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SpaceX Crew Dragon Launch: Meet the astronauts, Robert 'Bob' Behnken and Douglas 'Doug' Hurley

Behnken comes in as joint operations commander while Hurley is the spacecraft commander
PUBLISHED MAY 27, 2020
NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley (Getty Images)
NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley (Getty Images)

Amid the ongoing pandemic where achievements are a rarity, SpaceX launch sees two veteran astronauts travel from Florida to the International Space Station (ISS). What makes this part of history and a massive step for mankind is that it's happening after a decade. Veteran astronauts, Robert "Bob" Behnken and Douglas "Doug" Hurley will be strapped in and ready for take-off at 4:33 pm EDT on Wednesday, May 27. The duo will be traveling in the Crew Dragon vehicle atop the Falcon-9 rocket. 

The launch, part of Elon Musk's Space X Demo-2 mission, will take place at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida from Launch Complex 39A where they will rendevous with the ISS. It is the first manned test flight of Musk's company's Crew Dragon craft.  According to NASA, the mission includes validating the transport system, operations, rocket, spacecraft, and launch. The site also added that this would be the first time the spacecraft's systems will be tested in orbit. 

Who are the astronauts?

Robert "Bob" Behnken

The 49-year-old from Missouri will serve as the joint operations commander and is responsible for Crew Dragon's meet with ISS. Behnken is a veteran with his resume including two space shuttle flight completions and three spacewalks. Before signing up with NASA, he was a test flight engineer with the USAF. According to Space, Behnken has logged over 1,500 flight hours and has flown 25 different types of aircraft that make him a perfect fit to pilot the Crew Dragon. 

According to NASA, Behnken has a bachelor’s degree in physics and mechanical engineering from Washington University and earned a master’s and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology. Behnken is married to Megan McArthur, a NASA astronaut who he met in 2000. Both McArthur and Behnken were part of NASA's training class. She is an oceanographer and an astronaut who has one space shuttle mission to her credit. She currently serves as the deputy chief of NASA's Astronaut Office. 

Douglas "Doug" Hurley

Hurley, from New York, comes in as the spacecraft commander and his role makes him responsible for taking care of the launch, landing and recovery. Prior to this mission, Hurley served as the pilot and the lead robotics operator for STS‐127 in July 2009 and STS‐135 in July 2011.  His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Tulane University and a graduate from the US Naval Test Pilot School. Before joining NASA, Hurly was a fighter and test pilot in the US Marine Corps. 

Like Behnken, Hurley too met his wife, Karen Nyberg, while training. Nyberg worked as a mechanical engineer and was a NASA astronaut who successfully completed two space missions before hanging up the helmet. 

You can watch the Know your Crew clip to know more about the astronauts. 



 

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