SpaceX Crew-2 launched today!

SpaceX Crew-2 (L-R): Megan McArthur, Thomas Pesquet, Akihiko Hoshide, Shane Kimbrough

Mission patch

SpaceX Crew-2 was launched this morning just before 6am.  Its crew consists of Commander Shane Kimbrough, Pilot Megan McArthur, Akihiko Hoshide (JAXA), and Thomas Pesquet (ESA).  They are expected to dock with the International Space Station tomorrow morning.

They are planned to undock and return to Earth in October 2021.

Happy birthday, NASA astronaut Megan McArthur!

Megan McArthur, born August 30, 1971 in Honolulu, Hawaii, went into space on Atlantis (STS-125) as mission specialist to service the Hubble Space Telescope in May 2009.  It was the last mission to the Hubble. 

She is scheduled to be a member of SpaceX Crew-2 which will launch sometime next year.

She is married to fellow astronaut Robert Behnken.

Atlantis (STS-125) launched 2009

STS-125 crew (L-R): Mike Massimino, Michael Good, Gregory C. Johnson, Scott Altman, Megan McArthur,  John Grunsfeld and Andrew Feustel

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-125), launched May 11, 2009, was the fifth and final mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. Its crew consisted of Commander Scott Altman, Pilot Greg C. Johnson, Michael Good, Megan McArthur, John Grunsfeld, Mike Massimino and Andrew Feustel.

Three of the astronauts had already worked on the Hubble Telescope on previous missions.  Scott Altman, Mike Massimino and John Grunsfeld were all on STS-109, the fourth servicing mission.  Grunsfeld had also traveled to Hubble on STS-103. 

On Day 7, the crew woke up to New York State of Mind by Billy Joel, chosen by Mike Massimino.