NASA Sets Date for First SpaceX Launch of NASA Crews From US

DannyB writes:

NASA sets a date for historic SpaceX launch, the first flight of NASA crews from U.S. in nearly a decade

The flight from the Kennedy Space Center would send NASA astronauts to the space station

It's been nearly 10 years since the last NASA astronauts launched from United States soil - a long, ignominious streak that's been compounded by delays and technical challenges.

But now, finally, the space agency on Friday set the date for when it will fly its astronauts from the Florida Space Coast again: May 27.

While the date could change - in spaceflight they often do - the announcement marks a significant milestone in NASA's winding, at times tortuous, journey to regain its human spaceflight wings since it retired the space shuttle in 2011.

[...] This time, though, the launch will be markedly different than any other in the history of the space agency. Unlike Mercury, Gemini, Apollo or the space shuttle era, the rocket will be owned and operated not by NASA, but by a private company - SpaceX, the hard-charging commercial space company founded by Elon Musk.

For all the company's triumphs, and its experience flying cargo to the International Space Station for NASA, it has never flown a single human being into space, a significant and dangerous challenge. NASA has spent years working with the California-based company to ensure its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft can safely deliver astronauts to orbit. And the flight would be the culmination of years of work, which has at times seen setbacks and delays.

[...] With a successful launch, SpaceX would accomplish an upset over its rival, Boeing, which also has been under contract from NASA to fly crews to the space station as part of NASA's "commercial crew program.

SpaceX is screwing up the grading curve for everyone else.

Original Submission

Read more of this story at SoylentNews.