First SpaceX flight with astronauts will take place on May 27

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The American space agency NASA and the company SpaceX will send two astronauts to space on May 27. NASA Director Jim Bridenstine announced the final launch date Friday.

The NASA director writes on Twitter that SpaceX’s first Crew Dragon flight is to take place on May 27. Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken then fly aboard SpaceX’s new capsule to the International Space Station. SpaceX uses its own Falcon 9 rocket, which rises from the Kennedy Space Center. After the capsule docks with the space station, the astronauts return to Earth after two or three months. If all goes well, the Crew Dragon capsule could be officially certified for manned flights. For the time being, there is no question that the corona virus should be an obstacle to the launch. NASA has several protocols in place for employees, but they will not affect the launch for the time being. Bridenstine previously said that a second flight with the Crew Dragon should take place in August or September. Four astronauts are to accompany that flight.

It is the first time the final date for the launch has been mentioned. It was previously announced that the launch was planned for the second half of May. It is the first time since the Space Shuttle was taken out of operation in 2011 that astronauts leave American soil. Since then, international astronauts had to knock on Russia’s door. NASA pays commercial companies such as SpaceX, as well as Boeing and Sierra Nevada Corp. billions of dollars to make a capsule for travel to the ISS.

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