SpaceX ready to launch astronauts to ISS; conducts rehearsal 4 days before historic launch

With four days left for Demo-2 Mission, two NASA astronauts -- Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley -- participated in a countdown dress rehearsal of launch day events on Sunday morning. According to NASA, astronauts took a 20-minute ride to Launch Complex 39A. Furr, y entered Crew Dragon by way of p’s Crew Access Arm and checked ir communications systems before hatch was closed. It concluded with  go/-go poll for Falcon 9 propellant loing that occurs pre-launch. 

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About Mission 

On May 23, NASA ministrator Jim Bridenstine anunced that X has been given a “go-ahe” for historic Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission set to launch on May 27. With this mission, NASA will launch its first crewed mission from US soil in almost 10 years (since 2011). This is also first time NASA has allowed a private company like Elon Musk's X to run entire show. 

What NASA is calling a “new era of human flight” under its program ‘#LaunchAmerica’ involves astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley who will fly on X's Crew Dragon craft, lifting off on a Falcon 9 rocket at 4:32 p.m. EDT May 27 from Florida. However, duration of Demo-2 mission is yet to be determined.

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About astronauts 

Bob Behnken and Douglass Hurley were among first astronauts to begin working and training on X's next-generation human vehicle. y were selected for ir extensive test pilot and flight experience, including several missions on shuttle.

Meanwhile, Behnken is assigned as  joint operations commander for mission. He will be responsible for activities such as rendezvous, docking, and undocking, as well as Demo-2 activities while craft is docked to station. Hurley has been appointed as  craft commander for Demo-2. He will be responsible for activities such as launch, landing, and recovery.

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