UPDATED. Two veteran NASA astronauts were headed for the International Space Station on Saturday, May 30, after Elon Musk's SpaceX became the first commercial company to launch a rocket carrying humans into orbit, ushering in a new era in space travel.
BLAST OFF. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the manned Crew Dragon spacecraft attached takes off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on May 30, 2020 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP
"Let's light this candle," Hurley, the mission commander, told SpaceX mission control in Hawthorne, California, before liftoff at 3:22 pm from NASA's storied Launch Pad 39A. NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said it was a"great day" for NASA and SpaceX and an"important milestone for the nation."In a brief interview from space, Hurley said that in keeping with the tradition of having astronauts name their spacecraft, he and Behnken had named the Crew Dragon capsule"Endeavor" after the retired space shuttle on which they both flew.
The mission, dubbed"Demo-2," ends a government monopoly on space flight and is the final test flight before NASA certifies SpaceX's capsule for regular crewed missions.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
SpaceX lifts off on historic private crewed flight to ISSA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying two veteran NASA astronauts lifted off for the International Space Station on Saturday, the first crewed space flight from US soil in nine years and the first ever by a commercial company.
Read more »
SpaceX heading for ISS on historic private crewed flightThe mission, dubbed 'Demo-2,' ends a government monopoly on space flight and is the final test flight before NASA certifies SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule for regular crewed missions. LaunchAmerica READ:
Read more »
SpaceX, NASA to try again for landmark launch of two astronauts from Florida
Read more »
‘No decision’ on next launch attempt for historic SpaceX-NASA missionA final decision on a launch attempt for SpaceX's milestone mission to the International Space Station on Saturday afternoon will take place after assessing the weather that morning, NASA chief Jim Bridenstine said Friday.
Read more »
SpaceX-NASA launch: What to know ahead of Saturday's scheduled flightSpaceX and NASA are, once again, gearing up to try to make history by launching two astronauts into Earth's orbit
Read more »
NASA, SpaceX launch astronauts from US soil for the first time in a decadeA SpaceX spacecraft carrying two NASA astronauts soared into outer space Saturday — marking the first time humans have traveled into Earth's orbit from US soil in nearly a decade.
Read more »