SpaceX’s First Astronauts: Meet the Crew for Demo-2

The upcoming SpaceX CrewDragon mission, known as SpaceX Demo-2, is set to make history with its crew of astronauts. This mission will see the first manned flight of a commercial space capsule to the International Space Station (ISS), marking a significant milestone for NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

Who Will Be the First Astronauts?

The crew for SpaceX Demo-2 has been officially named: Commander Douglas (Doug) Hurley and Pilot Robert (Bob) Behnken. Both are experienced astronauts, with Col. Hurley having flown one previous mission and Col. Behnken having launched once before. This mission, set to launch in May 2020, will be the first trip to the ISS from American soil since NASA's Space Shuttle Program ended in 2011.

Col. Douglas Hurley, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, will serve as the mission commander. This will be his third overall flight, including his command of the final Space Shuttle mission, STS-135. Col. Behnken, also a U.S. Marine, will serve as the pilot, marking his third flight as well. Together, they will represent the first all-NASA crew for a space station mission in nearly 20 years, since the Gemini 12 mission in 1966.

About the Mission

The SpaceX Demo-2 mission, which is officially known as Crew Dragon Demo-2, will be a short-duration, 14-day mission. However, there are discussions about potentially extending the duration to accommodate a standard crew rotation. Whether this extension will occur is uncertain, as the next Soyuz crew rotation is already paid for and future missions will likely involve a larger crew of 3-4 astronauts.

NASA's Commercial Crew Program

Both SpaceX and Boeing have been awarded contracts under NASA's Commercial Crew Program to develop spaceships capable of transporting astronauts to the ISS. Boeing's capsule, CST-100 Starliner, will also undergo a test flight with a NASA astronaut and a Boeing company astronaut. In contrast, SpaceX has decided to assign both seats on its first crewed Dragon 2 flight to NASA astronauts.

Meet the Astronauts

NASA has selected a pool of astronauts for the upcoming missions. This includes Col. Doug Hurley, who was born in New York and served as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Navy. Other astronauts in the pool include Col. Behnken, along with astronauts Mark Vande Hei, Chris Cassidy, and Shane Kimbrough.

Together, these astronauts represent a new era in American space exploration, building on decades of spaceflight experience and paving the way for future missions. As the world watches, these brave individuals will embark on a journey that promises to advance our understanding of space and inspire generations to come.