Journey to the ISS: NASA and SpaceX Crew-1 Mission

(Updated: November 17, 2020)

From launch preparation on land to docking with the ISS in space, here are some highlights from the NASA and SpaceX Crew-1 mission. NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Shannon Walker, and Victor Glover, along with Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched in a new Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket on November 15 at 7:27P ET from the NASA Kennedy Launch Complex 39A. After a 27 hour journey, the spacecraft docked with the ISS at 11:01P ET.

November 12, 2020

By: Alexia Rosenfield and Leah Weber

Show: SPACE LAUNCH LIVE

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Launch Preparations

From left, NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Gover and Michael Hopkins, along with Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), board a plane from Ellington Field near the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, en route to Kennedy Space Center in Florida for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission to begin final launch preparations. Crew-1 is the first operational mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

Launch Preparations

Pilot Victor Glover, spacecraft commander Michael Hopkins, mission specialist Soichi Noguchi, and mission specialist Shannon Walker participate in a SpaceX training exercise on July 22, 2020, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in preparation for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission. Glover, Hopkins, and Walker are all NASA astronauts; Noguchi is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut. The exercise involved simulating an emergency situation prior to liftoff at Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.

Launch Preparations

From back to front, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Shannon Walker, mission specialist Soichi Noguchi, and spacecraft commander Michael Hopkins participate in an egress training exercise on July 21, 2020, in preparation for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission. Glover, Walker, and Hopkins are all NASA astronauts; Noguchi is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut. The exercise involved simulating an emergency situation after splashdown of the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Launch Preparations

The astronauts for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission pose for a photo in front of the Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Resilience by the crew, inside the SpaceX hangar at Launch Complex 39A on Nov. 8, 2020. From left, JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, mission specialist; NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins, spacecraft commander; NASA astronaut Shannon Walker, mission specialist; and NASA astronaut Victor Glover, pilot.

Launch Preparations

The astronauts for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission visit the Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Resilience by the crew, inside the SpaceX hangar at Launch Complex 39A on Nov. 8, 2020.

Launch Preparations

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft has arrived at the NASA Kennedy Launch Complex 39A.

Launch Complex 39A

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A after being rolled out overnight as preparations continue for the Crew-1 mission, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, and astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are scheduled to launch at 7:27 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 15, from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

SpaceX Crew-1 Preflight

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen, in this thirty second exposure, illuminated by spotlights on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Crew-1 mission.

SpaceX Crew-1 Preflight

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen just before sunrise on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A.

SpaceX Crew-1 Preflight

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen at sunrise on the launch pad.

SpaceX Crew-1 Preflight

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen on the launch pad at sunrise at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Crew-1 mission, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX Crew-1 Crew Walkout

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, wearing a SpaceX spacesuit, is seen as he prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building with his fellow crewmates NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Mike Hopkins, and Shannon Walker for Launch Complex 39A.

SpaceX Crew-1 Crew Walkout

NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, left, Victor Glover, second from left, Mike Hopkins, second from right, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, right, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, wave as they walkout of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building.

SpaceX Crew-1 Preflight

A NASA helicopter is seen flying past a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as the countdown progresses for the launch of the Crew-1 mission.

SpaceX Crew-1 Preflight

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as the press watches intently.

SpaceX Crew-1 Launch

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station.

SpaceX Crew-1 Launch

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi.

SpaceX Crew-1 Launch

Falcon 9 launches Crew Dragon on its first operational flight with astronauts on board, beginning regular crew flights to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

SpaceX Crew Dragon Approaching ISS

The Crew Dragon, known as Resilience, carrying the astronauts of Crew-1 is pictured here about 226 meters away from docking to the International Space Station. Crew-1 launched on November 15 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 7:27P ET. After about a 27-hour journey, Crew-1 is currently in the process of docking Resilience to the ISS On November 16 at 10:35P ET.

SpaceX Crew Dragon Prepares to Dock

The Crew Dragon, known as Resilience, carrying the astronauts of Crew-1 is pictured here a few meters away from docking to the International Space Station. Crew-1 launched on November 15 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 7:27P ET. After about a 27 hour journey, Crew-1 is minutes away from docking Resilience to the ISS on November 16 at 10:59P ET.

SpaceX Crew Dragon Docks to ISS

NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi arrived at the International Space Station Monday, November 16, as the SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience docked to the space station at 11:01P ET. Following Crew Dragon’s link up to the Harmony module, the astronauts aboard the Resilience and the space station will begin conducting standard leak checks and pressurization between the spacecraft in preparation for hatch opening scheduled for 1:10A ET on Tuesday, November 17.

Prepare to Open Hatch for Crew-1

NASA Astronaut Kate Rubins of Expedition 64 works to open the International Space Station side of the hatch for Crew-1 entry around 1:10A ET on Tuesday, November 17.

The Hatches are Open

On Tuesday, November 17, NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 Commander, Michael Hopkins, is the first one out of the Crew Dragon to enter the International Space Station. He is greeted by NASA Astronaut Kate Rubins, Roscosmos Cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov, and Roscosmos Cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov. Welcome to the ISS, SpaceX "Resilience" Crew Dragon Crew-1 members!

Welcoming Ceremony for Crew-1

The four Commercial Crew astronauts (front row from left) Shannon Walker, Victor Glover, Michael Hopkins and Soichi Noguchi are welcomed aboard the station on Tuesday, November 17 at 1:40A ET. In the back row from left are, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov. Crew-1 is now ready to begin their six-month stay aboard the ISS. This is the first long-duration crew comprised of seven members in space station history.