NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2: Teams Targeting Gulf of Mexico for Splashdown
Marie Lewis, NASA • August 1, 2020
SpaceX Capsule Splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico south of Gulf Shores
Watch live coverage of the SpaceX splashdown below...
SpaceX Crew Dragon DM-2 Splashdown coverage continues with splashdown scheduled at 1:48 p.m. CDT.
(OBA®) - UPDATE on August 2, 2020 at 7:55 am - At 12:36 pm there will be a communications blackout for about 6 minutes as the SpaceX capsule re-enters earth's atmosphere. At 12:42 pm communications will return.
The Trunk Separation will take place at 12:51 pm. The deorbit burn will last 11.5 minutes. On re-entry the outside of the capsule will reach temperatures in excess of 3,500 degrees. The inside the capsule will be 85°.
Parachutes will deploy at 1:45pm. The time of splashdown is now scheduled for 1:48 pm CDT.
At splashdown the capsule will be moving at 15 mph.
We have asked NASA if we'll be able to see the splashdown from the beach. NASA answered on their live feed... They said we should be able to see the orange and white parachutes, but they aren't sure.
Gulf of Mexico off of Pensacola and Orange Beach is primary target site for splashdown on Sunday.
(OBA®) - Following a scheduled assessment of weather conditions for splashdown, teams from NASA and SpaceX are proceeding with preparations to bring NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley home to Earth aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon “Endeavour” spacecraft.
Conditions are “Go” at the primary targeted site, off the coast Pensacola, and alternate site off the coast of Panama City in the Gulf of Mexico for splashdown and recovery on Sunday, Aug. 2. Teams will continue to closely monitor Hurricane Isaias and evaluate impacts to the potential splashdown sites.
SpaceX will monitor changes to conditions until 2.5 hours prior to the scheduled undocking, when a determination to proceed with departure will be made. If conditions are marginal and exceed the accepted criteria, a joint recommendation by SpaceX and NASA will be made whether to proceed with undocking at 7:34 p.m. EDT. NASA and SpaceX will make the final decision to proceed after the astronauts are ready inside Crew Dragon just before undocking.
Live coverage of NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 return will begin at 5:15 p.m. and continue through the targeted splashdown at 2:41 p.m. EDT on Sunday, the first return of a commercially built and operated American spacecraft carrying astronauts from the space station. It will wrap up NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight after more than two months at the International Space Station.
Hurley and Behnken arrived at the orbiting laboratory in the Crew Dragon May 31 following a launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30. This is SpaceX’s final test flight and is providing data on the performance of the Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon spacecraft and ground systems, as well as in-orbit, docking, splashdown, and recovery operations.
More details about the return can be found in the Top 10 Things to Know for NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 Return.
Share this article w/ Friends...
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Colorado State University has lowered its forecast for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season again. Researchers now expect one of the least active seasons in more than a decade. The updated outlook predicts far fewer named storms and hurricanes than average. Forecasters say shifting climate p
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — For years, Jesse's Restaurant in the charming town of Magnolia Springs has served as a cornerstone of the coastal Alabama dining scene, widely recognized for its historic setting and dedication to high-quality cuisine. Building on the success and traditions established at this original loca
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Now and then, the best week isn't the busiest one–it’s the one that reminds you why you love living and visiting here in the first place. Along Alabama’s Gulf Coast, life has a way of balancing adventure with stillness, where mornings begin over coffee, afternoons unfold beneath moss-drape
NAS Pensacola, Fla. — (OBA) — The Gulf Coast is in for a stormy stretch heading into Red, White and Blues Week, as the National Weather Service in Mobile is tracking a persistent pattern of showers and thunderstorms through midweek. Temperatures will remain above average, with highs ranging from the mid-80s to the lo
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — National Pecan Pie Day celebrates one of the South's most beloved desserts. A classic pecan pie is made with sugar or corn syrup, eggs, butter, and pecans. The day is the perfect occasion to bake a family recipe, pick up a gourmet pie, or explore creative twists on the classic.
Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Tacky Jacks locations in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach will host a series of free family events this week featuring wildlife education, jewelry-making classes, and beach games for children. The Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural R
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — For Taylor Hicks, performing at the Flora-Bama is more than another stop on his calendar. It is a return to one of the places where he learned to connect with an audience long before millions of television viewers knew his name. The appearance comes during a landmark year for Hicks. It has
Robertsdale, Ala. — (OBA) — The Baldwin County Commission invites residents, local leaders, and community stakeholders to attend an upcoming Road and Bridge Meeting later this month. The session will focus on the county's transportation network and long-range infrastructure planning. Officials say the meeting will fea
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce is seeking an artist to create the official artwork for the 2027 Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival. The chamber announced a formal call for artists to submit original designs for the event's t-shirt and poster. The festival, which will mark its 23rd annual g
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — One of America's most famous legal scholars was recently in Gulf Shores. After Jonathan Turley's speaking engagement at the Lodge at Gulf State Park, he explored from Magnolia Springs to the Flora-Bama and even discovered something called the Bushwacker. He wrote about his adventure to his m
