Crew Dragon: Most Eagerly Anticipated Space Mission?

Given that it finally regained NASA’s ability to launch space missions from American soil, was the Crew Dragon launch the most eagerly anticipated space mission for more than a decade?

By: Ringo Bones

Since the NASA’s fleet of Space Shuttles has been retired back in 2011, it seems that the United States has lost its ability to launch crewed missions into the International Space Station and return them safely using launch systems on American soil. NASA has, for almost a decade, became dependent on the Russian Soyuz launch system as the only way to send American and other astronauts to the ISS and back. But could a private space start-up by Elon Musk provide a more cost effective and safer alternative?

Since the private space transportation company was established back in 2002, Elon Musk’s SpaceX primary mission was to provide launch systems that can make space missions make fiscal sense to be economically viable enough to make space industry – and even space tourism – a reality. And since the NASA Space Shuttle fleet was retired in 2011, it only spurred on SpaceX’s plans to provide a suitable new and improved launch system.

With the successful SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A back in May 30, 2020 with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard. The crew successfully docked to the International Space Station back in June 1, 2020 and with a reusable and returnable lower stage, it seems that Elon Musk’s system could prove to be a cheaper and safer alternative to NASA’s now retired Space Shuttle program – and even the existing Russian Soyuz launch system.