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posted by martyb on Saturday August 04 2018, @07:43PM   Printer-friendly
from the would-YOU-go? dept.

NASA Announces Astronauts for First Commercial Crew Missions

Today, NASA announced the astronaut selection for the first Commercial Crew flights, which will finally restore the ability to launch astronauts from American soil. Boeing's first test flight, which is scheduled for mid-2019, will have Eric Boe, social media-savvy astronaut Chris Ferguson and rookie Nicole Aunapu Mann on board. SpaceX's inaugural Crew Dragon voyage, targeting April 2019, will have Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins as crew.

NASA also announced the astronauts for the first missions, which will be long-duration and dock with the International Space Station. Suni Williams, who is best known for running the Boston Marathon on an ISS treadmill, will be joined by rookie astronaut Josh Cassada. And finally, the second SpaceX demo flight will be crewed by Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley.

Source: Engadget

NASA Names First Astronauts to Fly on American Spacecraft; SpaceX Poised to Fly Crew Before Boeing

NASA has selected nine American astronauts who will fly on SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Boeing's CST-100 Starliner:

NASA introduced to the world on Friday the first U.S. astronauts who will fly on American-made, commercial spacecraft to and from the International Space Station – an endeavor that will return astronaut launches to U.S. soil for the first time since the space shuttle's retirement in 2011.

"Today, our country's dreams of greater achievements in space are within our grasp," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "This accomplished group of American astronauts, flying on new spacecraft developed by our commercial partners Boeing and SpaceX, will launch a new era of human spaceflight. Today's announcement advances our great American vision and strengthens the nation's leadership in space."

For now, SpaceX's crewed test flight is scheduled for April 2019, while Boeing's is scheduled for "mid-2019". The announcement comes days after an issue with Boeing's pad abort thrusters was revealed.

Also at BBC and Fortune.

Previously: Safety Panel Raises Concerns Over SpaceX and Boeing Commercial Crew Plans
SpaceX and Boeing Not Ready to Transport Astronauts to the International Space Station

Related: Boeing CEO Says His Company Will Carry Humans to Mars Before SpaceX


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  • (Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Sunday August 05 2018, @12:44PM

    by maxwell demon (1608) on Sunday August 05 2018, @12:44PM (#717498) Journal

    Well, great news for conspiracy theorists: They can point at that headline to “prove” that until now no astronaut ever flew on an American spacecraft. Especially not to the moon. ;-)

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