Tracking the Crew Dragon: Liftoff

NASA and SpaceX's historic mission has officially launched.
By Kristin Houser
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Advancing the Space Frontier
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With today’s Crew Dragon liftoff, NASA astronauts have officially launched from U.S. soil for the first time since 2011.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a Crew Dragon capsule affixed to it launched from Cape Canaveral’s Launch Complex 39A at 3:22 p.m. EDT, kicking off the Demo-2 mission. The launch was originally scheduled for May 27, but was postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions.

NASA astronauts Robert “Bob” Behnken and Douglas “Doug” Hurley are currently aboard the spacecraft, which is expected to dock with the International Space Station at approximately 10:29 a.m. EDT tomorrow, May 31.

With the Crew Dragon liftoff, SpaceX became the first private company to send astronauts into space. If all goes well with this mission, the company will be cleared to ferry NASA astronauts to and from the ISS — marking the culmination of the decade-long Commercial Crew Program.

You can see photos and video of the Crew Dragon liftoff below — be sure to return to Freethink for updates on the Demo-2 mission’s docking with the ISS and return to Earth.

NASA astronauts Robert “Bob” Behnken and Douglas “Doug” Hurley the morning of the Crew Dragon launch. SpaceX / Twitter
The SpaceX Falcon 9 with Crew Dragon attached just prior to liftoff. NASA / YouTube
The Falcon 9 lifting off with the Crew Dragon from Cape Canaveral. SpaceX
The Falcon 9 lifting off from Cape Canaveral. NASA / YouTube
The Falcon 9 with the Crew Dragon soon after liftoff. SpaceX
The view of the launch from the Launch Control Center. NASA / Joel Kowsky
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