#Tampa Travel Agency

[beardedmrbean]

A cross-county chase involving multiple law enforcement agencies ended with a Tampa man under arrest.

The suspect, Walter Medina, was wanted out of Hillsborough County for allegedly inflicting months of torture and abuse on a woman he held captive.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Florida Highway Patrol was advised of an active pursuit of the suspect traveling east on Interstate 4 heading from Polk County into Osceola County.

Investigators said the suspect, driving a gold Town and Country Ford van, attempted to get away from law enforcement by driving at high speed and weaving in and out of traffic recklessly, endangering other motorists.

FHP troopers, deputies with Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and officers with the Lakeland Police Department continued to pursue the suspect who they say began driving on left shoulder at more than 100 miles per hour.

Law enforcement attempted several precision immobilization techniques (PIT) maneuvers but were unable to stop the suspect’s van.

At one point, investigators said the suspect hit another vehicle and drove off the exit ramp at John Young Parkway and then, after running a red light, crashed into a raised median.

After the crash, troopers said the suspect refused to comply with commands, so FHP K-9 Rico was deployed, who apprehended the fleeing suspect.

Medina popped up on law enforcement’s radar on Monday after Hillsborough County deputies responded to a gas station in Seffner after a caller reported an injured female had just escaped from a van and needed help.

According to deputies, the victim, who had been panhandling in the area since 2024, met the suspect, Walter Medina during that time. Investigators said Medina initially provided the victim with food and narcotics before his actions turned violent and “subjected her to months of relentless physical abuse and captivity.”

Deputies said that Medina repeatedly assaulted the victim using a wooden baseball bat and a flathead screwdriver, inflicting severe injuries including broken ribs, deep puncture wounds, and extensive bruising.

Medina allegedly threatened to kill the victim if she fled or sought help.

The victim had the chance to escape when Medina briefly left her unattended at Walgreens, deputies said.

“I can’t imagine the torture this victim endured for months, but I can imagine the relief she felt when our deputies arrived,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “I have to commend the bravery of the victim for escaping her captor and seeking help. Our thoughts are with her as she recovers from this traumatic ordeal.”

“This suspect’s reign of violent terror is now over,” Chronister added.

Walter Medina was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center after his arrest. When he is released from the hospital, Medina will be taken to the Orange County Jail to be booked on multiple charges, including attempted murder and kidnapping.

[maddielockhart]

Hi everyone, my name is Maddie Lockhart. I am a senior and my major is marketing. I am from Rochester NY, and at home I have a older sister who lives in Tampa and a younger brother who is a senior in high school. I also have a mom, dad, and a dog who is 12. At home I work at a sports bar as a waitress, and I also promote alcohol for the Hart Agency which is super fun for work. I do not know what job I plan to have in the future yet, but I would like to use my communication skills to meet with others and make a decent amount of money in hopes to travel in the future. My hobbies include hanging out with friends, shopping, doing makeup and self care, and listening to music. My favorite artist is Drake and my favorite food is crab!

[reasoningdaily]

Yahoo News: Civil rights groups warn tourists about Florida in wake of 'hostile' laws

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The NAACP over the weekend issued a travel advisory for Florida, joining two other civil rights groups in warning potential tourists that recent laws and policies championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida lawmakers are “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.”

The NAACP, long an advocate for Black Americans, joined the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a Latino civil rights organization, and Equality Florida, a gay rights advocacy group, in issuing travel advisories for the Sunshine State, where tourism is one of the state's largest job sectors.

The warning approved Saturday by the NAACP's board of directors tells tourists that, before traveling to Florida, they should understand the state of Florida "devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.”

An email was sent Sunday morning to DeSantis' office seeking comment. The Republican governor is expected to announce a run for the GOP presidential nomination this week.

Florida is one of the most popular states in the U.S. for tourists, and tourism is one of its biggest industries. More than 137.5 million tourists visited Florida last year, marking a return to pre-pandemic levels, according to Visit Florida, the state's tourism promotion agency. Tourism supports 1.6 million full-time and part-time jobs, and visitors spent $98.8 billion in Florida in 2019, the last year figures are available.

Several of Florida's Democratic mayors were quick to say Sunday that their cities welcomed diversity and inclusion.

“EVERYONE is always welcome and will be treated with dignity and respect,” tweeted Mayor Ken Welch of St. Petersburg in a message echoed by the mayor across the bay in Tampa.

“That will never change, regardless of what happens in Tallahassee,” tweeted Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa.

The NAACP's decision comes after the DeSantis' administration in January rejected the College Board’s Advanced Placement African American Studies course. DeSantis and Republican lawmakers also have pressed forward with measures that ban state colleges from having programs on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as critical race theory, and also passed the Stop WOKE Act that restricts certain race-based conversations and analysis in schools and businesses.

In its warning for Hispanic travelers considering a visit to Florida, LULAC cited a new law that prohibits local governments from providing money to organizations that issue identification cards to people illegally in the country and invalidates out-of-state driver’s licenses held by undocumented immigrants, among other things. The law also requires hospitals that accept Medicaid to include a citizenship question on intake forms, which critics have said is intended to dissuade immigrants living in the U.S. illegally from seeking medical care.

“The actions taken by Governor DeSantis have created a shadow of fear within communities across the state,” said Lydia Medrano, a LULAC vice president for the Southeast region.

Recent efforts to limit discussion on LGBTQ topics in schools, the removal of books with gay characters from school libraries, a recent ban on gender-affirming care for minors, new restrictions on abortion access and a law allowing Floridians to carry concealed guns without a permit contributed to Equality Florida's warning.

“Taken in their totality, Florida’s slate of laws and policies targeting basic freedoms and rights pose a serious risk to the health and safety of those traveling to the state,” Equality Florida's advisory said.

[bllsbailey]

Florida: Human Trafficking Sting Operation Catches 157 Criminals, Including 25 Illegal Aliens

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said some of the 25 illegal immigrants arrested during a sting that nabbed 157 total people received benefits when they came into the U.S.

A human trafficking raid in Florida resulted in the arrest of 157 individuals, including 25 illegal aliens, the majority of whom reportedly obtained federal benefits after entering the country.

Along with representatives from other law enforcement agencies from Marion County, Lake County, Auburndale, Clermont, Davenport, Winter Haven, Lakeland, and Tampa, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced that 157 suspects were arrested as part of “Operation Autumn Sweep” for crimes committed that related to soliciting prostitutes, offering to commit prostitution, and aiding and abetting prostitutes.

Meanwhile, “three others were arrested for traveling to sexually batter children,” The New York Post reported.

Four other potential victims of human trafficking were identified from the 47 prostitutes that appeared at covert sites to engage in prostitution during the operation, which started on October 2nd.  

According to Judd’s office, 96 suspects were detained for soliciting prostitution, and of the 157 individuals detained, 201 misdemeanors and 35 felonies were imposed.

“The approach of Hurricane Milton caused us to end our investigation earlier than planned, but it’s still amazing that in such a short amount of time we were able to put 157 people in jail, and three child predators,” Judd stated.

The sheriff also noted that 25 of the 157 individuals detained were illegally present in the United States from countries such as Cuba, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Venezuela.

“Sixteen percent of these total arrests were people who should not even have been in this country,” the sheriff continued. “But they were here, and they were here because we have a federal government that enabled these criminals to come into the country, and they treated them very well after the criminals came here illegally.”

Judd told the story of one woman involved in the raid who says she brought her child to the United States. The woman informed authorities that she flew from Venezuela into Mexico and then illegally crossed the border with her child to enter El Paso, Texas, which contradicts the Harris campaign’s claims that we “have no open border,” seemingly gaslighting American voters into believing that these sorts of worries are just due to “MAGA propaganda.”

“There is no border security at the southern border. Zero. It doesn’t exist,” Judd added.

The sheriff explained that after completing the quick, standard procedure at the Border Patrol processing center, the woman was assigned to a migrant housing facility.

The woman told authorities that after undergoing a DNA test to confirm that her DNA matched that of her child, she was informed of the free benefits and services that would be available to her in the United States. According to Judd, she was told that she would be eligible for programs like Medicaid and SNAP.

She then subsequently received a “free” ticket, paid for with U.S. tax dollars, from Texas to Chicago, where she was still unable to find work. According to Judd, the woman chose to instead travel to Florida and even received a complimentary ticket to the Sunshine State as well.

“She was given free housing, all because the United States paid for that. That’s right. Use the taxpayers,” Judd explained. “This was not a stealthful act, and they gave her free travel, free housing, free food, free medical care. All while people from the hurricane are still waiting for help.”

Four of the women named as victims of human trafficking were smuggled across the border, according to Judd, and two of them acknowledged having to pay off the men who drove them around $6,000.

“Make no mistake about it, the government is complicit and is aiding and abetting human trafficking in the United States,” Judd said. “In addition to that, there is a wide-open border where fentanyl is coming across, and that is encouraged, and as a result of that, we have thousands upon thousands of people dying in the United States. And then the best that our federal politicians can say was, ‘well, it didn’t kill as many people this year as last year.’”

The oldest individual arrested in the trafficking sting was 61, while the youngest victim was 15.

Additionally, according to Judd’s office, three suspects were veterans or active-duty military personnel; three worked at Disney World; three had previously been taken into custody by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in similar stings; and multiple suspects claimed to have left their fiancé or spouse at home while they were at work, shopping, or the gym.

Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts

[travelarii]

Florida in January: Top 5 Must-Do Activities and Common Tourist Scams to Avoid

Florida in January offers a perfect escape from the winter chill, with mild temperatures, sunny skies, and a variety of activities for visitors. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, theme park fun, or a relaxing beach vacation, the Sunshine State has something for everyone. However, it's also essential to be aware of some common tourist scams to avoid. Here are the Things To Do In Florida In January and tips to keep your trip scam-free.

Top 5 Must-Do Activities in Florida in January

1. Visit Everglades National Park

January is one of the best times to explore the Everglades, thanks to cooler temperatures and fewer mosquitoes. Take an airboat tour to see alligators, birds, and other wildlife in their natural habitat. The park is a must-see for nature lovers, offering hiking trails, bird-watching, and guided tours.

2. Explore the Florida Keys

If you're looking for warm waters and tropical vibes, the Florida Keys are perfect in January. Visit Key West for its lively atmosphere, colorful architecture, and famous sunset celebrations. The Keys offer excellent opportunities for snorkeling, scuba diving, and fishing, making it one of the top Things To Do In Florida In January.

3. Attend the Gasparilla Pirate Festival in Tampa

Held annually in late January, the Gasparilla Pirate Festival is a unique and exciting event in Tampa. Expect a parade of pirates, live music, and plenty of fun activities for the whole family. This quirky celebration brings out the pirate spirit in everyone and is an iconic Floridian tradition.

4. Go Manatee Spotting in Crystal River

January is the peak time to see manatees in Crystal River, where these gentle giants flock to the warm springs. You can even swim with them in the crystal-clear waters. For animal lovers, this is an unforgettable experience and a highlight among the Things To Do In Florida In January.

5. Walt Disney World and Universal Studios

For theme park enthusiasts, January is a great time to visit Walt Disney World and Universal Studios without the heavy crowds. The cooler weather makes walking around the parks more pleasant, and you'll often find shorter wait times for rides. Special events like the Epcot International Festival of the Arts also make this a fun time to visit.

Common Tourist Scams to Avoid in Florida

While enjoying your trip, it's essential to be aware of a few common scams targeting tourists in Florida, especially in popular areas like Miami, Orlando, and the Florida Keys. Here’s what to watch out for:

1. Fake Ticket Sales

At major attractions like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and other theme parks, be wary of street vendors or online ads offering discounted tickets. These are often scams, and you could end up with invalid or counterfeit tickets. Always purchase tickets directly from the official website or trusted sources.

2. Overpriced Airport Transportation

Some travelers report being overcharged for airport transportation by unlicensed taxi drivers or ride services. To avoid this, use well-known ride-share apps like Uber or Lyft, or pre-book a shuttle service from the airport. Make sure to agree on the fare before starting the ride if you’re using a taxi.

3. Free Vacation or Timeshare Scams

Be cautious of offers for "free vacations" or "timeshare tours" that seem too good to be true. Often, these scams require you to sit through high-pressure sales pitches for timeshares or ask for personal information upfront. Always research the legitimacy of such offers before signing up.

4. Fake Attraction Tours

In tourist-heavy areas, scammers may offer "exclusive" tours of local attractions at discounted prices. These tours either don’t exist, or they’re not affiliated with the real attraction. Stick to reputable tour companies and book your tours through official websites or trusted agencies.

5. ATM Skimming

While using ATMs, especially in crowded tourist spots, be cautious of skimming devices that steal your card information. Always use ATMs inside banks or well-lit, trusted locations, and check for any unusual attachments on the machine before inserting your card.

Final Thoughts

Florida in January offers an ideal mix of adventure, relaxation, and family fun, with countless experiences to enjoy. From the wild Everglades to the colorful Florida Keys, there's no shortage of Things To Do In Florida In January. However, staying aware of common tourist scams will ensure your trip is as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. Keep your eyes open, do your research, and you’ll have an unforgettable time in the Sunshine State!

[mariacallous]

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, no one was sure what congregate activities were safe. In order to protect themselves and stop the spread, many people who had flexibility in when and how they get around avoided using mass transit systems. Three long years later, transit ridership still has not recovered in major U.S. transit systems, creating a fiscal cliff for systems that are reliant on fare revenue to fund operations and leading to questions about how to structure a viable future for American transit.

This report seeks to help readers understand how the pandemic’s long-term effects on the types of trips Americans make have produced both challenges and opportunities for U.S. transit systems. Public transit remains essential in large metro areas—not just as a social service or transport of last resort, but as a necessary part of safe, productive, climate-friendly regions. Rather than focusing solely on getting remote workers to return to taking the bus or train to downtown offices, U.S. transit agencies should focus on building public transportation networks that can serve all trips—not just commutes—in the areas where features such as density, mixtures of uses, walkable and well-connected street grids, and low automobile ownership make these transportation modes most viable.

The report focuses on the six large metro areas where the 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) found that more than 5% of all trips were made by public transportation: Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. Between them, these metro areas were home to 56% of all U.S. public transit trips in 2017, despite housing only 15% of the country’s population. These “high-ridership metro areas” range from the nation’s largest (New York) to its 15th-largest (Seattle); we will compare them to the remainder of the 20 largest metro areas, which had 2017 transit mode shares ranging from 3.8% (Baltimore) to 0.4% (Tampa, Fla.).

Our choice to focus on the 20 largest U.S. metro areas does not mean that these are the only metro areas where public transportation can flourish. (In fact, transit ridership has recovered more rapidly outside of the very largest metro areas. For example, according to the Federal Transit Administration’s National Transit Database, ridership on the Richmond, Va. bus system in the first four months of 2023 was 105% of its total in the same months of 2019.) Rather, we were limited to studying large metro areas by the sample size of the 2017 NHTS.1

[near-tampa--fl]

Varela Westshore Apartments in Tampa, FL

These days, one of the best ways to experience a luxurious lifestyle is to live in an apartment in the city. However, it’s necessary that the apartment should be safe, comfortable, and luxurious such as those safe apartments in Tampa, FL area. Through Varela Westshore Apartments, you can experience such an exciting way to live in the city. At present, it’s obvious that there's something about life in Tampa that demands a higher level of luxury. Besides, residents of the community can enjoy access to a sprawling 25,000 square foot clubhouse, complete with resident wine vault. Well, it’s a remarkable way to enjoy apartment living.

Varela Westshore Apartments

If you research about Varela Westshore Apartments, it would be easier for you to find the perfect living space. The said apartment complex is popular, too. Varela Westshore Apartments provides astonishing apartments in Westshore area nowadays. In addition to the clubhouse, a 2,500 square foot exercise facility with separate weight and yoga rooms add additional convenience. This is perfect for those who want to relax after work. Aside from that, you can work out with your friends before coming home to your luxury apartment for the night. Lastly, they offer studio, 1, 2, and 3-bedroom luxury apartment homes for rent in the unparalleled Westshore district of Tampa.

Tampa, FL

Are you eager to study about the early settlers of the Tampa, FL area? At present, many people want to familiar with the city, especially those who want to move there. First, the shores of Tampa Bay have been inhabited for thousands of years. Then, a variant of the Weeden Island culture developed in the area by about 2000 years ago, with archeological evidence suggesting that these residents relied on the sea for most of their resources, as a vast majority of inhabited sites have been found on or near the shoreline and there is little evidence of farming. Besides, several chiefdoms of the Safety Harbor culture dominated the area at the time of European contact in the early 16th century.

The Florida Aquarium

Are you fond of visiting aquarium spots these days? In the Tampa, FL area, The Florida Aquarium is one of the well-known travel destinations. The Florida Aquarium is a non-profit organization, publicly operated institution located in downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. Aside from that, it is a large scale, 250,000-square-foot aquarium and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In addition, this means they are a leader in conservation and education and as well as supporting programs for wildlife. Lastly, they have also a strong educational component in the forms of summer camps, school trips, group excursions, and more.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor leaves Hillsborough transit agency board

There are many thought-provoking news reports in Tampa, FL. One of the said stories is about the Tampa Mayor who left Hillsborough transit agency board. Based on a recent news report, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has left the board overseeing public transit in Hillsborough County. Well, it’s a position she has held since winning her 2019 election and vowed to “fight for every neighborhood to have the dependable bus system they deserve.” In addition, her departure comes as the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority faces a renewed spotlight for its impeding fiscal cliff, threadbare service and a revolving door of senior staff.

Link to maps

The Florida Aquarium 701 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602, United States Take Channelside Dr to E Kennedy Blvd 4 min (0.6 mi) Continue on E Kennedy Blvd to E Kay St 6 min (1.4 mi) Get on I-275 S 55 sec (0.3 mi) Continue on I-275 S to W Cypress St. Take exit 40 B from I-275 S 3 min (2.9 mi) Drive to N Lois Ave 2 min (0.6 mi) Varela Westshore 1701 N Lois Ave, Tampa, FL 33607, United States

[ptrckjcne]

four hours left until my exam deadline and i was just called by a travelling agency who was wondering if i'd be interested in hearing about their options of travelling to tampa bay, and honestly, i don't know what's more fascinating – the fact that i, who have never really uttered a wish to visit florida, was so close to just asking "when do i leave?" because i'm tired as fuck off my exam, or the fact that they took one look at my phone number and said "ah yes this person wants to know more about florida"

[petnews2day]

TSA says passenger attempted to bring ’emotional support’ boa constrictor snake through security

New Post has been published on https://petn.ws/Tj7vC

TSA says passenger attempted to bring ’emotional support’ boa constrictor snake through security

​ The Transportation Security Administration says that a traveler attempted to bring an “emotional support pet” boa constrictor snake through security. A spokesperson for the agency tweeted that the incident happened at Tampa International Airport in December when a woman had the snake, named “Bartholomew,” in her carry-on bag. The snake was detected when the […]

See full article at https://petn.ws/Tj7vC #ReptileNews

[mubashirnews]

Tampa TSA finds 'emotional support' boa constrictor in luggage

Tampa TSA finds ’emotional support’ boa constrictor in luggage

The Transportation Security Administration says that a traveler attempted to bring an “emotional support pet” boa constrictor snake through security. A spokesperson for the agency tweeted that the incident happened at Tampa International Airport in December when a woman had the snake, named “Bartholomew,” in her carry-on bag. The snake was detected when the bag went through an x-ray machine. The…

[pinkbrandt]

I want an agency that gives an apartment

this agency will lose a photographer and I call Luan.

I work a lot and do photoshoots and commercials

I get a license driver

I do Wolf Mayer school

I work a lot and travel to Tampa and have fun and met KCW

I go to Miami to get a t-shirt signed up by GSW players write Gui Flyn and I do a video.

I still got my agency.

I try New York Agency.

[kingsbridgetravel]

Learn more about #KingsbridgeTravel #TampaTravelAgency

http://www.kingsbridgetravel.com/tampa-travel-agency/ Kingsbridge Travel is a Tampa travel agency that services clients throughout the United States. It is owned and operated by Diane and Arnie Ross. As connoisseurs of fine travel, Diane and Arnie Ross offer their clients impeccable service. Their expertise and joyful approach make vacation planning fun and stress-free. They continue to travel to search out new destinations, special experiences, the newest hotels, and most luxurious ocean and river cruise lines. #LuxuryCruises #Travel #Tampa

[travelkingsus1-blog]

[mohit957]

While Devin from Dynamic Marketing Consultants is taking a road trip with his wife (and dog), he’s still being productive.

In this week’s on the road episode of the DMC Marketing Nugget, Devin shares 4 tips for being more productive while you’re traveling.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

The Black Expat: Why Black Expats Should Come And Experience Brazil's Culture

Marketing executive Ike Okonkwo is a Black expat in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Before living overseas, this 27-year-old moved to Boston to attend Harvard University to study Neuroscience and Economics and then went on to pursue an MBA/M.A. at the Wharton School of Business and Lauder Institute, in Philadelphia. 

However, even before becoming an expat, traveling is an activity he has been experiencing since he was a child. “I would call myself a life-long traveler. As a kid, my family moved from Puerto Rico to Miami and then to other parts of the United States. We eventually settled back down in the Tampa Bay area. So far, I’ve visited 7 countries: Brazil, Colombia, China, Poland, Hungary, Canada,” Okonkwo told Travel Noire. 

Currently owning a Travel agency, Okonkwo has shared with Travel Noire his experience as a Black expat in Rio.

Here are the excerpts from Ike Okonkwos interview with Travel Noire.

Continue reading.

[nasa]

Top 10 Things to Know for the Return of our Launch America Mission With SpaceX

History was made May 30 when NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley launched from American soil in a commercially built and operated American crew spacecraft on its way to the International Space Station. 

Pictured above is the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft that lifted off on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and docked with the space station on May 31. Now, Behnken and Hurley are ready to return home in Endeavour for a splashdown off the coast of Florida, closing out a mission designed to test SpaceX’s human spaceflight system, including launch, docking, splashdown, and recovery operations. Undocking is targeted for 7:34 p.m. ET on August 1, with splashdown back to Earth slated for 2:42 p.m. on August 2. Watch our continuous live coverage HERE. 

1. Where will Behnken and Hurley splash down?

Image: SpaceX’s Crew Dragon is guided by four parachutes as it splashes down in the Atlantic on March 8, 2019, after the uncrewed spacecraft's return from the International Space Station on the Demo-1 mission.

Together with SpaceX, we are capable of supporting seven splashdown sites off the coast of Florida. The seven potential splashdown sites for the Dragon Endeavor are off the coasts of Pensacola, Tampa, Tallahassee, Panama City, Cape Canaveral, Daytona, and Jacksonville.

2. How will a splashdown location be chosen?

Splashdown locations are selected using defined priorities, starting with selecting a station departure date and time with the maximum number of return opportunities in geographically diverse locations to protect for weather changes. Teams also prioritize locations which require the shortest amount of time between undocking and splashdown based on orbital mechanics, and splashdown opportunities that occur in daylight hours.

Check out the Departure and Splashdown Criteria Fact Sheet for an in-depth look at selecting return locations, decision points during return, and detailed weather criteria.

3. How long will it take for Behnken and Hurley to return to Earth?

Return time for Behnken and Hurley will vary depending on the undock and splashdown opportunities chosen, with the primary opportunity taking between six and 30 hours.

4. What does the return look like? What are the major milestones?

Crew Dragon’s return home will start with undocking from the International Space Station. At the time of undock, Dragon Endeavour and its trunk weigh approximately 27,600 pounds. We will provide live coverage of the return from undocking all the way through splashdown.

There will be two very small engine burns immediately after hooks holding Crew Dragon in place retract to actually separate the spacecraft from the station. Once flying free, Dragon Endeavour will autonomously execute four departure burns to move the spaceship away from the space station and begin the flight home. Several hours later, one departure phasing burn, lasting about six minutes, puts Crew Dragon on the proper orbital path to line it up with the splashdown zone.

Shortly before the final deorbit burn, Crew Dragon will separate from its trunk, which will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. The spacecraft then executes the deorbit burn, which commits Crew Dragon to return and places it on an orbit with the proper trajectory for splashdown. After trunk separation and the deorbit burn are complete, the Crew Dragon capsule weighs approximately 21,200 pounds.  

5. How fast will Dragon Endeavour be going when it re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere? How hot will it get?

Crew Dragon will be traveling at orbital velocity prior to re-entry, moving at approximately 17,500 miles per hour. The maximum temperature it will experience on re-entry is approximately 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. The re-entry creates a communications blackout between the spacecraft and Earth that is expected to last approximately six minutes.

6. When do the parachutes deploy?

Image: SpaceX’s final test of Crew Dragon’s Mark 3 parachute system on Friday, May 1, 2020, that will be used during the Demo-2 splashdwon mission. 

Dragon Endeavour has two sets of parachutes will that deploy once back inside Earth’s atmosphere to slow down prior to splashdown. Two drogue parachutes will deploy at about 18,000 feet in altitude while Crew Dragon is moving approximately 350 miles per hour. Four main parachutes will deploy at about 6,000 feet in altitude while Crew Dragon is moving approximately 119 miles per hour.

7. Who recovers the crew and the Dragon Endeavour capsule from the water? What vehicles and personnel are involved?

Image: SpaceX’s Crew Dragon is loaded onto the company’s recovery ship, Go Searcher, in the Atlantic Ocean, about 200 miles off Florida’s east coast, on March 8, after returning from the International Space Station on the Demo-1 mission.Credits: SpaceX

For splashdown at any of the seven potential sites, SpaceX personnel will be on location to recover the capsule from the water. Two recovery ships, the Go Searcher and the Go Navigator, split locations between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. On either ship will be more than 40 personnel from SpaceX and NASA, made up of spacecraft engineers, trained water recovery experts, medical professionals, the ship’s crew, NASA cargo experts, and others to assist in the recovery.

8. How long after splashdown until Behnken and Hurley are out of the capsule?

Image: NASA astronaut Doug Hurley, along with teams from NASA and SpaceX, rehearse crew extraction from SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, on August 13, 2019. Credits: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Immediately after splashdown has occurred, two fast boats with SpaceX personnel deploy from the main recovery ship. The first boat checks capsule integrity and tests the area around the Crew Dragon for the presence of any hypergolic propellant vapors. Once cleared, the personnel on the boats begin preparing the spaceship for recovery by the ship. The second fast boat is responsible for safing and recovering Crew Dragon’s parachutes, which have at this point detached from the capsule and are in the water.

At this point the main recovery vessel can move in and begin to hoist the Crew Dragon capsule onto the main deck. Once the capsule is on the recovery vessel, it is moved to a stable location for the hatch to be opened for waiting medical professionals to conduct initial checks and assist Behnken and Hurley out of Dragon Endeavour.

This entire process is expected to take approximately 45 to 60 minutes, depending on spacecraft and sea state conditions.

9. Where do Behnken and Hurley go after they are out of the capsule?

Immediately after exiting the Crew Dragon capsule, Behnken and Hurley will be assisted into a medical area on the recovery ship for initial assessment. This is similar to procedures when welcoming long-duration crew members returning home on Soyuz in Kazakhstan.

After initial medical checks, Behnken and Hurley will be returned to shore either by traveling on the primary recovery ship or by helicopter. Helicopter returns from the recovery ship are the baseline for all splashdown zones except for the Cape Canaveral splashdown site, with travel times ranging from approximately 10 minutes to 80 minutes. The distance from shore will be variable depending on the splashdown location, ranging from approximately 22 nautical miles to 175 nautical miles.

Once returned to shore, both crew members will immediately board a waiting NASA plane to fly back to Ellington field in Houston.

10. What happens next?

Image: NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover Jr. and Mike Hopkins and Japan’s Soichi Noguchi train in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Credit: SpaceX

Meanwhile, Dragon Endeavour will be returned back to the SpaceX Dragon Lair in Florida for inspection and processing. Teams will examine the data and performance of the spacecraft throughout the test flight to complete the certification of the system to fly operational missions for our Commercial Crew and International Space Station Programs. The certification process is expected to take about six weeks. Following successful certification, the first operational mission will launch with Crew Dragon commander Michael Hopkins, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Shannon Walker – all of NASA – along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) mission specialist Soichi Noguchi will launch on the Crew-1 mission from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The four crew members will spend six months on the space station.

The launch is targeted for no earlier than late-September.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com