Photo by: SpaceX

SpaceX

November: What's New in Space Exploration This Month?

It’s a November to remember in space. Here are some exciting space exploration highlights to look forward too!

November 03, 2020

1. SpaceX will launch another satellite for the U.S. Space Force

On November 5, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch a fourth third-generation navigation satellite known as GPS 3 SV04 for a Global Positioning System in connection with Space Force. It will blast off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

2. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission scheduled to launch this month

The assigned NASA astronauts for SpaceX’s first operational crewed mission are Crew Dragon commander Michael Hopkins, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Shannon Walker along with mission specialist Soichi Noguchi from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). These four astronauts are currently scheduled to launch on November 15 in a brand-new Crew Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for a six month stay aboard the International Space Station. NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, Cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov, and Cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, who arrived to the ISS on October 14, plan to welcome the four space explorers on November 16 when they dock with the station in their Crew Dragon capsule, Resilience.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts participate in crew equipment interface testing at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, on Sept. 24, 2020.

Photo by: NASA/SpaceX

NASA/SpaceX

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts participate in crew equipment interface testing at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, on Sept. 24, 2020.

3. A $23 million-dollar space toilet aboard the ISS awaits remaining crew members

Last month, NASA launched an expensive Universal Waste Management System to the International Space Station. The crew of Expedition 63 installed the compact and self-contained white cylinder in anticipation for the seven crew members of Expedition 64. It is said to be a better experience for female astronauts who need to use the loo. NASA astronauts Kate Rubins and Shannon Walker will be the judge of its improved design.

Photo by: NASA

NASA

4. Crew Dragon commander Michael Hopkins is joining the U.S. Space Force

It has been announced that a swearing-in ceremony may happen in orbit as NASA astronaut and U.S. Air Force colonel, Michael Hopkins, is set to become the first active astronaut member in the newly formed military branch of Space Force. Space Force was established within the Air Force on December 20, 2019, under the United States Space Force Act.

Photo by: Robert Markowitz/NASA

Robert Markowitz/NASA

5. Virgin Galactic welcomes two more pilots as it readies for commercial spaceflight

Jameel Janjua and Patrick Moran are joining six others for training at Spaceport America to possibly become the world’s first commercial suborbital spaceship pilots. Both test pilots have military and commercial flight experience.

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Countdown To Launch: NASA and SpaceX Crew-1 Mission

After a successful NASA and SpaceX Demo-2 Mission, the first operational mission of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon with four astronauts is targeted for November 15, 2020. Get ready to launch! Watch it live on SPACE LAUNCH LIVE: CREW-1 LIFT OFF starting at 5P ET on Discovery and Science Channcel or stream it live on Discovery GO.

Splashdown! NASA and SpaceX Crew-1 Return to Earth

On Sunday, May 2, at 2:56A ET, NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi returned home. From undocking to splashdown, here's everything you need to know. Catch up on NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 mission on SPACE LAUNCH LIVE: CREW-1 LIFTOFF, streaming on discovery+.

First US Commercial Crew Port Relocation to Air Live on NASA TV

On Monday, April 5, another first will occur for commercial space flight. For a look back at Crew-1's initial journey to the ISS, catch up on SPACE LAUNCH LIVE streaming now on discovery+.

William Shatner Becomes Oldest Man to Travel to Space After Successful Blue Origin Space Flight

On the morning of October 13, William Shatner joined the crew of New Shepard for its second crewed flight, NS-18. Due to a few holds, the scheduled 10A liftoff was delayed by about 50 minutes from Blue Origin's Launch Site One in Texas. Despite the delays, liftoff and touchdown went off without a hitch, making Star Trek star William Shatner the oldest man to go to space.

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Success! NASA and SpaceX Crew-1 Complete Early Morning Splashdown

(Updated: May 2, 2021) NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi completed a successful splashdown on Sunday, May 2, after a 165-day space research mission aboard the International Space Station. Here is what we know about their return to Earth.

10 Facts About NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 Splashdown

Here's everything you need to know about NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley's return home from the International Space Station on Sunday, August 2.

Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic Successfully Travels to Space

On Sunday, July 11, around 11:30A ET, Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Galactic, soared to the edge of space as a passenger aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity. The space plane then landed safely at Spaceport America in New Mexico, making Branson's space tourism dream come true.

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