NASA Sets Launch Date For First Passenger Flight To The ISS In Years

Ever since the end of the Space Shuttle program on July 8th, 2011, we have not seen a passenger-carrying rocket launch from American soil. However, this is about to change. For the first time in nearly nine years, NASA and SpaceX are planning to launch a rocket carrying two astronauts to orbit.

On May 27th, astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will take off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon – a spacecraft developed to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station. Once they are in orbit, the crew and SpaceX mission control will test things such as the environmental control system, the manoeuvering thrusters, the displays and control system, and more to determine if the spaceship is operating properly.

While the fight against COVID-19 continues, NASA assures they are taking measures to mitigate the impact of the launch – spectators will not be allowed in the normal viewing sites during the launch, only a limited number of reporters will be allowed, employees are complying with social distancing practices as well as wearing protective wear when necessary.

“NASA is proactively monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation as it evolves,” NASA said in a statement back in March. “The agency will continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the agency’s chief health and medical officer and communicate any updates that may impact mission planning or media access, as they become available.”

Either way, this mission is a big deal not only for NASA and SpaceX but for the whole world as this may be the start to regular flights to and from the International Space Station.