20 years ago, Hurley and Behnken were just Bugs. He was a … He'll be accompanied by fellow NASA astronaut Robert "Bob" Behnken on the first crewed voyage of the spaceship.

If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Please refresh the page and try again. Judging by his recent interviews and social media posts, Hurley is excited for this pioneering mission. Through their two years of training, Doug and Bob became best friends.

“That was excruciating to do that. Related: SpaceX's Crew Dragon space capsule explained (infographic). Doug Hurley rips off the name patch of his closeout crew technician during the first Demo-2 launch attempt on Wednesday May 27 – via NASA, Upon hearing the call for a scrub, Doug told launch controllers on the ground, “It was a good effort by the team, we understand, we’ll meet you there.”. On Saturday, May 30, Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken became the first astronauts to launch to orbit from the United States in almost nine years. You will receive a verification email shortly. Thank you for signing up to Space. Hurley served in the Navy as a fighter pilot, and trained to fly the F/A-18 Hornet, a supersonic jet. Related: SpaceX's historic Demo-2 mission explained in 13 steps. But perhaps the strongest case for Hurley and Behnken is their profound connection to the loss of Shuttle Columbia. The technician working with Behnken was also seen missing their name patch. Post-launch inspections mandated on all missions after STS-107 revealed no significant damage, allowing Hurley to pilot Endeavour to a safe landing. As a Mission Specialist, Behnken conducted three spacewalks to complete assembly of the Canadian Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, the part of the Space Station’s robotic arm better known as Dextre. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer. Doug Hurley first launched to space in 2009, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-127. A truth that Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken know all too well. Bob Behnken participating in the second spacewalk of STS-130 – via NASA. In 2003, Doug Hurley was the lead Cape Crusader for the STS-107 mission. At 8:59 AM, Columbia and her crew were 39 miles over Texas, at speeds greater than Mach 12.

Space is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Doug and Bob agreed to name their capsule after the orbiter that began both of their spaceflight careers: Endeavour. The 13-day mission was NASA's final space shuttle mission. After two years of training and several years in various support team roles, Hurley made his first spaceflight in July 2009, as the pilot for STS-127, International Space Station Assembly Mission 2J/A aboard the space shuttle Endeavor.

He's flown on two spaceflights and will make a third, historic spaceflight as commander on the Demo-2 flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. This is approximately three times safer than the post-retirement loss of crew estimates for the Shuttle program, around 1 in 90. The mission was long-awaited for, having endured two and a half years of delays before launch. After completing their evaluations, they eagerly awaited their chance to fly into space. Doug Hurley’s name patch is visible above Husband’s elbow. During launch, insulation foam from the external fuel tank fell and struck Endeavour’s heat shield, the same danger which crippled Columbia. NASA and SpaceX will decide how long Hurley and Behnken will remain in orbit after Crew Dragon reaches space, but the mission is likely to last between one and four months. Rick Husband on the flight deck of Shuttle Columbia during STS-107. Doug Hurley is a NASA astronaut and the commander for SpaceX Crew Flight Test (Demo-2). Doug Hurley in 2011, participating in training for STS-135 — NASA's final space shuttle mission. This time, Dragon, her crew, and the stolen name patches, lifted off from LC-39A, beginning a heartfelt journey into history. Starship SN8 conducts milestone Static Fire test ahead... SpaceX Falcon 9 launches latest Starlink mission.

The spacecraft then docked with the orbiting laboratory on March 3 and returned to Earth on March 8. Receive news and offers from our other brands? In 1997, he became a Navy test pilot, flying planes such as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft — more advanced versions of the F/A-18 Hornet. These increased safety factors are thanks to advancements such as Dragon’s launch escape system, capable of aborting from its Falcon 9 launcher at any point during ascent. With the space shuttle program at an end, NASA launched the Commercial Crew Program to promote the development of private spaceflight companies that the agency would commission to send astronauts into space. He began flight training in 1989 and became a naval aviator in August 1991. Reference article: Brief bio of Doug Hurley.

Demo-2, at its core, is a test flight, designed to ensure all of the spacecraft’s systems can support future crews travelling to and from the International Space Station.

After graduating from Owego Free Academy in Owego, New York, in 1984, he attended college at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. – via NASA, In his Shuttle history titled Wheels Stop, Rick Houston narrates a message from Columbia’s pilot Willie McCool, just before Hurley left the cockpit: “I can’t wait for you to be sitting here like I am.”. Doug Hurley is the spacecraft commander for Demo-2.

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In the end, no launch occurred on Wednesday, and the crew did return the patches to their owners.

Space Shuttle Columbia and her seven crew were slated for a sixteen day research mission to orbit.

In 16 days, the crewmembers completed five spacewalks and 248 orbits of Earth.

On Saturday, Doug and Bob repeated the tradition. But even with improved safety measures and designs, there is never zero risk in human spaceflight. As he strapped Commander Husband into his seat, Hurley wondered if Husband had forgotten. After years of development and testing, SpaceX plans to launch Hurley and Behnken on the first crewed flight of Crew Dragon on May 27, 2020, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. When their mission is complete, they will return to Earth aboard Endeavour. When they deliver those name patches back to their fellow team members, Doug and Bob will have carried on the Shuttle tradition, remembered the tragedy with which they are so closely connected, and paid tribute to the heroes who gave their lives for the betterment and inspiration of humanity. And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com. On January 16, 2003, Columbia stood at LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center on what would finally be her launch day. There was a problem. At 10:39 AM, Columbia, her crew, and Doug Hurley’s patch lifted off to begin their final mission. "Once again, I think Bob and I are very humbled to be in this position.". Hurley recounted that day to Houston. In 2003, Doug Hurley was the lead Cape Crusader for the STS-107 mission. NASA selected Hurley for the agency's astronaut program in 2000. Once on orbit, the crew also revealed another tribute to the Shuttle program: the name of their Dragon spacecraft. After all, Hurley was the first United States Marine to pilot the F/A-18 Super Hornet, and Behnken had served as lead Flight Test Engineer for the 4th F-22 Raptor.

The Demo-2 flight will be the Crew Dragon's second flight — this time with astronauts Hurley and Behnken aboard. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? You were packing notes to parents that the kids had written. Related: Two NASA astronauts are ready to try something completely new: Ride a SpaceX spaceship. Boeing's CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX's Crew Dragon are the first spacecraft commissioned by the U.S. government to send NASA astronauts into space. In 2015, NASA announced that Hurley would be joining the agency's first class of commercial crew astronauts. The mission required the work of 13 astronauts from all five international partners supporting the space station. But as Hurley prepared to leave Columbia’s flight deck, Husband ripped Hurley’s name patch off of his closeout crew bunny suit, and placed it on the Commander’s side of the cockpit. I still, to this day, can’t imagine what that must have been like for those families to go through.”, “It has had a sustained and lasting effect on me personally. I think there probably are a fair amount of people here who would be able to say that.

While boarding Dragon for the first Demo-2 launch attempt on Wednesday, May 27, Hurley was seen ripping a SpaceX closeout crew member’s patch off of their uniform, and placing it on the Crew Dragon control panel. The job of crew transportation was to be passed on to commercial vehicles, designed to be, above all, safer than the vehicles that came before them.

The crew of STS-107, commanded by Rick Husband on his second spaceflight, walked across the crew access arm to board their home for the next sixteen days.

Europe will help build NASA's moon-orbiting Gateway space station, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is tucking away precious asteroid samples for safekeeping. According to tradition, the commander of the mission would take the name patch of the lead Cape Crusader with him to orbit, returning the patch upon their return to Earth. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Or idealism. Something. As the lead Cape Crusader, Doug Hurley was waiting in the white room to help the crew aboard.

After college, Hurley attended The Basic School at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, and then aviation school at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. So it is fitting that the crew of Demo-2 is a pair of test pilots. When the time of Columbia’s expected arrival came and went, Hurley stood with Kennedy Space Center director and Space Shuttle veteran Bob Cabana as he delivered the tragic news to the crew’s families. Hurley is a New York native, born in Endicott on October 21, 1966. In 2018, NASA selected Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to be the first crew for SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. NY 10036.