In a joint mission, NASA and SpaceX launched astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken into orbit.
Florida [USA], May 31 (ANI): SpaceX ‘s Crew Dragon spacecraft on Saturday successfully took off from Kennedy Space Center for the International Space Station (ISS), with two NASA astronauts — Robert Behnken and Douglas HurleyÂ
The spacecraft is the first to take the American astronauts to orbit from American soil in nearly a decade and took off at 3:22 pm Eastern Time (ET). The mission marks the first flight of NASAÂ crews from the US soil since 2011 and the first launch of a rocket owned by SpaceXÂ , the commercial space company founded by Elon Musk.
US President Donald Trump was present at the Kennedy Space Center to view the rocket launch. Minutes before the launch, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said that the weather at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center looked good for launching US astronauts to the ISS. “Weather is a GO for launch!” the space agency’s chief tweeted.
On Wednesday, the planned launch was called off due to bad weather. NASAÂ has assigned Hurley and Behnken — two of its most experienced astronauts. Behnken is the joint operations commander for the Demo-2 mission, responsible for activities such as rendezvous, docking and undocking, as well as activities while the spacecraft is docked to the space station.
He was selected as a NASAÂ astronaut in 2000 and has completed two space shuttle flights. Hurley is the spacecraft commander for the mission, responsible for activities such as launch, landing and recovery. He was selected as an astronaut in 2000 and has completed two spaceflights.
SpaceX Dragon Capsule successfully reaches low Earth orbit, astronauts safe: Trump
US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) said that the SpaceX Dragon Capsule has successfully reached low Earth orbit and the two NASA astronauts are safe and sound. “I am thrilled to announce that the SpaceX Dragon Capsule has successfully reached low Earth orbit, and our astronauts are safe and sound. With this launch, the decades of lost years and little action are officially over.
A new age of American ambition has begun,” Trump said at the Kennedy Space Center here, where SpaceXÂ ‘s Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully lifted off. “Past leaders put the US at the mercy of foreign nations to send our astronauts into orbit. Not any more,” he added.
Trump said that Saturday’s launch marks a commitment to a brighter future for all citizens on Earth. “When Americans are united, there is nothing we cannot do,” he further said.
SpaceX ‘s Crew Dragon spacecraft was launched at 3:22 pm Eastern Time (ET) from Kennedy Space Center for the International Space Station (ISS), with two NASA astronauts — Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley.
The spacecraft is the first to take the American astronauts to orbit from American soil in nearly a decade. The mission marks the first flight of NASAÂ crews from the US soil since 2011 and the first launch of a rocket owned by SpaceXÂ , the commercial space company founded by Elon Musk.
On Wednesday, the planned launch was called off due to bad weather. Behnken is the joint operations commander for the Demo-2 mission, responsible for activities such as rendezvous, docking and undocking, as well as activities while the spacecraft is docked to the space station.
He was selected as a NASAÂ astronaut in 2000 and has completed two space shuttle flights. Hurley is the spacecraft commander for the mission, responsible for activities such as launch
