Everything seems to be going well for SpaceX. The private aerospace company has received the green light from NASA to make its first human space flight. A crucial first step for SpaceX's commercial flight program. The company is also looking for its first 4 private customers for a future tourist flight.
SpaceX's first manned mission will aim to transport two NASA astronauts, Dough Hurley and Bob Behnken, to the ISS. A challenge that NASA had proposed to SpaceX and Boeing, in order to no longer be dependent on the Russian rockets which regularly make the journey to the International Space Station. For almost 10 years, NASA has organized the transportation of its astronauts to the ISS by investing in the Russian spacecraft Soyuz.
Landing race
A competition in which Boeing seemed to be the obvious winner, but SpaceX finally surpassed its competitor, despite having encountered several problems along the way. Indeed, last April, the travel capsule with which the NASA astronauts will be sent - Crew Dragon - had exploded during a static test, causing the delay of the project. For its part, Boeing had also encountered problems with its Starliner rocket. But things seem to have improved since then for SpaceX.
SpaceX announced on Twitter that it will be in charge of transporting the two astronauts to the ISS aboard the Crew Dragon. For its part, NASA has not yet formalized the thing. SpaceX's first manned flight could take place on May 7.
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