SpaceX launched successfully with two United States astronauts, first laun

Florida: US President Donald Trump welcomed the development saying ‘The successful launch of SpaceX shuttle carrying two NASA astronauts, is a new dawn in the space sector. This launch endorsed the entry of the private enterprises in the space sector.’ President Trump whole heartedly praised the successful launch of the Demo-02, space mission, jointly developed by NASA and SpaceX. Crew Dragon space craft took off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, on Saturday, and this is the first instance of a manned space mission, in a rocket and shuttle developed and manufactured by a private company.

On Saturday, in the afternoon at 3.22 pm, two NASA astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, started their journey for a special mission at the International Space Station, in the Crew Dragon space craft, on a Falcon 9 rocket. US President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence specially attended the launch. This is the first instance of the astronauts going in space, from US land, since 2011. Nine years ago, the United States had taken Russian cooperation, to send astronauts into space, after discontinuing use of space shuttles. But options of private companies were being explored as this arrangement was proving to be very expensive. The SpaceX company, founded by US Entrepreneur, Elon Musk, in 2002, succeeded in acquiring the contract for a space mission, fulfilling stringent criteria.

SpaceX and NASA signed an agreement worth $2.6 billion and under this contract, SpaceX has been awarded responsibility of 6 space missions. Other than SpaceX, NASA has signed a deal worth $4 billion, with Boing, a leading aerospace company. The United States has taken a decision to send astronauts to the Moon in 2024 and has announced an ambitious plan to send a manned mission to Mars by 2030. Against this background, the SpaceX launch becomes significant.