After the first successful launch of the spacecraft Crew Dragon company SpaceX, is designed to deliver American astronauts to the International space station, space Agency NASA conducted in a Space center. Kennedy press conference, which was attended by the head of a private space company of Elon Musk. After hearing the congratulations, Musk said that he would not mind to fly at once established his company spacecraft.
Recall that on the morning of 2 March with the launch pad LC-39A space center. Kennedy in Florida within a 6-day demonstration mission Demo-1 was successfully launched the carrier rocket Falcon 9 spacecraft Crew Dragon. On Board the ship who went to the ISS, no one was there, of course, if you don’t count the dummy “Ripley” (named after the heroine of the sci-Fi Thriller “Alien”), as well as plush toys in the shape of the Earth, placed in the machine as a status indicator of weightlessness. Mannequin “dressed up” in a prototype space suit, SpaceX and equipped with various sensors that monitored the environment inside the ship. This information will help in preparing already the real missions to send astronauts into orbit.
In addition, the lucky Dragon Crew on the ISS 182 pounds of food, scientific equipment and materials. In the ISS, the ship will stay for five days, and then descend from orbit and splashed down in the Atlantic ocean, and from there it will take a rescue ship.
“Today is a big day for US and for NASA. Today begins a new era of space flight,” — said during a press conference the head of the American space Agency Jim Breidenstein.
The spacecraft Crew Dragon was created in the framework of the Commercial Crew Program (CCP) is a multi-step program of NASA’s development of private manned spacecraft to deliver astronauts to the International space station, which the Agency has allocated a total of $ 8 billion. The program was started once in 2011, the United States decided to close the program operation of the space Shuttle for safety reasons and the high cost runs approximately $ 1.5 billion in one.
In a General sense, he added, Breidenstein, a new program aimed not only at the US of the ability to independently conduct manned space launches, but also to reduce their cost, opening the possibility for more people to visit space.
“It’s been 17 years, but has never sent anyone into space. I hope that this year we will be able to do it. Not only for me but for other people at SpaceX is going to be a wonderful culmination of long and hard work on the realization of the dream”, — said Musk, referring to the history of the founding of SpaceX in 2002.
“Would you agree to go?”
After the camera Crew Dragon has docked with the gateway compartment of the module “Harmony” of the U.S. segment of the ISS, cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and astronaut David Saint Jacques, onboard the station, took samples of the air to the Dragon, he tested gas masks, reported to the Ground feel in them. By the way, Oleg Kononenko is not the first time meets aboard the ISS SpaceX’s new ship. In may 2012, was docked the first private truck Dragon, he was met by the crew of expedition ISS-31 under the command of Oleg Kononenko.
This dock was for the SpaceX team is very exciting. Despite the fact that prior to this, SpaceX successfully sent to the ISS of 16 cargo spacecraft, they are all docked with the station using a special robotic arm. This time the company first used the automatic docking mode. Its analysis will enable SpaceX to deal with many technical processes that are impossible to simulate on Earth. They are of crucial importance for understanding the structures and systems to support the flight crew.
“To be honest, I feel emotionally exhausted. Because for us it was a very stressful stage. But it happened successfully. We locked onto a station. Now we need to get the ship back to Earth. So far, so good. We passed one of the most critical and risky stages of this mission,” said Musk during a press conference.
The head of the private space company added that “the smartest people working at SpaceX, had to do a crazy amount of hard work” in order to create a Crew Dragon and “very great contribution to this work made NASA”.
On the question of journalists, would not like Musk personally ride on a “Dragon”, he did not hesitate to give an affirmative answer.
“I’d be happy to fly on this machine. I think he’s perfectly suited for this. But still better to wait for verification of the items, and then already to do conclusions”, — said Musk.
As mentioned above, at the press conference was not only Musk, but the head of NASA, Breidenstein and other veterans of the American space Agency, including two of the astronauts Robert Behnken test and Douglas Hurley. If the first demonstration missions Crew Dragon will be successful, these two people will participate in the second test mission, Demo-2, going to the ISS in July of this year (after additional tests of the emergency rescue crew to be held in April).
Elon Musk is talking with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley. They will fly to the ISS in the framework of the second demonstration mission of the spacecraft Crew Dragon this summer
Musk noted that the first mission Crew Dragon turned to him and the company very stressful, because its outcome will depend on how will feel people who will fly the second mission. He also added that right after the device was separated from the launch vehicle, the Falcon 9, he went to the astronauts and asked them what they think about this module.
“I asked about how dare they fly. Both said Yes, adding that waiting for successfully completing the first mission,” Musk said.
“The guys from SpaceX before starting told us what and how will happen. We were very pleased and happy with the fact that it all happened exactly as we were told. It gives us confidence in the success”, — said the astronaut.
Will SpaceX and NASA to cooperate in the construction of a lunar base?
The head of the aerospace Agency NASA Jim Breidenstein and SpaceX founder Elon Musk after held a press conference on March 2
Towards the end of the conference inquiring journalists tried to find out from the Mask and Bridenstine about the future plans of SpaceX and NASA, hinting at further cooperation between the two sides on issues related to the development of outer space.
“We want to build a base on the moon. A permanent manned station on the moon, and then going to send people to Mars,” said Musk on the issue of what SpaceX plans to do after the manned spacecraft Crew Dragon will be fully exploited.
Then he added:
“Perhaps our cooperation will be associated not only with the issues around the International space station. View. Now we need to focus on this. Now for us it is a priority. But then, perhaps, we will consider issues related to the implementation of programs beyond low-earth orbit.”
After that, Breidenstein concluded a press conference with a long statement about what the future of NASA is aligned with the objectives of SpaceX.
“We have just heard the words of Ilona that he is interested in building a permanent space base on the moon,” said Breidenstein.
“Of course, we should do it,” interrupted the Mask.
“To return to the moon is the most important task of the NASA President of the United States — continued, Breidenstein. We have no doubt that SpaceX are really great ideas that can help us in this matter.”
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