NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 Mission Successfully Launched On Historic Flight To ISS

NASA made history in space with SpaceX Demo-2 mission in nearly a decade.

Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Pad 39A, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on May 30, carrying two astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken.

Demo-2 mission will send the two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) on an American rocket from American soil after nine years, NASA says.

After blast-off, astronaut Hurley told SpaceX’s launch control: “Congratulations for the first human ride for Falcon 9 and it was incredible. I appreciate all the hard work and thank you for the ride to space.”

Following the launching the astronauts into orbit, the Falcon 9 booster successfully landed on the droneship called Of Course I Still Love You in Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceX planned to launch its first crewed mission into orbit on May 27. However, bad weather conditions have interrupted the attempt scheduled by Elon Musk’s firm.

The ISS orbits at 400 kilometers in space. Behnken is the joint operations commander as part of the mission, responsible for docking and undocking while the spacecraft is docked to the space station, the US-based agency reports.

As for Hurley, he is the spacecraft commander for Demo-2 mission, responsible for launch, landing and recovery.

Today’s launch also means that America’s dependence on Russia’s Soyuz rockets for human spaceflight will come to an end.

A seat in Soyuz costs $86 million today, which has been eye-wateringly expensive.

During a press conference in December, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said that they would launch American astronauts on American rockets from American soil.

Crew Dragon will meet with the space station after about 19 hours. Hurley and Behnken are expected to arrive at the station on May 31 at 10:29 a.m. EDT (1429 GMT).