NASA with SpaceX clarified plans for the launch of manned missions Crew-2 and Crew-3 to the ISS
Last May, SpaceX delivered the Crew Dragon spacecraft with two astronauts to the ISS for the first time as part of the Demo-2 launch. Upon return, the spacecraft was certified by NASA for regular manned launches. In November, the first such mission took place, Crew-1, and now NASA has shared new information about Crew-2 and Crew-3.
NASA and SpaceX said they currently aim to launch a second regular manned mission to the ISS no earlier than April 20. Crew-2 will be launched from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
With the help of Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon, four astronauts will be delivered to the ISS as part of the mission: these are NASA specialists, spacecraft commander Robert Shane Kimbrough and pilot Megan McArthur. Specialists from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) – Akihiko Hoshide and Thomas Pesquet, respectively, will be brought into orbit with them.
During the arrival of the Crew-2 crew on the ISS, members of the Crew-1 team will still be there – their return to Earth is still scheduled for late April or early May. In turn, the Crew 2 astronauts will return home in the fall of 2021. Currently, NASA and SpaceX are also continuing preparations for the launch of the Crew-3 mission, which is slated for this fall (apparently before Crew-2 returns).
Last December, NASA has already selected three members of the SpaceX Crew-3 mission – NASA astronauts Commander Raja Chari and pilot Tom Marshburn, as well as ESA specialist Matthias Maurer. A fourth crew member should be appointed later.
By the way, in January next year, space tourists can go to the ISS on the Crew Dragon for the first time as part of the Axiom-1 mission, and the composition of this crew of four has already been determined .
