SpaceX is gearing up for another exciting mission to the International Space Station (ISS), as they prepare to launch four new astronauts on the Crew Dragon spacecraft for Crew-8. This will be the eighth operational commercial crew mission for NASA, and the launch is scheduled for no earlier than March 1st.
The Crew-8 team consists of NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, along with mission specialist Alexander Grebenkin from the Russian space agency Roscosmos. While Dominick, Barratt, and Grebenkin are all rookies, this will be Epps’ first official mission after being reassigned from two previous missions on Russia’s Soyuz and Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
During a livestreamed press conference at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, the crew shared their plans to carry personal mementos with them on the mission. Dominick will be bringing a watch that his father has held since 1970, which is similar to the ones worn by astronauts during the Apollo moon missions. Barratt will have printed photos of his family, while Epps will bring a photo of her late mother, who passed away shortly after Epps was selected as an astronaut candidate.
Space.com had the opportunity to speak with three of the four astronauts individually to learn more about their experiences. Barratt recalled a memorable moment during his previous spaceflight in 2011 when the Canadarm2 froze in place while his colleague was mounted on the robotic arm. Fortunately, the issue was resolved by switching to a backup Canadarm2 station in the U.S. Destiny laboratory. Barratt emphasized the importance of having backup systems in place to handle unexpected surprises.
Dominick, a Navy pilot who has yet to fly to space, is known for organizing a buzz of the Artemis 1 rocket in 2022. This mission will involve a human-rated capsule flying around the moon with mannequins. Although Dominick couldn’t personally participate in the event due to his training schedule, the resulting pictures of the astronaut group beside the Space Launch System rocket are now displayed at the Kennedy Space Center and Johnson Space Center.
Grebenkin, a pilot for the Russian armed forces, is enjoying the challenge of learning the systems aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule alongside his previous training with Soyuz. He mentioned that the training approach with American instructors is different from what he’s used to with Russian instructors, but he didn’t elaborate on the specific differences.
As the launch date approaches, excitement is building for the Crew-8 mission. SpaceX and NASA are working together to ensure a successful journey to the ISS, furthering our understanding of space and paving the way for future exploration. Stay tuned for updates on this thrilling mission!