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Takeoff ! SpaceX And NASA's Historic Launch Day
SpaceX today launched two astronauts to the International Space Station, the first mission from U.S. soil in nearly a decade and the first by a private company. The flight was originally set for Wednesday but was scrubbed because of bad weather at Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Today’s launch of the Crew Dragon capsule was set for 12:22 p.m. Pacific.
Stage 1 entry burn has started. The #LaunchAmerica crew is heading into orbit. pic.twitter.com/aJUAdj4OC9
— NASA (@NASA) May 30, 2020
Bob Behnken (R) and Doug Hurley on their way to board the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket today. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The launch Wednesday was called off shortly before the scheduled takeoff, thanks to tropical storm Bertha, which created "unfavorable weather in the flight path," according to a SpaceX tweet.
The weather was a concern again today but the launch got off on schedule.
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SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule is carrying veteran NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley on a Falcon 9 rocket, on what is technically a demonstration flight.
The spacecraft will orbit Earth with Hurley and Benhken testing flight capabilities of the spaceship, although it's designed to fly itself and autonomously dock when it reaches the space station.
OTHER WAYS TO WATCH THE LAUNCH LIVE:
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