After more than six years of intense development, SpaceX is set to launch its first people to space on the company’s newly developed Crew Dragon capsule. It’s a major flight test for SpaceX as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, an initiative to have private companies — not the government — create new vehicles that can carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
SpaceX’s first two passengers are veteran NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley. The duo is set to take off inside SpaceX’s capsule from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, May 30th, at 3:22PM ET. When they do, it’ll mark the first time since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 that US astronauts have flown to orbit from American soil. It will also be the first time that a privately made vehicle carries people to orbit.
Follow along as The Verge covers all of the updates from this historic flight.
Jun 2, 2020, 7:32 PM UTCLoren Grush
What the future of the space station looks like after SpaceX’s historic launch
The traffic to and from orbit is going to change
May 31, 2020, 2:30 PM UTCLoren Grush
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon successfully docks with the space station
The company’s first crew arrived at their temporary home
May 31, 2020, 9:00 AM UTCLoren Grush
How to watch SpaceX’s first crew dock with the International Space Station
Docking is scheduled for 10:29AM ET
May 30, 2020, 10:29 PM UTCSean O'Kane
Watch NASA astronauts fly SpaceX’s Crew Dragon using touchscreens
A new era of human spaceflight, indeed
May 30, 2020, 9:30 PM UTCLoren Grush
SpaceX successfully launches first crew to orbit, ushering in new era of spaceflight
NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are on their way to the space station
May 30, 2020, 7:44 PM UTCMary Beth Griggs
Meet the cute stuffed dinosaur that hitched a ride on SpaceX’s historic launch
The stuffed animal is part of a storied tradition of toys in space
May 30, 2020, 2:54 PM UTCLoren Grush
The Air Force weather team that keeps canceling your rocket launches
‘We’re in the weather sales business, not production’
May 30, 2020, 2:01 PM UTCMary Beth Griggs
How to watch the SpaceX Crew Dragon mission
Watch this groundbreaking event via NASA’s live stream
May 30, 2020, 2:00 PM UTCLoren Grush and Sean O'Kane
SpaceX Crew Dragon launch live blog
Follow along as the astronauts suit up and board the Crew Dragon
May 29, 2020, 1:00 PM UTCLoren Grush
Here’s what to expect as SpaceX launches its first human crew to space
Takeoff is scheduled for 3:22PM ET on May 30th
May 27, 2020, 8:28 PM UTCLoren Grush
SpaceX delays first historic crewed launch to space due to weather
So close!
May 27, 2020, 2:35 PM UTCBarbara Krasnoff
How to watch the SpaceX Crew Dragon mission
Watch this groundbreaking event via NASA’s live stream
May 26, 2020, 1:00 PM UTCLoren Grush
Here’s what to expect as SpaceX launches its first human crew to space
Takeoff is scheduled for 3:22PM ET on May 30th
May 25, 2020, 1:00 PM UTCNicole Wetsman
How SpaceX and NASA are launching astronauts into space during a pandemic
There won’t be the usual crowds near the Kennedy Space Center
May 22, 2020, 9:21 PM UTCLoren Grush
NASA and SpaceX say they are ‘go’ to proceed with historic crewed flight on May 27th
Though there’s still more work to be done
May 21, 2020, 1:00 PM UTCLoren Grush
How the SpaceX Crew Dragon mission could shape the future of commercial space
NASA’s new way of business could spark a shift in the spaceflight paradigm
May 20, 2020, 12:00 PM UTCLoren Grush
Meet the first NASA astronauts SpaceX will launch to orbit
Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are longtime colleagues and friends
May 12, 2020, 7:28 PM UTCLoren Grush
Try to dock with the International Space Station with this SpaceX Crew Dragon simulator
Good luck and don’t damage your spaceship
May 11, 2020, 5:44 PM UTCLoren Grush
Former astronaut and SpaceX consultant on creating a new crewed spacecraft: ‘We were really the underdogs’
SpaceX’s upcoming crewed launch will be “really intense” for Garrett Reisman
Apr 23, 2020, 10:49 PM UTCLoren Grush
NASA administrator urges people not to travel to Florida to watch historic SpaceX launch
NASA wants everyone to enjoy the mission virtually
Apr 17, 2020, 5:45 PM UTCLoren Grush
NASA sets date for SpaceX’s first passenger flight on Crew Dragon
Even during a pandemic, people are still launching
Apr 2, 2020, 4:59 PM UTCChaim Gartenberg
NASA brings back its iconic ‘worm’ logo for upcoming Falcon 9 Crew Dragon launch
Return of the worm
Mar 19, 2020, 2:53 PM UTCLoren Grush
NASA and SpaceX still targeting May for first crewed mission to space amid coronavirus pandemic
Meanwhile, NASA continues to monitor the impact of the disease
Mar 7, 2020, 3:00 PM UTCLoren Grush
SpaceX launches the last flight of its original Dragon cargo capsule
Don’t worry, Dragon 2 will be here soon
Jan 22, 2020, 5:20 PM UTCLoren Grush
NASA administrator on the year ahead: ‘A lot of things have to go right’
Jim Bridenstine tells us what to expect for 2020