NASA has announced that it will launch astronauts aboard a SpaceX rocket next month from the Space Coast. The announcement was made on Twitter by NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine. It will happen at 4:32 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27. NASA confirmed in February that SpaceX will be the first company to launch American astronauts into space from American soil since 2011. SpaceX and Boeing had been racing to be the first to launch astronauts, but it appeared clear that it would be SpaceX first after Boeing ran into issues during the launch of its Starliner crew capsule.The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that will carry the astronauts into space has arrived in Cape Canaveral and launch preparations are underway, NASA said.The SpaceX Crew Dragon will launch atop a Falcon 9 rocket with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley on board.The astronauts will be headed to the International Space Station for an extended stay. The duration of the mission has not been determined. SpaceX successfully launched its crew capsule on a test flight last year. A launch of this magnitude would usually mean huge crowds flocking to the Space Coast to catch a glimpse of the rocket. But with the nation practicing social distancing, it's possible the first crewed flight in nine years could go up without crowds of onlookers gathered.

NASA has announced that it will launch astronauts aboard a SpaceX rocket next month from the Space Coast.

The announcement was made on Twitter by NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine. It will happen at 4:32 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27.


NASA confirmed in February that SpaceX will be the first company to launch American astronauts into space from American soil since 2011.

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BREAKING: On May 27, @NASA will once again launch American astronauts on American rockets from American soil! With our @SpaceX partners, @Astro_Doug and @AstroBehnken will launch to the @Space_Station on the #CrewDragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Let's #LaunchAmerica 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/RINb3mfRWI — Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) April 17, 2020

SpaceX and Boeing had been racing to be the first to launch astronauts, but it appeared clear that it would be SpaceX first after Boeing ran into issues during the launch of its Starliner crew capsule.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that will carry the astronauts into space has arrived in Cape Canaveral and launch preparations are underway, NASA said.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon will launch atop a Falcon 9 rocket with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley on board.

The astronauts will be headed to the International Space Station for an extended stay. The duration of the mission has not been determined.

SpaceX successfully launched its crew capsule on a test flight last year.

A launch of this magnitude would usually mean huge crowds flocking to the Space Coast to catch a glimpse of the rocket. But with the nation practicing social distancing, it's possible the first crewed flight in nine years could go up without crowds of onlookers gathered.