American astronauts will once again launch on an American rocket from American soil to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will fly on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifting off on a Falcon 9 rocket at 05:22 am AEST (UTC+10) on Sunday, 31 May from Launch Complex 39A in Florida. The Demo-2 mission is set for an extended stay at the space station although the specific duration of the mission is yet to be determined.
The idea of the Demo-2 Zoom Party is for participants to come in and out and talk about what they are watching: NASA TV, SpaceX live stream, Spaceflightnow etc. If someone finds something unique and good quality, they can share their desktop. If the quality is good we can stay with it, if not we can all watch our own streams and be chatting about the progress.
To participate, simply register via the link below and you will be sent details about how to join the party. You can watch either via a web browser or by downloading the Zoom Meeting app to your computer or mobile device before the meeting starts. Have some headphones or speakers ready to go and a microphone if you'd like to join in the conversation. You can also choose to have your video camera active or off.
Date: Sunday, 31 May 2020
Time: 01:00-07:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Countdown timeline below
Join anytime, stay as long as you like and talk space with us as we watch history in the making.
For security reasons, you will need to register in advance to join this meeting.
Simply follow this REGISTRATION link, then enter your name and email address.
After registering, you will receive confirmation and information about joining the party.
============================================================================
SpaceX Demo-2 Countdown Timeline
Hour/Min/Sec Events
-04:00:00 Crew suit up ~ 1:20 am AEST
-03:00:00 Crew transport to Pad 39A ~ 2:20 am AEST
-00:45:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load - 4:37 am AEST
-00:42:00 Crew access arm retracts
-00:37:00 Dragon launch escape system is armed
-00:35:00 RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
-00:35:00 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
-00:16:00 2nd stage LOX loading begins
-00:07:00 Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
-00:05:00 Dragon transitions to internal power
-00:01:00 Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
-00:01:00 Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
-00:00:45 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
-00:00:03 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
-00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff - 5:22 am AEST
+00:00:58 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
+00:02:30 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
+00:02:34 1st and 2nd stages separate
+00:02:36 2nd stage engine starts
+00:07:12 1st stage entry burn
+00:08:43 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
+00:08:45 1st stage entry burn
+00:09:09 1st stage landing
+00:12:02 Crew Dragon separates from 2nd stage
+00:12:48 Dragon nosecone open sequence begins
PO Box 351, Mulgrave, Victoria, 3170, Australia