Finally after the rigorous development for more than six years, SpaceX has launched its capsule “Crew Dragon” with people inside. This test flight has a major role as a part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
The Commercial Crew program is an initiative to have private companies make space shuttle which would act as a transporter for carrying astronauts as well as necessary goods to and from International Space Station.
NASA’s veteran astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are on this two-man mission, being the first passenger of SpaceX capsule. The capsule is scheduled to take off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday at May 27th.
This is the historic moment around the world, as it is the first time that private company made space shuttle is carrying the people to the orbit and when they will do it, It will be the first time after the end of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011.
Once this mission gets completed successfully, it will start a new era with new different possibilities. SpaceX and NASA are working closely and would be analyzing meticulously over the data gathered during the test flight. On the basis of these data, NASA will be certifying SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for regular flights to and from the International Space Station.
Another great news is SpaceX would be launching another fully operational mission in just few months. This flight of Crew Dragon is expected to occur in early fall which would have four crew members: Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, Soichi Noguchi, and Mike Hopkins