SpaceX is about to send its crew module to the space station for a first essential test

The commercial space company will conduct its first test flight with its onboard crew module. A manikin goes to the International Space Station.

The start: If you live in the United States and want to watch the launch, you'll get up early and brilliantly. The takeoff is currently scheduled at 2:49 am EST from the Kennedy Space Center.

No crew will be on board this time, just a manikin equipped with sensors (or "smartie" as called SpaceX) named Ripley (according to the Alien movies, of course.Its sensors are designed to collect data on the experience of a human astronaut aboard this year.

How it will go: Although weather forecasts are good, there is still a chance that the launch will not happen on Saturday. If this is the case, an emergency launch slot is reserved 72 hours later, on March 5th. When launching, 58 seconds after takeoff, Max Q will occur. Then, just 11 minutes after takeoff, the Dragon Crew will separate from the 2nd leg and leave alone.

On Sunday, the module will be moored autonomously to the International Space Station for the first time. Astronauts aboard the space station will be responsible for monitoring the reception process. The hatch will open two hours and 45 minutes after docking to allow astronauts to enter the capsule (look inside the crew module in this video of the NASA).

And after: The capsule is also equipped with sensors that inform any additional changes that must be made before embarking humans. Kathy Lueders, head of NASA's commercial team program, said yesterday at a NASA press conference: "We have instrumented the shit of this vehicle." For the most part, the theft of crewed demonstration will use the same vehicle.

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