Watch NASA's SpaceX Crew-2 Mission Arrive at the International Space Station
NASA・76 minutes read
Crew Dragon successfully docked with the International Space Station at 2:08 am Pacific Time, with Victor Glover leading the hatch opening and ingress procedures as part of Expedition 65. The Crew 2 mission showcases international cooperation and teamwork, setting the stage for future experiments and crew rotations aboard the ISS.
Insights
- Crew Dragon autonomously docked with the International Space Station using visual cameras for alignment, then underwent a soft and hard capture sequence with 12 hooks, officially mating at the forward port.
- Victor Glover played a crucial role in preparing hatches, pressurizing the vestibule, and ensuring power transfer between Dragon and the station, facilitating Crew 2 astronauts' ingress into the International Space Station.
- The successful Crew 2 mission exemplifies international cooperation, with SpaceX, NASA, and partners like JAXA and ESA contributing to the mission's safe arrival, emphasizing teamwork, and the importance of scientific experiments aboard the International Space Station.
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Recent questions
How does Crew Dragon align with the International Space Station for docking?
Crew Dragon flies autonomously and uses visual cameras to align with the docking port. It will converge with waypoint one in front of the ISS, then move to waypoint two for a go/no-go poll before docking.
What is the process for Crew Dragon to dock with the International Space Station?
Crew Dragon undergoes a soft capture followed by a hard capture using 12 hooks to attach to the space station. After successful hard capture, the vestibule between hatches is repressurized for crew ingress.
What is the significance of the 12 hooks used during Crew Dragon's docking?
The 12 hooks are crucial for a hard capture, with six hooks driven and confirmed at a time. They ensure a secure connection between Dragon and the space station, allowing for a safe and stable docking process.
How do astronauts ingress onto the International Space Station from Crew Dragon?
After the hatches are open and pressure equalization is achieved, the Crew 2 astronauts can ingress into the ISS. They are greeted by the current crew members aboard, marking the successful completion of the docking process.
What is the duration of Crew Dragon's stay at the International Space Station?
Crew Dragon will remain docked at the ISS for the next six months, with the crew members conducting various experiments and technology demonstrations during their mission. The Crew 1 crew will spend approximately five days together with Crew 2 before returning to Earth.
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Summary
00:00
Dragon Successfully Docks with International Space Station
- Crew Dragon is expected to converge with waypoint one in front of the International Space Station in less than five minutes.
- Dragon is almost in the same orbit as the International Space Station as it approaches the docking axis at waypoint one.
- Dragon is flying autonomously and will use visual cameras to align with the docking port.
- A maneuver using Draco thrusters will move Dragon in front of the docking axis, closing in on waypoint two.
- Dragon will pause at waypoint two for a go/no-go poll before docking.
- Dragon passed the 110-meter checkpoint successfully, ensuring the optical sensors were not affected by sunlight.
- Dragon is holding at waypoint two, 20 meters away from the docking axis, awaiting confirmation for docking.
- Dragon will undergo a soft capture followed by a hard capture with 12 hooks to attach to the space station.
- Soft capture has been confirmed, and the ring retraction is in progress for the hard capture sequence.
- Dragon has successfully completed the hard capture sequence, officially mating with the International Space Station at the forward port.
33:27
Dragon successfully docks with International Space Station
- 12 hooks will latch between Dragon and the space station, six at a time, taking a few minutes to complete.
- The International Space Station's attitude control is being configured for a soft capture and hard capture sequence.
- 12 hooks are needed for a hard capture, with the first set of six hooks driven and confirmed at 2:08 am Pacific time.
- Dragon and the space station crossed over the terminator line south of Australia during the capture.
- The crew is configuring the station's attitude to support the hard capture sequence using control movement gyros.
- After hard capture, there are additional steps for crew ingress, including hatch opening and safety procedures.
- Dragon has officially mated with the International Space Station, with all 12 hooks driven and locked into place.
- Repressurizing the vestibule between the hatches will take about two hours before crew ingress can occur.
- Victor Glover on the station side is preparing the hatches for ingress, including pressurizing the vestibule and hatch opening.
- Crew 2 is preparing for hatch opening procedures, with the node 2 forward hatch already open, and the vestibule pressurization ongoing.
57:04
"Dragon Endeavor Docks with International Space Station"
- Victor Glover is inside the pressurized mating adapter, preparing to open the APAS hatch that separates the International Space Station from the Dragon spacecraft.
- With the forward hatch open, Glover can manually pressurize the vestibule, monitored by the crew on Dragon Endeavor's displays.
- Flight controllers at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, are successfully monitoring Crew Dragon Endeavor's navigation as it docks with the International Space Station.
- Dragon Endeavor autonomously docked with the International Space Station at 2:08 am Pacific Time, using 12 hooks to connect to the International Docking Adapter.
- Victor Glover is working to configure Dragon for its stay aboard the International Space Station, ensuring power is drawn from the station to the Dragon.
- Crew Dragon Endeavor is officially docked to the International Space Station, with teams on both sides preparing to open the hatches between them.
- Glover is pressurizing the vestibule, ensuring thermal equalization before proceeding with the pressure checks to match the station and Dragon's pressure.
- Glover will open the APAS hatch on the station side, removing the docking target and adding padding for safe entry into the International Space Station.
- After both hatches are open, the Crew 2 astronauts will ingress into the International Space Station, greeted by the current crew members aboard.
- The APAS hatch is opened, and the vestibule is pressurized, allowing the Crew 2 astronauts to enter the International Space Station, with communication and power confirmed between Dragon and the station.
01:55:55
"Inventory update and crew preparations for ingress"
- Inventory collection in section 3 is ready to commence.
- Two bottles are the only delta from the previous report, located at pack location nine.
- An additional bottle is needed for section 5 of 4.400, to be taken from location two zero six.
- No food deltas from the previous report, with the last consumption reported earlier.
- Suichi Naguchi is preparing the A-pass hatch for crew ingress into Dragon Endeavor.
- Four suits are drying, with the crew ready to come back on board.
- The crew is getting ready for the welcome ceremony after doffing their suits.
- Pressure equalization between Dragon and the ISS has started, with a five and a half minute wait time.
- The Dragon hatch is open, with the crew still undergoing procedures before ingress.
- Installation of IMV ducting and fan activations are in progress on the Dragon side.
02:29:01
"Space Station Crews Ingress for Mission"
- Lyo or lithium hydroxide cartridges are used to scrub carbon dioxide inside the Dragon capsule on its way to the International Space Station.
- Vent valves are being checked before the crew can ingress onto the space station, with final critical checks being conducted.
- The crew will remain docked at the International Space Station for the next six months, with the station side crew ready for their arrival.
- The Crew 2 Dragon Endeavor is attached to the International Space Station, awaiting the crew to ingress shortly.
- The Crew 1 crew is waiting to hand over to the Crew 2 crew, spending approximately five days together before Crew 1 returns to Earth.
- The docking with the space station occurred after a 23-hour journey from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
- The crew members from Crew 2 are completing final procedures before ingressing onto the International Space Station.
- Lithium hydroxide cartridges are being stowed without a bag due to a tear in the bag during installation.
- The 11-person crew of Expedition 65 is now together inside the International Space Station, preparing for an official welcome ceremony.
- Crew 2 astronauts have successfully ingress onto the International Space Station, joining the Expedition 65 crew for their mission of science and technology demonstrations.
03:09:47
"Successful Crew 2 Mission Highlights International Cooperation"
- The mission exemplifies teamwork with SpaceX, international partners, and NASA members like Tomah, Aki, Megan, and Shane.
- Congratulations are extended to the crew for their successful mission and anticipation of their future accomplishments.
- JAXA President Dr. Yamakawa commends Aki and Soichi for their courage and hope brought to the world through their mission.
- Aki emphasizes teamwork and the ISS as a symbol of international cooperation, aiming to maximize outcomes during the mission.
- ESA Director General Joseph Ashbacher praises the crew's safe arrival and expresses pride in their work, highlighting the importance of their experiments.
- Thomas expresses gratitude for the international cooperation and historic significance of the collaboration between JAXA, ESA, NASA, and Russian astronauts.
- The Crew 2 mission's successful launch, arrival at the ISS, and future plans for experiments and crew rotations are highlighted, with a focus on the upcoming return of Crew 1.
