May 3, 2020
NASA and SpaceX officially announced the launch date for the first crewed flight of the Crew Dragon to the International Space Station, as part of the Commercial Crew Program.
Washington, D.C., United States | NASA
On May 3, 2020, NASA and SpaceX officially announced the launch date for the first crewed mission of the Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission, part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, signified a significant milestone in the U.S. space program and commercial spaceflight.
The Commercial Crew Program was initiated by NASA to foster partnerships with American aerospace companies for developing spacecraft capable of carrying crew to the ISS. This initiative aimed to end U.S. reliance on Russian Soyuz spacecraft following the Space Shuttle’s retirement in 2011.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon marked the first time a commercial company would transport NASA astronauts to the ISS. The spacecraft underwent rigorous testing, including an uncrewed flight test in March 2019, to validate its safety and reliability for transporting humans.
Crew Dragon is a critical component of NASA’s goal to have multiple transportation systems to the ISS, enhancing operational flexibility and lowering costs.
The announcement on May 3 confirmed the launch date as May 27, 2020. This mission, Demo-2, was set to take off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley were selected as the crew, marking their first test flight together aboard the new spacecraft.
The decision to move forward with the launch in May 2020, especially amidst challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, underscored the importance of the mission. It was a pivotal step in the U.S. regaining domestic crew launch capabilities and further opened the door for commercial involvement in human space exploration.
Following the successful docking of Demo-2 with the ISS and the safe return of its crew to Earth, NASA certified Crew Dragon as a regular transport vehicle for astronauts, paving the way for future missions under the Commercial Crew Program. This collaboration between public and private entities marked a revolutionary endeavor in expanding human access to space.
Source: www.nasa.gov