SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft only has less than two weeks before they launch astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time since 2011. But things aren't all clear just yet, according to from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
'There's still a lot to do'
NASA veterans Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are scheduled to launch on a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on May 27th which is a few days from now. The SpaceX mission is called Demo-2.
They will be making history as this is the first-ever crewed launch space mission from the United States to orbit since NASA's space shuttle program ended back in 2011. However, Phil McAlister, director of the commercial spaceflight division at NASA headquarters, has said that even though this mission is approaching, there's still a lot of work to be done.
While the astronauts are scheduled to launch in a few weeks' time and have already entered the preflight quarantine, McAlister said they are all still trying to finish some final testing, according to Space. He also told members of the Human Exploration and Operations Committee, "We are still finishing up some final testing, there are still some documents we have to review. Even though we're 13 days [away], there's still work to be done."
Just a few more finishing touches
However, one of the main obstacles they are currently facing is the last flight readiness review or the FFR which is set for May 21. Dou Loverro, NASA's associate administrator for human exploration and operations, will chair this review and will determine if they are ready for flight.
However, before this is completed, NASA still has to review some decimations and have a couple of program control boards to complete.
According to reports from Space, "Teams at both NASA and SpaceX will continue working with additional precautions to prevent any health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to the standard quarantine for the astronauts, both SpaceX and NASA will be ensuring that only personnel who are under quarantine protocol will be interacting with the crew."
These last steps are the most curial and critical and are designed to ensure the safety of each crew member, and of the mission.
"While noting the importance of success with final testing and these last few steps, McAlister commended the success of SpaceX's testing leading up to this launch, citing the company's in-flight abort test and dry dress activity (a "dress rehearsal" during which the astronauts simulate actions like being recovered in a capsule after an abort and splashdown)," Space added.
