Astronauts arrive at Kennedy for historic launch

[left-of-center2012]

Nasa astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken have arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to prepare for their historic mission next week. The pair's flight to the International Space Station (ISS) will be made in a rocket and capsule system provided by a commercial company, SpaceX.

Hurley and Behnken flew into Florida from the agency's human spaceflight headquarters in Texas where they have been in quarantine. They'll continue protecting their health at Kennedy as they get ready for Wednesday's planned lift-off.

Their rocket, a Falcon-9, and capsule, known as Dragon, will be wheeled out to the spaceport's famous launch pad - complex 39A - in the next few days for its static fire test. This will see the Falcon ignite briefly all nine of its first-stage engines to check they are fit to go. Hurley and Behnken, together with ground-support staff, will also conduct a "crew dry dress" rehearsal. This will involve the men suiting up, riding out to the pad and even climbing into their capsule as a dummy run to ensure everyone understands their role.

Lift-off for Hurley and Behnken next Wednesday is scheduled for 16:33 local time.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/astronauts-arrive-kennedy-historic-launch-200937556.html

[displacedtexan]

1. Sincerely worried about this launch.

Too many Trump Culters involved.

[left-of-center2012]

2. agree n/t

[applegrove]

3. Never heard of it but you are right those astronaughts are brave when they

take a ride on new technology.

[displacedtexan]

4. Here's what is most troubling:

The head of NASA’s human spaceflight office has resigned just one week before the agency plans to launch astronauts from American soil for the first time in nearly a decade, setting off alarm in Congress about how the turmoil might disrupt the historic mission.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/19/nasa-human-spaceflight-director-ousted-268327