SpaceX: Crew Dragon's first manned flight postponed due to bad weather

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THE ESSENTIAL

• Two American astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, will take off this Wednesday from Cape Canaveral in Florida to join the ISS.
• It was almost 10 years since American astronauts had taken off from the United States, after the costly American shuttle program was abandoned in 2011.
• If this test flight is successful, it could open the doors to SpaceX for a large contract with NASA, for the regular dispatch of astronauts to the ISS. The company would also become free to organize space trips for (wealthy) tourists.

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TO HAVE

22h56: While Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are about to leave their capsule safely, after three hours in their horizontal seat, it is time for me to return the antenna. The appointment is made for a new test on Saturday! 

10:46 pm: "It was a great team effort, but we understand," said astronaut Doug Hurley.

Everything was played at 10 minutes but the launch time could not be delayed. The rocket was forced to take off at 4.33 pm exactly and could not wait this ten minutes for the weather to clear. The launch time was fixed to coordinate the trajectory of the capsule and that of the International Space Station, which the astronauts must join in this demonstration mission.

10:43 p.m .: It's over for us, but not for Doug and Bob

#CrewDragon: despite the postponement, there is still a lot to do for the #SpaceX and #Nasa teams. The astronauts are always seated on top of a rocket loaded with propellants, they must be taken out of there safely.

22:29: It was the shortest live in the history of 20 Minutes but thank you for following it with me!

22h23: See you Saturday for a new test!

At 9:22 p.m. French time. And if it does not work weather level, there is always one last window on Sunday.

10:17 p.m .: Fuel is removed from the rocket, it's over

10:16 p.m .: IT'S OVER !!!! LAUNCH IS POSTPONED

10:12 pm: Oh my god, the weather is not good!
An expert announced in Nasa live that the weather was not good enough for takeoff, and that it would not be better in the minutes to come. Noooooon! It smells like the return to quarantine for Bob and Doug…

10:11 p.m .: New weather report in two minutes

PRESSURE. I stress like the bac. As a reminder, the weather must also be good over the Atlantic Ocean (to recover the astronauts in the event of an "abortion" of the mission) and at the level of the booster recovery boat.

9:59 pm: We are getting down to business, what are the risks of this takeoff?

As a reminder, this is the first time that SpaceX has sent human beings into orbit. The two astronauts are therefore testing a device never tested before.

To calculate the risk they run, NASA has its own benchmark. Space agency spokesman Joshua Finch said the calculated probability of "crew loss" for this demonstration mission is 1/276 chance (0.36%), or beyond the minimum threshold required by NASA for this contract (1/270). It goes !

In an interview with Reddit, NASA said the times when "the risks are greatest" are "launch and ascent into orbit followed by re-entry (into the atmosphere) and landing". Risks that arise from the launcher and the spacecraft.

9:48 p.m .: The access arm has been retracted

We have also just learned that the emergency evacuation system has been armed. Preparations continue ... Takeoff may finally take place this evening! (But the weather remains bad, if nothing changes, the rocket will not be able to take off).

Crew access arm retracting from the spacecraft pic.twitter.com/wSn8gJdujN

9:47 p.m .: Donald and Melania Trump visit the center (without mask)

We have a turn. With a lot of the Trump family. pic.twitter.com/K0VbsYlmGR

9:42 p.m .: The dashboard of the Crew Dragon VS that of the American space shuttle in the 2000s

For those interested in user experience and design, here's Crew Dragon's display panel vs the Space Shuttle cockpit interface #LaunchAmerica # Demo2 pic.twitter.com/zd06XI22dR

9:35 pm: Arrival scheduled… in 7 pm (toilets and refreshments on board, but not Netflix)

The arrival of Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley in the ISS, located just 400 km from Earth, is scheduled 19 hours after takeoff. The journey usually takes less time, but the two astronauts must carry out a battery of tests on their Crew Dragon capsule for SpaceX, once they are in orbit. Are you asking yourself the same question as me? 

During this trip, "they will have space to float and meet their natural needs," reassured Paul Crawford (of NASA). "They will have food and drink, and will also have toilets if necessary," he added. However, they will not have Netflix or their phone during the flight, the teams said in an interview on Reddit (but their schedule is very busy).

9:25 p.m .: A launch without audience

Pandemic forces, NASA does not want crowds crowding the beaches along Cape Canaveral. "We are asking people not to go to the Kennedy Space Center," said NASA chief Jim Bridenstine. Fans (or curious neighbors) can however follow it parked in their car, as advised in this local news article.

9:23 p.m .: We increase the pressure

The decision whether or not to send the propellant to the rocket should be made soon.

Decision on whether to fuel for # demo2 upcoming

9:14 p.m .: Is the launch organization disrupted by the Covid-19 epidemic?

For astronauts, it hasn't changed much because they are subject to a quarantine of 14 days before each departure for space.

Some of the teams involved in launching the rocket had to work remotely. "We have the same capabilities as if we were in Florida, we just won't feel the roar of the rocket when it starts to climb," said Paul Crawford, director of security for the office of commercial launchers for NASA.

On the other hand, security measures have been taken in the control room, where Nasa engineers must work from positions spaced from the regulatory "six feet" (two meters), said Steve Stich of Nasa.

9:09 p.m .: Look up! The rocket should pass over northern France

The window will be very short: if the Dragon Crew takes off on time, it will pass between 22.55 and 22.58.

If the #CrewDragon capsule takes off this evening with its two passengers in the direction of the International Space Station (it's a big deal, the weather conditions are not very good for the moment), it will then pass over the North from France.https: //t.co/RlOEOM05af pic.twitter.com/zcdBuNAJYJ

9:01 pm: What happened in Bob and Doug's day?

Little catching up with the last hours: Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, quarantined for two weeks, woke up around 9 am, according to Nasa, and had the breakfast of their choice. Their last meal? Eggs and beef (I don't see any vegetables either).

Steak and eggs. Question answered! pic.twitter.com/GktFUk9mBK

They then went through the “suit-up room” to put on their overalls (with the help of their team). They said goodbye to their families (with a "virtual hug", a tradition according to NASA) before getting into a Tesla to drive for twenty minutes towards launch pad number 39A.

Here we are ! Last kisses to their family, before getting into their Tesla Model X. The journey will take 20 minutes. 🤩🚀 # SpaceX #NASA #LaunchAmerica pic.twitter.com/8x5WjNTsnv

9:00 p.m .: Donald Trump is approaching

The American president had said that he would attend the launch of the rocket.

And it was Donald Trump who had the best view of the rocket: Air Force One has just flown over the area pic.twitter.com/3SE6m3vbH8

8:50 p.m .: Florida weather, the emotional lift of the day

For several days, bad weather has been forecast over and around Cape Canaveral, raising doubts about the possibility of taking off the Falcon9 from SpaceX. For now, the launch is maintained, but it can be canceled up to 45 minutes before takeoff (scheduled at 10:30 p.m.). So we will patiently wait for the weather reports that will fall there, hoping that it will be maintained. To get an idea of ​​the weather, here is a photo. And for a few tens of minutes, the Kennedy space center has been in a tornado alert area…

The National Weather Service has just issued a tornado warning for northern Brevard County, where the Kennedy Space Center is located. https://t.co/1DF5tRjUzj pic.twitter.com/RFfhigaJH2

Storm clouds from the west are literally chasing Bob and Doug to the launchpad. And the local weather service just issued a tornado warning. pic.twitter.com/w6yqyZw3C8

8:47 p.m .: The hatch of the SpaceX capsule is closed, the astronauts ready for takeoff

The two NASA astronauts are tied in their seats inside SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, whose hatch was closed this Wednesday a few minutes ahead of schedule.

The hatch is closed. The crew is settled in. #LaunchAmerica is on. pic.twitter.com/qZTR3QAQjM

8:45 p.m .: Let's start at the beginning with the portrait of Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, the two astronauts who will take off this evening

These two former military test pilots did not arrive there by chance. We tell you their journey in this article, in which we even managed to slip an info people: they are both married to astronauts.

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Experienced pilots, best friends… Who are Behnken and Hurley, the two astronauts who will fly with SpaceX?

Hello and welcome to this live! This evening, we will follow together the takeoff of the two American astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley from Florida. The launch of the Falcon9 rocket is scheduled for 22:33 French time (if the weather is good), that leaves us a few minutes to talk about this very special flight.

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