Demo-1 Underway: Crew Dragon Launches on Debut Flight

Written by Ben

March 2, 2019

The Demo-1 uncrewed flight test to the International Space Station, SpaceX’s inaugural flight with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, is underway following the successful launch Saturday morning of the company’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft. The first-of-its-kind mission, planned to be a full demonstration of the spacecraft and its systems, launched on time at 2:49 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in

In addition to 400 pounds of supplies and equipment, Crew Dragon is carrying Ripley, an anthropomorphic test device outfitted with sensors to gather important data about what an astronaut flying aboard the spacecraft would experience throughout the mission.

Crew Dragon will carry out a series of phasing maneuvers as it pursues the space station during approach. The spacecraft is scheduled to autonomously dock with the orbiting laboratory tomorrow morning, March 3, at about 6 a.m. EST, and remain docked until approximately 2:30 a.m. on Friday, March 8. Crew Dragon is expected to return to Earth with a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean at approximately 8:45 a.m., a little more than six hours after departing the space station.

Stay tuned for a postlaunch press conference from Kennedy Space Center at about 4 a.m. EST. It will be broadcast live on NASA TV. Participants are:

  • NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
  • Elon Musk, CEO and lead designer, SpaceX
  • NASA astronaut Bob Behnken, SpaceX Demo-2 flight test
  • NASA astronaut Doug Hurley, SpaceX Demo-2 flight test
  • Steve Stich, NASA launch manager, Commercial Crew Program
  • Kirk Shireman, manager, International Space Station Program

Related Articles

1990 Nissan Pathfinder: Rugged for real life

1990 Nissan Pathfinder: Rugged for real life

Revealed in August 1986, the Nissan Pathfinder – called Terrano in the Japanese market – was developed with a bold goal in mind. As written in the original press release, “vigorous efforts were made to create the characteristics of a passenger car in an off-road...

Nintendo Download: You Know the Drill

Nintendo Download: You Know the Drill

This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch SOUTH PARK: SNOW DAY!– Team up with Cartman, Stan, Kyle and Kenny to save the town in this co-op* action game. Customize your own New Kid and battle your way through the...

Check out our Amazon Store

Lookin in our Amazon Store and pick up the items we review and talk about (if you purchase something from our store, we earn a small comission)

Join Our Newsletter

Click below and never miss a thing