SpaceX, the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, launched two Americans into orbit from Florida on Saturday in a landmark mission marking the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from U.S. soil in nine years. Since then, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft. The last time NASA launched astronauts into space aboard a brand new vehicle was 40 years ago at the start of the space shuttle program. NASA has awarded nearly $8 billion to SpaceX and Boeing combined for development of their rival rockets. During the drive, Mr. Behnken and Mr. Hurley passed former astronaut Garrett Reisman holding a side saying “Take me with you.”

Source: The Hindu May 30, 2020 19:52 UTC