May 2020 – Page 4 – Spaceflight Now

Dragon crew arrives at Florida spaceport kick off final week of launch preps

May 20, 2020 Stephen Clark

Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken arrived Wednesday at the Kennedy Space Center, ready for spacesuit and spacecraft fit checks, and some time off with their families before launching next week on the first crewed flight into orbit from U.S. soil since 2011.

Final H-2B rocket launch sends Japanese supply ship toward space station

May 20, 2020 Stephen Clark

The ninth and final flight of Japan’s H-2B rocket — the country’s most powerful launcher — drove an automated cargo freighter into orbit Wednesday on a five-day pursuit of the International Space Station.

Photos: Atlas 5 rocket lifts off with U.S. military’s X-37B spaceplane

May 20, 2020 Stephen Clark

Launching the sixth mission of the U.S. military’s super-secret X-37B spaceplane program, a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket lifted off Sunday morning from Cape Canaveral and successfully delivered its clandestine cargo to orbit.

Watch a live view of the Crew Dragon’s launch pad (members only)

May 20, 2020 Stephen Clark

Spaceflight Now members can watch a live view of launch pad 39A, where SpaceX is preparing to launch two NASA astronauts on the first crewed space mission from the Kennedy Space Center since 2011.

Live coverage: All systems go for launch after final Crew Dragon readiness review

May 20, 2020 Stephen Clark

SpaceX conducted a final Launch Readiness Review on Monday ahead of the scheduled liftoff Wednesday of NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on a test flight of the Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station. Launch remains set for 4:33:33 p.m. EDT (2033:33 GMT) Wednesday, weather permitting.

Live coverage: HTV cargo freighter arrives at space station

May 20, 2020 Stephen Clark

Five days after launching from Japan, an HTV supply ship arrived Monday at the International Space Station. Capture of the HTV with the station’s robotic arm occurred at 8:13 a.m. EDT (1213 GMT). It’s the last cargo mission to the space station before the arrival of two NASA astronauts on the first crewed U.S. flight to the orbiting research facility since 2011.

Japan’s HTV ready for launch with last set of new space station solar batteries

May 19, 2020 Stephen Clark

A Japanese HTV cargo freighter is ready for launch Wednesday with the last set of six lithium-ion batteries to upgrade the International Space Station’s solar power truss.

Pence plans to attend launch of astronauts from Florida next week

May 19, 2020 Stephen Clark

Vice President Mike Pence plans to travel to the Kennedy Space Center on May 27 for the first launch of astronauts from a U.S. spaceport since 2011.

NASA’s chief of human spaceflight resigns on cusp of critical crew launch

May 19, 2020 Stephen Clark

The head of NASA’s human spaceflight programs has abruptly resigned, announcing his departure from the space agency two days before before he was to chair a crucial readiness review ahead of the launch of the first crewed U.S. space mission in nearly a decade.

Video: Crew Dragon transported to launch pad 39A

May 19, 2020 Stephen Clark

SpaceX’s first Crew Dragon spacecraft to carry astronauts into orbit arrived at launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida late Friday, May 15, to be attached to its Falcon 9 rocket. The capsule will carry NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station.