Hines, Watkins, and Lindgren are NASA astronauts and Cristoforetti is an ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut. NASAs SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts take part in a training session at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, CA. From left to right: NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 mission professional Jessica Watkins; NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 pilot Robert “Bob” Hines; NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 leader Kjell Lindgren; and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Crew-4 mission professional Samantha Cristoforetti of Italy. To become more familiar with healing operations, the astronauts discovered their sea legs aboard SpaceXs Dragon healing vessels that will be utilized by joint SpaceX and NASA groups to pick up the crew following splashdown at the end of their mission. From left to right: ESA astronaut and Crew-4 objective expert Samantha Cristoforetti of Italy; NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 commander Kjell Lindgren; NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 pilot Robert “Bob” Hines; and NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 mission specialist Jessica Watkins.
NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 mission professional Jessica Watkins is shown using her spacesuit throughout a training session at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, CA. Credit: SpaceX
While at Kennedy Space Center for emergency situation preparedness training, the team went to the launch tower at Launch Complex 39A and trained on the emergency situation egress system, which utilizes slide wire baskets that make it possible for crew and personnel to safely and rapidly leave from the launch tower in case of an emergency situation.
To become more knowledgeable about healing operations, the astronauts found their sea legs aboard SpaceXs Dragon recovery vessels that will be utilized by joint SpaceX and NASA teams to choose up the team following splashdown at the end of their mission. Two identical vessels cover prospective landing zones off of the coast of Florida. The astronauts also visited one of SpaceXs garages where Falcon 9 rockets are refurbished and gotten ready for flight.
NASAs SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts train at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. From left to right: ESA astronaut and Crew-4 objective professional Samantha Cristoforetti of Italy; NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 leader Kjell Lindgren; NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 pilot Robert “Bob” Hines; and NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 objective professional Jessica Watkins. Credit: SpaceX
The crew is scheduled for a science exploration aboard the International Space Station, living and working as part of orbiting laboratorys Expeditions 67 and 68. Crew-4 will be the fourth crew rotation mission with SpaceX, and 5th crewed flight overall including the Demo-2 flight test, for NASAs Commercial Crew Program.
The official crew picture of the SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts representing NASAs Commercial Crew Program. From left are, Pilot Robert Hines, Mission Specialists Samantha Cristoforetti and Jessica Watkins, and Commander Kjell Lindgren. Hines, Watkins, and Lindgren are NASA astronauts and Cristoforetti is an ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut. Credit: NASA
NASAs SpaceX Crew-4 team– consisting of NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines, Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti– have actually been hectic preparing yourself for their upcoming mission to the International Space Station. The objective is set up to introduce Friday, April 15, from Launch Complex 39A at the agencys Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASAs SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts get involved in a training session at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, CA. From left to right: NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 objective specialist Jessica Watkins; NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 pilot Robert “Bob” Hines; NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-4 commander Kjell Lindgren; and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Crew-4 mission professional Samantha Cristoforetti of Italy. Credit: SpaceX
During recent training at SpaceX head office in Hawthorne, California, the crew took part in simulations focused on undocking and leaving from the spaceport station. All 4 astronauts practiced in a high-fidelity simulator of SpaceXs Dragon pill, total with flight-realistic hardware, display screens, and seats. Each astronaut acquired experience fitting up and setting up the spacecraft for departure. Commander Lindgren and pilot Hines took their places in the center seats, with access to flight displays theyll utilize to keep track of the spacecrafts status and, if needed, take manual control of the spacecraft.
NASAs SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts– NASA astronaut and Crew-4 pilot Bob Hines (left), and NASA astronaut and Crew-4 commander Kjell Lindgren (right)– participate in a training session at SpaceX head office in Hawthorne, CA. Credit: SpaceX
Astronaut teams routinely train for all stages of flight, using simulations to practice typical operations and react to any unforeseen concerns. These simulations usually include multiple “runs” for a given day, with crew and flight controllers practicing a specific stage of the objective. Utilizing simulated information to train workers, simulations introduce system failures and other challenges to offer groups the chance to get ready for and comprehend prospective anomalies that could occur throughout a spaceflight, all while equipping the crew with the abilities needed for successfully overcoming these obstacles.