{"id":12445,"date":"2020-05-25T23:39:03","date_gmt":"2020-05-25T15:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/crew-dragon-astronauts-both-married-to-veteran-space-fliers-share-unique-bond\/"},"modified":"2020-05-25T23:39:03","modified_gmt":"2020-05-25T15:39:03","slug":"crew-dragon-astronauts-both-married-to-veteran-space-fliers-share-unique-bond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/crew-dragon-astronauts-both-married-to-veteran-space-fliers-share-unique-bond\/","title":{"rendered":"Crew Dragon astronauts, both married to veteran space fliers, share unique bond"},"content":{"rendered":"

STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS & USED WITH PERMISSION<\/p>\n

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NASA astronauts Bob Behnken (left) and Doug Hurley (right) pose on the tower at launch pad 39A Saturday during a dress rehearsal for launch day. Credit: SpaceX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s one thing to watch a spouse blast off on a rocketship, especially when the spacecraft is making its first flight with people on board. But it\u2019s altogether another matter when the anxious spouse is an astronaut as well.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the case for Karen Nyberg and Megan McArthur, both veteran astronauts married to the two men who plan to take off aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon Wednesday for a historic flight to the International Space Station.<\/p>\n

It will be the first flight of an American spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts launching from U.S. soil since the space shuttle completed its final mission in 2011. And it will be the first time in space history that astronauts will ride commercially developed American-made rockets and spacecraft not owned and operated by the space agency.<\/p>\n

A veteran of two space flights, including a long-duration stay aboard the space station, Nyberg, now retired from the astronaut corps, is married to Crew Dragon commander Douglas Hurley, a two-flight veteran and pilot of the shuttle Atlantis during the program\u2019s final mission. The couple has a 10-year-old son, Jack.<\/p>\n

McArthur, who helped service the Hubble Space Telescope during a final shuttle overhaul in 2009, is married to Crew Dragon joint operations commander Robert Behnken, one of Hurley\u2019s best friends. They have a 6-year-old son, Theodore.<\/p>\n

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NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, veteran of a shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, is married to Crew Dragon astronaut Bob Behnken. Credit: NASA\/Joel Kowsky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By almost any standard, the Hurleys and Behnkens are standouts \u2014 even by astronaut standards.<\/p>\n

Hurley is a veteran Marine Corps F\/A-18 test pilot. Behnken holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering from CalTech and served as an Air Force flight test engineer with the F-22 program. Nyberg holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and McArthur earned a doctorate in oceanography.<\/p>\n

All four met after being selected by NASA as part of a 17-member astronaut class in 2000.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know how they\u2019re going to feel on launch day,\u201d Hurley said in an interview with CBS News. \u201cAnd it is way harder on them to watch somebody that you care for get on a rocket and go fly than it is for those two guys on the rocket. I mean, it\u2019s a tough job to be the one watching.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey understand the risks, they understand the trades, they understand why you\u2019re doing it and how you feel about it. That in itself makes it a lot easier. But I think they understand a lot more in most cases maybe somebody who came from another background.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked how she felt about it, Nyberg said, \u201cI think in some ways you can know too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I have so much confidence in the two of them as operators,\u201d she said. \u201cI know if there are any problems, they are cool, calm and collected and (will) work through it. As far as the risk goes, you know, I accepted risk for myself a long time ago and just understand that that\u2019s part of our career.\u201d<\/p>\n