NASA Commercial Crew launches (Russian Dragonrider)

[Dr Mordrid]

SpaceX Crew-(n) will be the SpaceX operational missions.

Starliner-(n) will be the Boeing operational missions.

SpaceX Crew-1 launches a few weeks after Crew Dragon DM-2 returns, which is next week. Most likely mid-September, and it'll be at ISS for ~210 days so a return about mid-April.

With SpaceX Crew-2 launching in "early 2021" it's VERY possible there will be two Crew Dragons docked at ISS at the same time.

That'll be one helluva photo-op for SpaceX.

SpaceX Crew-1

Commander: Michael S. Hopkins (NASA)
Pilot: Victor J. Glover (NASA)
Mission Specialist: Soichi Noguchi (JAXA)
Mission Specialist: Shannon Walker (NASA)

SpaceX Crew-2

Commander: Shane Kimbrough (NASA)
Pilot: Megan McArthur (NASA)
Mission Specialist: Akihiko Hoshide (JAXA)
Mission Specialist: Thomas Pesquet (ESA)

Starliner-1 may be a while due to Boeing's Starliner program difficulties; now over 80 separate vehicle problems discovered during their failed OFT test flight. They now need to complete 3 mission hardware-in-the-loop tests & reviews, a repeat of their Orbital Test Flight (OFT-2), and a Crewed Test Flight (CFT).

NASA is taking Boeing to the wood shed, even eliminating them from the Human Lander System program. The bids went to SpaceX's Starship, Dynetics, and a team headed by Blue Origin.

[Dr Mordrid]

Commercial Crew notional dates:

- SpaceX Crew 1 - NET 9/27/20
- OFT-2 - 11/18/20 (Under review)
- SpaceX Crew 2 - 3/30/21
- CFT - 4/21
- SpaceX Crew 3 - 8/12/21
- SpaceX Crew 4 - 2/4/2
- Boeing Crew 1 - 2/24/22
- Boeing Crew 2 - 4/21/22
- Boeing Crew 3 - 12/14/22

Via NASA SMSR

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1291179132676722689

Also;

About October, 2021 is Crew Dragon AX-1 (AXIOM-1, an AXIOM Space commercial mission). Likely the Universal Studios movie shoot with Tom Cruise, his director, likely a co-star and an AXIOM Space Commander. 10 day flight, 8 at the ISS. Could be between SpaceX Crew-3 and SpaceX Crew-4.

There's also a Space Adventures Crew Dragon mission for a few days in orbit.

[Dr Mordrid]

Extending the Crew-1 mission?

Crew Dragon sez: "Bring It!"

Christian Davenport ✓ @wapodavenport
Jan 6, 2021
NASA tells me the agency is looking at “potentially extending the Crew-1 time on” ISS in order to ensure continued US presence. Dates still in flux, but If Crew-2 were to launch in April and Crew-1 to come home in May that would not leave much room in the schedule. 1/
||
If there’s a launch delay that could make things real tight. As a result: “NASA is investigating several activities that would provide us with more margin for the handover,” NASA says, including extending Crew-1, which would be a real test for Crew Dragon. 2/

https://twitter.com/wapodavenport/status/1346821817286217728

[Dr Mordrid]

Increasing the fleet,

Flown Crew Dragons

C204: DM-1, (destroyed in ground test)
C205: In-Flight Abort test (refurbishable ?)
C206: Endeavour (active)
C207: Resilience (active)

New Crew Dragons

Crew-3: C210 (unnamed) Oct. 30, 2021
Crew-4: Cxxx (C211 ?) April 15, 2022
Unassigned: Cxxx (C212 ?)
Unassigned: Cxxx (C213 ?)

[Dr Mordrid]

Sounds like NASA's considering a SpaceX contract extension after Crew-6 (aka PCM-6/Post Certification Mission-6). Makes sense as Starliner's first PCM may not happen until 2023.

(already cued up)

[Dr Mordrid]

NASA has added 3 more Crew Dragon launches to SpaceX's contract to cover extended delays in the Boeing Starliner program. Boeing's first operational Starliner mission may be delayed to 2023.

SpaceX is also adding more vehicles to their Crew Dragon fleet. Named vehicles are Endeavour, Resilience, and Endurance. Another will join the fleet for Crew-4 April 15, 2022.

Russian Dragonrider

Crew-5: Anna Kikina

20211209_160614.jpg 20211209_160630.jpg

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1468611346740690952?t=xjmUpcJUp64zOqK2EVk1SQ