NASA Releases 2025 Commercial Crew Plan

NASA Releases 2025 Commercial Crew Plan

Commercial crew astronauts, from left, European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer, and NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron, pose for a photo in their Dragon spacesuits during a fit check aboard the International Space Station’s Harmony module on April 21, 2022.
Photo: NASA

NASA’s Commercial Crew office released its high-level plan for 2025 today. It has few surprises, with two SpaceX Commercial Crew missions, and offers the slightest of updates for Boeing’s Starliner program and holds out the possibility of a Starliner flight next year.

FAA To Require Investigation Into Crew 9 Second Stage Anomaly

FAA To Require Investigation Into Crew 9 Second Stage Anomaly

Falcon 9 second stage after shutting down on September 28, 2024
Photo: NASA – SpaceX livestream

The FAA released a brief statement recognizing that the second stage of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 used for the Crew 9 launch landed outside of its designated landing zone, and that they are requiring an investigation.

NASA’s Crew-9 Prepares for ISS Mission– Starliner Astronauts Countdown to Homecoming in 2025

NASA’s Crew-9 Prepares for ISS Mission– Starliner Astronauts Countdown to Homecoming in 2025

Crew 9 members arrive at the KSC Shuttle Landing Strip Saturday afternoon, to prepare for launch to ISS. Image by Richard P Gallagher/FMN
Crew 9 members arrive at the KSC Shuttle Landing Strip Saturday afternoon, to prepare for launch to ISS. Image by Richard P Gallagher/FMN

 

The NASA SpaceX Crew-9 mission, set to launch on September 26, 2024, will see NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov embarking on a six-month scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS). For the first time, a crewed mission will be launched from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, adding a new dimension to SpaceX’s launch capabilities and enhancing operational flexibility (NASA). This mission will also formularize Starliner astronauts currently aboard the ISS with the Dragon spacecraft operations in preparation for their return flight home after the completion of the Crew 9 mission. 

Polaris Dawn Crew Safely Returns to Earth After Historic Five-Day Mission

Polaris Dawn Crew Safely Returns to Earth After Historic Five-Day Mission

Infrared camera shows the splashdown of the Polaris Dawn mission early this morning. Photo: Polaris Dawn / SpaceX
Infrared camera shows the splashdown of the Polaris Dawn mission early this morning. Photo: Polaris Dawn / SpaceX

In the early hours of Sunday morning, SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn crew successfully completed their five-day journey in space, capping off the historic mission with a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. The Crew Dragon capsule, carrying four astronauts, landed off the coast of Dry Tortugas, Florida, at 3:37 a.m. ET, marking the conclusion of a mission that included the world’s first commercial spacewalk.

Polaris Dawn Takes Flight: The Mission That May Redefine Commercial Space Exploration

Polaris Dawn Takes Flight: The Mission That May Redefine Commercial Space Exploration

Polaris Dawn rises off of the launch pad on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on September 10, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now
Polaris Dawn rises off of the launch pad on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on September 10, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now

The Florida skies over the Kennedy Space Center lit up once again this morning with the 5:23 a.m. ET launch of the Polaris Dawn mission. This mission may prove to be one of the most significant yet in the realm of commercial space flight. The mission, spearheaded by SpaceX and billionaire Jared Isaacman, aims to break multiple records and test several new technologies that will advance private space exploration.

Polaris Dawn: Will She Stay or Will She Go?

Polaris Dawn: Will She Stay or Will She Go?

Polaris Dawn on the launch pad behind SpaceX’s Starship Tower at LC-39A
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

SpaceX plans to launch Polaris Dawn early tomorrow morning from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center, with four astronauts aboard a Crew Dragon. Following weeks of recent weather delays and continued unsettled weather, the mission has a 40% chance of lifting off tomorrow, according to SpaceX.

Polaris Dawn Delayed Until At Least Friday Due To Abort Zone Weather

Polaris Dawn Delayed Until At Least Friday Due To Abort Zone Weather

Polaris Dawn sitting atop Falcon 9 and LC-39A on June 26.
Polaris Dawn sitting atop Falcon 9 and LC-39A on June 26.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now

SpaceX has called off the Polaris Dawn launch of Falcon 9 until at least Friday, August 29th. The company announced shortly after 10 PM EDT that it was standing down for the night, and stated on its website that the next launch attempt would be no earlier than the end of the week.