Crew 7: Countdown to Liftoff!
T -1 day until Crew-7 launch and here is everything you need to know about the mission!
3 min readAug 24, 2023
Mission Overview
- NASA SpaceX Crew-7 mission launch: August 25, 2023, 7:49 AM (UTC) [8:49 AM Nigerian Time (WAT)]
- Falcon 9 rocket carries four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS)
- Crew-7 mission focuses on research, microgravity experiments, maintenance, and spacecraft monitoring
- Importance: Advances in space exploration, technology, and international collaboration
- Astronauts stay on ISS for 6 months to a year, studying the effects of space on the human body.
Launch and Intercept:
- Dragon spacecraft launched on Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Pad 39A.
- Accelerated to approximately 17,500 mph to intercept the space station.
Docking Process:
- Automatic maneuvers guided Dragon to the Harmony module’s space-facing port.
- Gradual orbit-raising maneuvers prepared Dragon for autonomous or manual docking.
Arrival and Handover:
- Crew-7 will be welcomed by Expedition 69 crew upon docking.
- Handover activities with departing Crew-6 astronauts.
- Crew-6 undocks and splashes down off the Florida coast.
Scientific Research:
- Crew-7 conducts new scientific research for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit.
- Experiments include microbial sampling, human response to spaceflight durations, and astronaut sleep study.
- Over 200 science experiments and technology demonstrations are planned.
Key Players
“To infinity and beyond!” — Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story