups just recently finished crucial team training in preparation for launch.
NASA astronautsMatthewDominick, leader;MichaelBarratt, pilot; and objective expertJeanette Epps, along with < period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>Roscosmos</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>Roscosmos, also known as the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, is the Russian government agency responsible for space activities, including the development and operation of spacecraft, launch vehicles, and space stations. It was formed in 2015 through the merger of the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and the United Rocket and Space Corporation. Roscosmos is responsible for Russia's space program and works closely with other international space agencies on joint projects, such as the International Space Station. The agency is also involved in a wide range of space-related activities, including scientific research, earth observation, telecommunications, and manned spaceflight.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex ="0" function ="link" >Roscosmos cosmonaut objective expertAlexanderGrebenkin will take a trip to the orbiting lab aboardCrew -8 to start a stay of about 6 months that will consist of research study and functional jobs.
Dragon Spacecraft: Preparation for Fifth Flight
Crew -8 will fly to the spaceport station aboard the Dragon spacecraft, called Endeavour, presently going through repair for its 5th flight. The Dragon spacecraft formerly supported NASA’s Demo -2, Crew -2, and Crew -6, along with Axiom Space’s Axiom Mission 1 flights to and from the orbiting lab. As part of the repair procedure, groups have actually set up brand-new elements such as the heatshield, parachutes, pod panels, Draco engines, and nosecone.
The main insignia of the Space X Crew -8 objective. Dragon Crew -8, made up of NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Grebenkin, is all set to stand the watch on its objective to keep a constant human research study existence in low-Earth orbit represented by the perpetual course of a Latin character 8 with the dragon bowing with regard to the location, the International SpaceStation Credit: NASA
Space X just recently finished Dragon’s propulsion system checkouts at the business’s processing center in Cape Canaveral,Florida Teams quickly will stack Dragon on its trunk ahead of carrying the spacecraft to Space X’s garage at Launch Complex 39 A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for combination with the rocket.
Falcon 9: Preparing for Maiden Flight With Crew -8
Meanwhile, groups likewise are preparing the Falcon 9 booster that will be making its very first flight on Crew -8. The booster just recently finished phase screening and will go through last assembly in the Space X garage at Launch Complex 39 A ahead of the Dragon and Falcon 9 mate. Once all rocket and spacecraft system checkouts are total, the incorporated stack will be rolled to the pad and raised to vertical for a fixed fire test prior to launch.
As part of the company’s Commercial Crew Program, Crew -8 is the ninth human spaceflight objective supported by a Space X Dragon spacecraft and the 8th team rotation objective to the spaceport station given that 2020 for NASA.
