SPACEX LAUNCHES ITS FIRST CREW MISSION: DAWN OF SPACE TOURISM

Image source- Google Image by- Mike wall

SpaceX created history after successfully launching its first astronaut mission into orbit. SpaceX's present launch is just the beginning of their upcoming great projects for the future of human spaceflight. SpaceX founder Elon Musk told that his main target is to eventually send people to the moon and Mars.

 Straight 8 minutes after launch, the first stage of Falcon-9 landed back to the drone ship, Of Course, I Still Love You, out in the Atlantic ocean. Now spacecraft will move forward towards the station, carrying 400 pounds of cargo to the astronauts currently on ISS.

NASA and SpaceX made this historic liftoff from Florida’s Kennedy space centre in Brevard country on May 30, 2020, Saturday at 3:22 pm. The first time any private company (SpaceX) launched NASA’s astronauts Robert Louis Behnken and Douglas Gerald Hurley to space. The Dragon spacecraft took off from a historic site, Pad 39A. Go back to the Apollo era, the initiating point for various mission's and don’t forget the first moon landing in 1969. Currently, SpaceX is busy leasing the launch pad from NASA.

 

SPACE X Dream got fulfilled after 18years 

SpaceX did not make history in a day but, it was a continuous struggle of more than a decade. Elon musk never aims for the less, but this success counts various highs and lows. 

2002- The first-time musk dreamt of making an affordable spaceflight, mainly for mars travel. 

2006- First attempt to launch Falcon-1 rocket into space from the Marshall Islands carrying govt. Satellite, but the Rocket got exploded in a minute and after three more Attempts. 

2008- First privately-funded Falcon-1 rocket successfully delivered a satellite into orbit. 

SPACE X gem is to create reusable rockets. One that could be flown, landed and then use again. 

2010- First time the reusable Falcon-9 got launched. 

2015- Falcon-9 loaded with 5,000 pounds cargo to the station, got exploded before reaching orbit. 

2016- Falcon-9 rocket got blasted while on a pad and destroyed by a $200million telecom satellite. 

Currently, 85 out of 87 flights has launched so far without any hitch. They made their smooth landing more than 50 times. 

The dragon came into the Picture 

 

2019- In march, Crew Dragon sailed flawlessly through its initial, uncrewed demonstration flight to ISS. Falcon-9 delivered the capsule into orbit along with the mannequin as well as cargo. The crew Dragon got docked with the station and, even their reusable boosters landed back on earth. 

After two months- During the test of ‘Super Draco’ thrusters, the Crew Dragon capsule exploded because of a leak and faulty valve, which at the time of emergency propel the capsule away from the rocket. 

Elon musk spent his last year proving to NASA that its spacecraft is safe. 

 "I’m quite overcome with emotion," Musk said following the launch. "It’s been 18 years working towards this goal, so it’s hard to believe that it’s happened."

History of Mission 

 

2011- After the end of the space shuttle program in 2011. The US has not launched any of its astronauts to space. Before the success of this mission, NASA astronauts have to rely on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft for a space trip. Russia cost NASA around $86 million for each seat. $55.4 million on average over the past ten years, as per the 2019 report. Thanx to SpaceX now NASA will not be asking for a ride from Russia. 

NASA instead of making their space shuttle. Allowed the private sector (SpaceX) to design a feasible spacecraft for ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS. The reason behind such, a big decision was that commercial companies could cut down the cost and increase innovation. So that they could focus on a deeper exploration into outer space.

"We want to establish a commercial environment in low-Earth orbit so that we can focus on the hard job of exploring beyond our home planet," NASA Kennedy Space Center director Bob Cabana.

 "We can't do that if we're locked here in low-Earth orbit. Commercial Crew, with both SpaceX and Boeing — that's the beginning of a whole new era of spaceflight."

2014- Mainly there were two contracts awarded by NASA: 

One for Boeing’s Starliner vehicle of $4.2 billion and the other for SpaceX of $2.6 billion. To design an astronaut friendly version of dragon spacecraft that has already given its best results in transporting cargo to and from the ISS. 

Objective of Mission 

The title of the launch Demo-2 is mainly a final checking mission for a human space trip by Spacex. Crew Dragon and falcon-9 show that the launch vehicle is certified for operational use for regular transportation of humans to space. 

The main objective of this mission was to make certified its launching vehicle for humans space travel. Elon musk’s ultimate goal is to take humans to the moon and mars. 

About Crew Dragon 

 

Crew Dragon is a gumdrop-shaped capsule of about 13 feet in diameter and also it has seven seats. On top of the crew dragon, there is a SpaceX falcon-9 rocket, which aims to fire the crew dragon along with the astronauts into orbit. After the separation spacecraft will fire up its thrusters to reach ISS. 

 

This spacecraft is fully autonomous, so Bob and Dough mostly need to monitor the systems. Also, keep in track with the mission controls unless something goes out of hands. Crew Dragon will be taking about 19 hours to reach safely to the International Space Station. 

 

International Space station-

 

For the past two decades, ISS is continuously orbiting the earth. Primarily operated by the US and Russia’s astronauts, for now, 240 astronauts from 19 countries have reached this station. 

Mainly around 6 astronauts always stay on the station. Currently, there are only 3:

NASA’s Christopher Cassidy 

Russia’s Ivan Vagner and Anatoli Ivanishin. 

Fun Facts- Endeavour- Bob and dough gave the name Endeavour to SpaceX's Dragon capsule because it was the name of their first spaceship in which they flew. 

Zero-G indicator- Sparkly Apatosaurus named Tremor went to space with the crew.