Moments before liftoff, Hurley said, "SpaceX we're go for launch. Nasa chief Jim Bridenstine has said resuming launches of American astronauts on American-made rockets from US soil is the space agency's top priority. 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. Boeing Co, producing its own launch system in competition with SpaceX, is expected to fly its CST-100 Starliner vehicle with astronauts aboard for the first time next year. Nasa has awarded nearly $8 billion to SpaceX and Boeing combined for development of their rival rockets.

Source: The Telegraph May 30, 2020 23:37 UTC