SpaceX has just become the first private firm to successfully launch humans into orbit. Taking place at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Falcon 9-powered Crew Dragon SpaceX capsule carried both long-standing NASA astronauts Robert (Bob) Behnken and Douglas Hurley.
This launch will be the first time in almost a decade that American astronauts have traveled to space; NASA’s Space Shuttle program ended in 2011 after a 30-year run. This launch also gave space enthusiasts one of the clearest views of what transpires during space travel along with a thorough tour of inside the shuttle. In one emotional part of the live feed, the two pilots revealed that a third passenger — a plush toy dinosaur — was accompanying them as a representation of both their families.
The historical moment was made even sweeter when both Bob Behnken and Douglas Hurley revealed that their piloted space capsule would be renamed to the “Endeavour” capsule. This renaming not only commemorates NASA’s original Space Shuttle Endeavour, but it was also the shuttle in which both Bob Behnken and Douglas Hurley took their first flights to space in.
Watch the full stream above, and expect the “Endeavour” capsule to dock with the Internation Space Station on May 31, 10:29 a.m. EDT.
Falcon 9 launches Crew Dragon on its first flight with @NASA astronauts on board! pic.twitter.com/FUd0SSRKud
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 30, 2020
Crew Dragon has separated from Falcon 9’s second stage and is on its way to the International Space Station with @Astro_Behnken and @AstroDoug! Autonomous docking at the @Space_Station will occur at ~10:30 a.m. EDT tomorrow, May 31 pic.twitter.com/bSZ6yZP2bD
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 30, 2020
We have liftoff. History is made as @NASA_Astronauts launch from @NASAKennedy for the first time in nine years on the @SpaceX Crew Dragon: pic.twitter.com/alX1t1JBAt
— NASA (@NASA) May 30, 2020
Congratulations, @NASA and @SpaceX on a successful @Commercial_Crew launch! #LaunchAmerica pic.twitter.com/6RNMEIHsVj
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) May 30, 2020
Two humans (and one dinosaur) went to space today #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/U4CbHJShkw
— Brian Bosché (@BrianPBosche) May 30, 2020
.@SpaceX's Falcon 9 lifts off at exactly 3:22PM EDT local time on Saturday May 30, 2020. #SpaceLaunchLIVE pic.twitter.com/SDMkMZsxok
— Discovery (@Discovery) May 30, 2020
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