NASA Set to Return to Human Spaceflight with Historic SpaceX Launch

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May 27, 2020

Dear Reader, Today, a spaceship carrying two crew members is set to blast off on a SpaceX rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The flight, which is bound for the International Space Station, will be the first time that astronauts have launched from American soil since the space shuttle program ended in 2011. Our lead story explains everything you need to know about the historic mission. And if you'd like to explore further, check out the infographic featured below in "Countdown to Commercial Crew," to visualize the ups and downs of NASA's decade-long effort to restore human orbital spaceflight in the U.S. Godspeed to NASA, SpaceX and astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley. Wishing you a safe journey.

Sunya Bhutta, Senior Editor, Audience Engagement @sunyaaa

NASA Set to Return to Human Spaceflight with Historic SpaceX Launch Two astronauts will ride a privately built rocket and spacecraft to orbit, marking the first launch of humans from U.S. soil in nearly a decade By Irene Klotz | May 27, 2020

Space Countdown to Commercial Crew NASA nears the end of a winding path to commercial astronaut launches By Irene Klotz

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FROM THE ARCHIVE The Story of the Space Shuttle [Timeline] A visual history of the space shuttle program, spanning nearly four decades By Ryan Reid and John Matson | July 6, 2011

QUOTE OF THE DAY "Let's do this! #LaunchAmerica" Jim Bridenstine, NASA Administrator

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