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Historic space mission: who are Bob and Doug, the astronaut friends who man the Space X rocket

2020-05-31T10:24:07.249Z


Both are former military pilots and are married to other astronauts. They met in 2000, when they were recruited by NASA.


05/30/2020 - 18:00

  • Clarín.com
  • Society

Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, the two astronauts who flew into space this Saturday on a SpaceX rocket , are former military pilots, recruited by NASA at the same time, and, in addition, both are married to astronauts. They have the traditional profile of NASA men: military-style haircut, a concise and unhurried way of speaking, and they are smiling, reasonable, competent and trustworthy.

The protagonists of the most anticipated takeoff in recent years  met in 2000 , when he began his training at the space agency. Since then, the two Americans have become best friends, according to Doug Hurley, 53, himself.

Behnken, 49, with a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology, enrolled as a student and finished at the legendary Air Force test pilot school at Edwards Base in California. As a colonel, he flew 25 different planes, including the F-22 fighter jet.

Astronaut Robert Behnken. (AP Photo / John Raoux)

Doug was also a colonel, but as an airman in the Marine Corps , where he became an F-18 specialist pilot.

Astronaut Douglas Hurley. Photo: Joel Kowsky / NASA / dpa

Between 2008 and 2011, they each traveled twice, separately, aboard the space shuttle , the previous American space transportation.

In 2015, NASA assigned them their next mission: the first manned demonstration flight of the Crew Dragon capsule , built by SpaceX, the California company created by the intrepid millionaire Elon Musk.

"As alumni of the military school of test pilots, if we had ever been able to choose a dream job, it would have been to board a new spacecraft and carry out a test mission ," Behnken said on May 20, arriving to the Kennedy Space Center in Houston, Texas, home to American astronauts.

Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley at their positions in the Crew Dragon capsule. Photo: AFP / NASA TV

It was in Houston that they both settled with their families. Bob with his wife Megan McArthur and their 6-year-old son Theodore. Doug, like his partner, also married an astronaut, Karen Nyberg, with whom he had Jack, now 10.  Both women also went into space.

The bond of friendship Bob and Doug share is a bonus for such a risky mission, where they may have to take control of the aircraft, ready to fly on autopilot.

Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley in the Crew Dragon capsule. AFP / NASA TV

Doug is the most meticulous of the pair , even bordering on the manic, according to Behnken. "If we need unnecessary information, Doug has it," he said in a NASA video. Doug himself admits to being a "dark procedure" specialist.

As for Bob, his friend highlights a gift: "He always plans everything ." And his face says it all: "He doesn't know how to brag."

On Monday, the NASA chief asked his men if they were sure to board the first manned space flight from SpaceX, the California-based company created in 2002. "They both said they were ready for launch," said Jim Bridenstine, and insisted: "They are ready" .

Bob and Doug trained five years to undertake the mission that will leave them on the International Space Station. Adverse weather conditions forced to stop the takeoff on Wednesday, but this Saturday finally materialized .

Shortly before, the astronauts said goodbye to their wives and children. They arrived at the rocket aboard an electric car signed by billionaire entrepreneur Musk, the owner of Tesla and the Pay Pal payment system that is now laying the groundwork for space tourism.

Takeoff of the Crew Dragon capsule. Photo: Gregg Newton / AFP)

Bob and Doug took an elevator to the Crew Dragon capsule in their special white , US-flag and SpaceX suits , designed by José Fernández, the expert who makes the costumes for superhero movies.

At 4:22 p.m. Argentine time, the capsule took off. Now, the goal of these astronauts and friends is to reach the International Space Station , which orbits 400 kilometers above sea level at 27,000 kilometers per hour. They must remain there until August.

With information from AFP

Source: clarin

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