Thread by @ChrisG_NSF

And it's starting. UPDATES Thread: 👇

LIVE LINK: nasa.gov/multimedia/nas…

#Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA

NASA: One of the things that will be tested on DM2 is MANUAL control of Dragon during rendezvous. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA

NASA: May 27th still the target. Backup day is May 30. Both rendezvous with Station within 24hrs of launch. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA

NASA: Still testing a lot of things on this mission. Life Support, touch screens, manual control, etc. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA

Zeb (NASA Flight Director): This is like the world series, superbowl. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA

Zeb: For DM-2, Falcon 9 puts Dragon into a safe orbit with launch. About 24hrs to Station; assuming launch on 27 May, docking would occur on 28 May. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA

Cool video of Dragon's approach to ISS! #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA

Crew will be in MANUAL control of Dragon at this point to validate that should auto-dock system ever fail, crew can control Dragon manually to docking. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA

Final docking, however, will be done automatically by Dragon's computers. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

NASA: Have built in VARIABLE mission duration to balance ISS and Crew-1 Dragon mission to follow. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Will also be testing Dragon's role as a safe haven or emergency evac craft for ISS crew on this mission. Dragon will also bring supplies back from ISS. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Undocking to splashdown is about 24 hours. Splashdown will be in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Benji (SpaceX): "It's a sacred honor to bring the crew to Station, keep them safe, and bring them home to their families." #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Benji: We focus on Crew Dragon, the crown jewel. But there's a whole system that runs through everyone at SpaceX for Falcon 9, communication, safety... #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Benji: We're getting appropriately nervous. We're 26 days to launch. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Over 700 tests of the SuperDraco emergency escape system. 1000s of Draco thrusters. TODAY will be the 27th test of Mk. 3 parachutes! #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Benji: That whole process, Demo-1, just went exactly as we wanted it. We learned a lot. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Benji: This is also a test mission. Quotes @JimBridenstine: "This will be the 5th time in the US and 9th time worldwide that humans will fly on a new system." #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Will do Static Fire as usual. Will also have a separate Crew Dry Dress where crew will get suited up, they go to the pad, get into Dragon, hatch will be closed, and they'll sim fueling and T0. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Crew suits up 4hrs before launch. Transport to pad is 3hrs before launch. Get them in. Get hatch closed. Retract crew arm T-38 minutes and arm Crew Dragon abort system. T-35mins, begin fueling. T0: LIFTOFF. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Some graphics about the launch, docking, and reentry. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Goal is to recover Dragon and have it on the ship and crew out 1hr after splashdown. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Decision for longer mission 6 months ago (???). About 210 days is what NASA thinks is max for Dragon for this mission. That's the limiting factor in duration. But Crew-1 schedule tracking is the driving factor. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Benji: Higher risk of weather-related scrubs expected on crew missions of Dragon. (ME: This should be fun for a Florida summer afternoon!) #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Benji acknowledges he would expect weather-related scrubs for DM-2 given "this time of year" in Florida. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

NASA talking about how the SpaceX crew suits are full pressure suits and are leak-proof. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Q: When this this Dragon be reused?
A: Benji... Crew Dragons are fully reusable. This one will be brought home and refurbished for another mission. (ME: It better go straight to a freaking museum.)
#Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Q: Why are solar arrays so limited?
A: NASA... All solar arrays degrade over time. The particular cells on this Dragon trunk given early are "worst case scenario" numbers. "Will watch their performance in flight and make a decision on data."
#Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Benji: Dragon is the most advanced spacecraft. It should be inspiring in look... just like the control system -- which is a "modern feat of engineering" utilizing touchscreen. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Banji: Touchscreens now give crew instant access to all info on craft. A few manual controls for aborts as mandated for safety overrides. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

CAPCOM (person who talks to crew) for Demo-2 will be a NASA person.... AND a CORE (sp?) group at SpaceX who will be responsible for talking to the astro during all phases of flights.

#Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Spacesuit question! Benji: Suits are really a subsystem of the vehicle. Designed to keep you safe while in the vehicle in case of loss of atmosphere. It's a 1-piece suit -- gloves and all! #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Benji: Suits will be used on launch, docking, undocking, and reentry and splashdown. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Bejji: Suits have "integrated comms systems ... water, food... everything needed to keep you safe." #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Benji: Outer part of suit is also capable of keeping the crew safe in case of fires. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Q: Suits correlation to Mars and Moon suits from SpaceX?
A: Benji... suits designed for use on Dragon today. But like all systems and everything we do, we deisgn based on knowledge and results and data to feed into future work. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Benji confirms, too, that Demo-2 will carry cargo up to the Station as well. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Minimum mission duration is 30 days. Max is 119 days (because of the solar panels). #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Basically, Demo-2, with a late-May launch, would last until late-June (minimum) or late-September (maximum). Decision point will revolve around Dragon performance and when next Dragon (Crew-1) mission is ready with a 4-person crew. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Overall, Crew Dragon can reach Station within a couple of hours after launch or take up to 48 hours to reach Station based on launch day phasing to the Station. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

All late-May in June launch opportunities for Demo-2 result in dockings around 19-24hrs after launch due to test flight requirements. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Crew will enter a standard, pre-launch quarantine on 16 May for a 27 May launch. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon

Wow. SpaceX had to do extra tests on Crew Dragon to "make sure it could find the TDRS network" because of Starliner's mission clock timer error... not because Dragon exhibited any problems. #Demo2 #DM2 #SpaceX #NASA #CrewDragon