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Bridenstine says Crew Dragon could launch with astronauts at end of May
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine says he is "fairly confident" that astronauts can fly to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spaceship at the end of May or early June, pending final parachute tests, data reviews and a training schedule that can escape major impacts from the coronavirus pandemic.
Photos: SpaceX cargo capsule returns to Southern California after space station mission
SpaceX technicians offloaded a Dragon cargo capsule from its recovery ship Thursday after returning the thrice-flown supply freighter to the Port of Los Angeles, marking the final planned return of a Dragon spacecraft to the West Coast.
VideoLive coverage: Soyuz crew launches from Kazakhstan, docks with space station
Three new crew members embarked on a six-month expedition aboard the International Space Station Thursday with a launch from Kazakhstan on top of a Russian Soyuz rocket at 0805 GMT (4:05 a.m. EDT). NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and crewmates Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner docked with the space station at 1413 GMT (10:13 a.m. EDT) Thursday.
With successful splashdown, SpaceX retires first version of Dragon spacecraft
For the final time, a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule was released from the International Space Station's robotic arm Tuesday and splashed down hours later in Pacific Ocean southwest of Los Angeles. Beginning later this year, SpaceX will fly upgraded Dragon freighters that will dock automatically with the space station and parachute into the Atlantic Ocean east of Florida.
VideoLive coverage: Dragon supply ship departs space station
A SpaceX Dragon cargo freighter departed the International Space Station Tuesday for return to Earth, wrapping up the 20th and final visit to the orbiting research complex for the current version of SpaceX's supply ship before an upgraded Dragon starts launching later this year. Release from the space station's robotic arm occurred at 9:06 a.m. EDT (1306 GMT), followed by splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 2:50 p.m. EDT (1850 GMT).
VideoVideo: Astronauts participate in Crew Dragon launch day dress rehearsal
NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, assigned to fly SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft on its first piloted mission into orbit, participated in a dress rehearsal of their suit-up procedures and a trip to launch pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 17, 2020.
Photos: Astronauts train to ride a Dragon into space
Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, two veteran space shuttle fliers, are gearing up to fly a privately-developed SpaceX Dragon capsule into orbit this year. These photos chronicle their recent training.
Crew training continues for SpaceX’s first launch with astronauts
During a visit to Cape Canaveral this week, NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken strapped in to the SpaceX crew capsule they will ride into orbit as soon as mid-to-late May. Next week, the astronauts will be in Houston to continue training for an extended stay on the International Space Station that could last two-to-three months.
Video: Slidewire basket crew egress system tested at pad 39A
SpaceX tested astronaut slidewire escape baskets and fire suppression capabilities Friday at launch pad 39A in Florida, demonstrating systems that would be activated in the event of an emergency before liftoff of a crewed mission.
Pandemic prompts few changes to busy month on space station
U.S. and Russian vehicles ferrying crews and cargo will continue traveling to and from the International Space Station this month, sustaining the orbiting lab in its 20th year of continuous human occupation amid an escalating pandemic on Earth.