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, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet!

Thomas Pesquet, born February 27, 1978 in Rouen, France, is an astronaut for the European Space Agency.  He went into space aboard Soyuz MS-03 in November 2016 to the International Space Station as part of Expedition 50.  He also participated in Expedition 51 before returning to Earth in June 2017.

Soyuz MS-03 launched 2016

Soyuz MS-03 crew (L-R): Thomas Pesquet, Peggy Whitson, Oleg Novitskiy

Mission patch

Soyuz MS-03, launched November 17, 2016, carried three members of Expedition 50 to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Oleg Novitskiy (Roscosmos), Thomas Pesquet (ESA) and Peggy Whitson (NASA).

At age 56, Peggy Whitson became the oldest woman to go into space.  Novitskiy and Pesquet returned to Earth in June 2017 after 196 days.  Whitson returned in September aboard Soyuz MS-04.

Soyuz MS-03 launched 2016

L-R: Thomas Pesquet, Peggy Whitson, Oleg Novitskiy

 Mission patch

Soyuz MS-03 took off from Baikonur in Kazakhstan, November 17, 2016.  On board were Oleg Novitskiy (Russia), Thomas Pesquet (France) and Peggy Whitson (Iowa).  Peggy was the oldest woman to go into space, but I don't know of anyone who will actually say that to her.  ;)

Soyuz MS-03 traveled to the International Space Station, docking on November 19.  It undocked June 2, 2017 bringing Pesquet and Novitskiy back to Earth.  Whitson stayed on the ISS until September 3.