CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – A new era of human spaceflight is set to begin as American astronauts once again launch on an American rocket from American soil to theInternational Space Stationas part of NASA’sCommercial Crew Program. NASA astronautsRobert BehnkenandDouglas Hurleywill fly on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifting off on a Falcon 9 rocket at 3:22 p.m. EDT May 30, from Launch Complex 39A in Florida, for an extended stay at the space station for the Demo-2 mission. The specific duration of the mission is to be determined.
As the final flight test for SpaceX, this mission will validate the company’s crew transportation system, including the launch pad, rocket, spacecraft, and operational capabilities. This also will be the first time NASA astronauts will test the spacecraft systems in orbit.
