Second attempt to launch the first manned SpaceX flight

After a postponement on Wednesday due to uncertain weather, the first manned flight of the American company SpaceX should finally take off on Saturday 30 May. NASA and SpaceX boss Elon Musk confirmed on Saturday morning that the weather, although uncertain, would not halt preparations for a 3:22 p.m. (7:22 p.m. GMT) takeoff from the Kennedy Space Center on the coast Atlantic in Florida, under the eyes of President Donald Trump.

"We are preparing for the launch today," tweeted Jim Bridenstine, boss of NASA, adding that the risk of cancellation due to bad weather remained 50%. A postponement remains possible until the end of the countdown, like last Wednesday.

We are moving forward with launch today. Weather challenges remain with a 50% chance of cancellation. #LaunchAmerica

Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken will soon start over exactly what they did on Wednesday: put on the white and black space suits that finally look like those in science fiction films; farewell to their families; the convoy to the rocket in a Tesla electric car, an advertisement offered by NASA to Elon Musk who created the brand; and finally, the long procedure to install and prepare the Crew Dragon capsule, at the top of the rocket which will propel them into space at five times the speed of sound.

"It is a dream come true. I did not think this day would really come," said Elon Musk last Wednesday.

Low cost access to space

The mission may seem like a modest step in space exploration: "Bob" and "Doug" will neither go to the Moon nor to Mars, only in the old space station ISS, 400 km from Earth, where Russians and Americans come and go since 1998. 

NASA, however, sees it as a "revolution" because SpaceX will give the United States access to space at low cost, cheaper than its previous programs. For the 3 billion granted since 2011, SpaceX has fully developed a new space taxi and promised its client six round trips to the ISS.

"Elon Musk has brought to the US space program the vision and inspiration we have been missing for nine years, since the end of the space shuttles. He is brilliant and capable," said NASA chief Jim Bridenstine on Friday.

All systems go for Crew Dragon's test flight with @NASA astronauts @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug. Teams are keeping an eye on weather. Webcast will go live at ~ 11:00 am EDT → https://t.co/bJFjLCilmc pic.twitter.com/AXDGNfqv0K

Trust had to be won. Elon Musk knew nothing about rockets when he founded SpaceX in 2002. His first three launches failed. A rocket exploded on the ground with a precious satellite in its cap, another shortly after launch with refueling for the ISS. Last year, the Dragon capsule itself exploded during a ground engine test. The program should have started in 2017.

Ultimately, NASA officials gave the green light to entrust SpaceX with two of its astronauts. They speak of this partnership in extremely laudatory terms: the person in charge of the manned commercial flights evoked "the miracles" accomplished by the collaboration of the two teams.

Ejectable capsule in emergency

Saturday, in the legendary Kennedy Center ignition room, it will not be a NASA man who will give the ultimate "go" for takeoff, but SpaceX launch director Michael Taylor, agency officials space agency with no role in the countdown.

Crew Dragon is a capsule like Apollo, but a 21st century version. Touch screens have replaced buttons and joysticks. The interior is dominated by white, the more subtle lighting. A single "umbilical" cord connects the suits to the seats to provide fresh air and communications for the two men.

Unlike the shuttles, one of which exploded in 1986 after takeoff (Challenger), Dragon can eject itself in an emergency if the rocket has a problem.

If it is certified safe after the launch on Saturday, the Americans will no longer depend on the Russians to access space: since 2011, the Soyuz were the only space taxis available. Routes from Florida will become regular, with four astronauts on board.

With AFP

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