Tomorrow is the big day. SpaceX will launch its first crewed mission, sending NASA astronauts to the International Space Station.
For nearly a decade, the U.S. has paid Russia to transport astronauts to the space station, but Wednesday launches a new era. SpaceX will be the first commercial carrier, while Boeing also has contracts to shuttle astronauts.
Thousands of people have traveled to Florida to witness the historic Demo-2 flight, including President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. .Wednesday’s launch is scheduled for 4:33 p.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center. But, the weather is being watched closely for a possible interruption. SpaceX tweeted Tuesday the weather forecast for launch is 60% favorable. A back-up times is set for Saturday at 3:22 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are the first human to travel aboard the Crew Dragon capsule, which is a modified version of the capsule SpaceX has used to carry cargo to ISS. Crew Dragon is designed to carry up to seven passengers.
Crew Dragon will be lofted by SpaceX’s trusty Falcon 9 rocket, which will also attempt a landing on a SpaceX droneship parked in the Atlantic Ocean.
NASA will broadcast 24 hours of nonstop live coverage of the mission starting four hours before liftoff all the way until Crew Dragon docks with the International Space Station. SpaceX will also livestream the mission.
Photo: SpaceX
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