The latest team of astronauts preparing for liftoff onboard the NASA SpaceX Crew-7 mission have landed at the Kennedy Space Center, as they commence the final stage of quarantine before their voyage to the International Space Station (ISS). The countdown has officially commenced, with an array of activities and events unfolding throughout the launch week.
L-R Konstantin Borisov, Andreas Mogensen, Jasmin Moghbeli, Satoshi Furukawa Image: Mark Stone for FMN
The Team Behind the Spacecraft
Heading for orbit onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the Crew-7 is an international ensemble, comprising NASA’s Jasmin Moghbeli, Andreas Mogensen from the European Space Agency, Satoshi Furukawa of Japan, and Konstantin Borisov from Russia. The timed launch is scheduled for 3:49 a.m. EDT on August 25, taking off from LC-39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Crew 7 Mission Patch – Photo Credit: Mark Stone for FMN
Pre-Launch Quarantine: A Standard for Space Missions
In line with standard protocols for space station missions, the flight crew health stabilization, or pre-launch quarantine, ensures the health and safety of the Crew-7 members, as well as those astronauts and cosmonauts already aboard the ISS. This two-week isolation period is an essential step to mitigate potential illnesses and maintain the health integrity of the crew.
The crew, who landed on Sunday August 20th in Florida from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, will have restricted contact with others during this period. Certain family members and specific launch and flight team members are given clearance to communicate with the crew, albeit most interactions will take place remotely.
The Eighth Human Spaceflight Supported by SpaceX Crew Dragon
This mission marks the eighth human spaceflight facilitated by a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. It is also the seventh crew-rotation mission to the ISS since 2020.
Simultaneously, as Crew-7 undergoes its pre-flight checklist, SpaceX is preparing a Falcon 9 rocket for the mission. The spacecraft will be integrated with the rocket following successful system checks. For this mission, Crew Dragon Endurance is the chosen spacecraft, marking its third flight.
In the lead-up to the launch, a dry dress rehearsal and an integrated static fire test may be performed.
Meet the Crew-7 Flight Team
The Crew-7 team members hail from diverse backgrounds and countries, bringing a unique blend of experience and skills to the mission.
Image: The Crew-7 astronauts inside a Crew Dragon spacecraft during a training session at SpaceX’s Hawthorne, California, headquarters. From left to right: Konstantin Borisov, Andreas Mogensen, Jasmin Moghbeli, and Satoshi Furukawa. Image Credits: SpaceX
Commander Jasmin Moghbeli, a seasoned helicopter and Marine Corps test pilot, will be overseeing all flight phases in her first spaceflight. Andreas Mogensen, the pilot and first Danish citizen in space, will be responsible for spacecraft systems and performance in his second trip to space.
Satoshi Furukawa, a physician from Japan, is set for his second long-duration flight to the ISS, with his first being in 2011. Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov will be flying to space for the first time, both serving the Crew-7 flight as mission specialists.
The Six-Month Mission
The mission, lasting six months, will involve various scientific studies. These include exploring human responses to different spaceflight durations, understanding physiological aspects of sleep, and collecting microbial samples from the space station’s exterior.
Once the mission concludes and the handover with Crew-8 happens in the first quarter of 2024, the Dragon spacecraft with its crew onboard will autonomously undock, re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, and splashdown off the coast of Florida for recove
The Crew-7 team has been training for this mission for the past year and is now ready to embark on their journey. The crew will be living and working on the ISS for six months, conducting a variety of experiments and tests. During their stay, they will be performing tasks such as conducting physical exercise studies, collecting microbial samples from the space station’s exterior, and studying human responses to different spaceflight durations. They will also be preparing for the handover with Crew-8 in the first quarter of 2024.
The successful completion of this mission marks another milestone in SpaceX’s Commercial Crew Program and brings us one step closer to achieving our goal of regular access to low Earth orbit. With every successful mission, we are gaining valuable experience that will help us in our future endeavors. We wish the Crew-7 team a safe and successful mission!
