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NASA Announces Astronauts for First Commercial Crew Missions
Today, NASA announced the astronaut selection for the first Commercial Crew flights, which will finally restore the ability to launch astronauts from American soil. Boeing's first test flight, which is scheduled for mid-2019, will have Eric Boe, social media-savvy astronaut Chris Ferguson and rookie Nicole Aunapu Mann on board. SpaceX's inaugural Crew Dragon voyage, targeting April 2019, will have Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins as crew.
NASA also announced the astronauts for the first missions, which will be long-duration and dock with the International Space Station. Suni Williams, who is best known for running the Boston Marathon on an ISS treadmill, will be joined by rookie astronaut Josh Cassada. And finally, the second SpaceX demo flight will be crewed by Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley.
Source: Engadget
NASA Names First Astronauts to Fly on American Spacecraft; SpaceX Poised to Fly Crew Before Boeing
NASA has selected nine American astronauts who will fly on SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Boeing's CST-100 Starliner:
NASA introduced to the world on Friday the first U.S. astronauts who will fly on American-made, commercial spacecraft to and from the International Space Station – an endeavor that will return astronaut launches to U.S. soil for the first time since the space shuttle's retirement in 2011.
"Today, our country's dreams of greater achievements in space are within our grasp," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "This accomplished group of American astronauts, flying on new spacecraft developed by our commercial partners Boeing and SpaceX, will launch a new era of human spaceflight. Today's announcement advances our great American vision and strengthens the nation's leadership in space."
For now, SpaceX's crewed test flight is scheduled for April 2019, while Boeing's is scheduled for "mid-2019". The announcement comes days after an issue with Boeing's pad abort thrusters was revealed.
Previously: Safety Panel Raises Concerns Over SpaceX and Boeing Commercial Crew Plans
SpaceX and Boeing Not Ready to Transport Astronauts to the International Space Station
Related: Boeing CEO Says His Company Will Carry Humans to Mars Before SpaceX
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday August 04 2018, @10:45PM (6 children)
I met Josh Cassada while living in L.A. He was a member of the Grape Street Crips back then and was dealing drugs, hustling, and stealing before he was finally arrested. When a NASA employee saw in the news his mugshot along with his ability to smoke a gram of crack and jump every fence in a single city block, they knew at once that he was the right diversity success story to handle space due to his demonstrated ability to operate his body under extreme stresses.
(Score: 2) by Hartree on Sunday August 05 2018, @01:03AM
Hopkins was a pretty cool guy. Forgive me for being pumped that someone I knew made really really good.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Sunday August 05 2018, @01:09AM (4 children)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_A._Cassada [wikipedia.org]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 4, Funny) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday August 05 2018, @01:15AM (2 children)
I am of course working for Boston Dynamics. When I was on-loan to NASA to help vet him the issue of his hard drug use came up, and that was the major deal-breaker. He responded deftly, stating
We then decided that this guy needed to go out into space. If he's out of his mind, then being in space makes no difference to him. It was then that we knew he was the right man for the job.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Sunday August 05 2018, @01:28AM (1 child)
The CST-100 Starliner astronauts could be considered human sacrifices.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Sunday August 05 2018, @01:51AM
*all* astronauts should be considered to be (potential) sacrifices.
For a while, humans managed to get to space and back wiout too many deaths, but even so, the long term effects are kife-limiting.
https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace [nasa.gov]
https://www.theverge.com/2016/3/1/11138102/scott-kelly-year-in-space-health-effects-return-to-earth [theverge.com]
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Sunday August 05 2018, @11:13PM
He was born in 1973! That makes him waaay too young to be an astronaut.
Oh, wait. I'm sad now.