The New Journey to Space

(Updated on July 1, 2020)

As we celebrate the successful launch of the Dragon Crew Spacecraft and resuable Falcon-9 Rocket, take a look back at the partnership between NASA and SpaceX leading up to the launch date. Also, included are some new images from the successful launch on May 30th and dock with the ISS on May 31st. Plus, see some new images of the astronauts getting work done at the ISS as their mission continues.

May 21, 2020

By: Discovery

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: PHILIP PACHECO

Photo By: SpaceX

Photo By: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Photo By: Saul Martinez

Photo By: Joe Raedle

Photo By: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Photo By: Joe Raedle

Photo By: GREGG NEWTON

Photo By: NASA/NASA TV

Photo By: NASA

Photo By: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Photo By: NASA/ISS

October 2019: NASA visits SpaceX

Employees of SpaceX work on the Crew Dragon reusable spacecraft after a press conference at SpaceX headquarter where NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced new developments of the Crew Dragon reusable spacecraft.

February 2020: SpaceX Demo-2 Crew Dragon Arrival

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for the first crew launch from American soil since 2011, has arrived at the launch site. NASA and SpaceX are preparing for the agency's first flight test with astronauts to the International Space Station as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program. The SpaceX Crew Dragon will launch atop a Falcon 9 rocket with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley from historic Launch Complex 39A from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The spacecraft now will undergo final testing and prelaunch processing in a SpaceX facility on nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Photo credit: SpaceX

March 2020: CCP SpaceX Demo-2 Launch and Docking Simulation

SpaceX teams in Firing Room 4 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and the company's Mission Control in Hawthorne, California, along with NASA flight controllers in Mission Control Houston, executed a full simulation of launch and docking of the Crew Dragon spacecraft, with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley participating in SpaceX's flight simulator.

April 2020: SpaceX Demo-2 End-to-End Pad Rescue Demonstration

NASA and SpaceX completed an end-to-end demonstration of the teams’ ability to safely evacuate crew members from the Fixed Service Structure during an emergency situation at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

May 2020: SpaceX Crew Dragon's Mark 3 Parachute Test

SpaceX completed its 27th and final test of Crew Dragon’s Mark 3 parachute system on Friday, May 1, 2020, that will be used during the Demo-2 mission to safely land the spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley back from the International Space Station for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Crew Dragon will carry Behnken and Hurley atop a Falcon 9 rocket.

May 2020: SpaceX Demo-2 Crew Dragon Arrival at Pad 39A

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft arrives at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, transported from the company’s processing facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Friday, May 15, 2020, in preparation for the Demo-2 flight test with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley to the International Space Station for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

May 2020: NASA Hosts Crew Arrival News Conference for the agency’s SpaceX Demo-2 Flight Test

From left, Demo-2 crew members Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana pose for a photo after speaking to members of the media on May 20, 2020, at the Launch and Landing Facility runway following the crew’s arrival to the Florida spaceport. Under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, Behnken and Hurley will be the first astronauts launching to the International Space Station from U.S. soil since the end of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011. Liftoff of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft is scheduled for 4:33 p.m. on May 27 from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.

May 2020: Astronauts Head to the Dragon

NASA Astronauts Doug Hurley (L) and Bob Behnken (R) wave to their families before boarding at the pre-launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft attached from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on May 27, 2020 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

May 2020: Pre-flight and Fueling of the Falcon 9 Rocket

Moments before launching NASA scrubbed today's launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the manned Crew Dragon spacecraft on launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on May 27, 2020 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

May 2020: Convoy Transports Astronauts before Successful Launch

The convoy carrying NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley is seen through the windows of firing room four as it makes its way to Launch Complex 39A ahead of the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission, Saturday, May 30, 2020, in the Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

May 2020: Liftoff!

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the manned Crew Dragon spacecraft attached takes off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on May 30, 2020 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley lifted off today on an inaugural flight and will be the first people since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 to be launched into space from the United States.

May 2020: SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Breaks Away After Liftoff

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft breaks away from its contrail shortly after liftoff from launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30, 2020. - NASA astronauts Hurley and Bob Behnken are set to depart for an extended stay at the International Space Station on the SpaceX Demo-2 mission.

May 2020: SpaceX Crew Dragon 30m from ISS

The SpaceX Crew Dragon is pictured about 30 meters away from the International Space Station on May 31, 2020.

May 2020: SpaceX Crew Dragon Nears ISS

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft closes the distance to the International Space Station during docking operations on May 31, 2020.

May 2020: SpaceX Crew Dragon Docked with ISS

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft is seen docked to the International Space Station shortly after soft capture on May 31, 2020.

June 2020: Astronauts Brief Mission Control from ISS

NASA astronauts Doug Hurley (foreground) and Bob Behnken, who flew the Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station during SpaceX Demonstration Mission-2, are pictured briefing mission controllers about their experience in the new vehicle

June 2020: Astronauts Prepare for an Upcoming Spacewalk

NASA astronauts (from top) Chris Cassidy and Bob Behnken work on U.S. spacesuits inside the International Space Station's Quest airlock.

June 2020: ISS Solar Transit

The International Space Station, with a crew of five onboard, is seen in silhouette as it transits the Sun at roughly five miles per second, Wednesday, June 24, 2020, from Fredericksburg, Va. Onboard are Expedition 63 NASA astronauts Chris Cassidy, Douglas Hurley, Robert Behnken, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner.

June 2020: Spacewalk at the ISS

Spacewalkers Bob Behnken (left) and Chris Cassidy (right) in the Quest Airlock on June 26, 2020, before beginning a spacewalk to replace batteries on one of two power channels on the International Space Station

June 2020: Selfie in Space

A spacewalker's spacesuit gloves and camera are reflected in the helmet visor in this "space-selfie" taken during a six-hour and seven-minute spacewalk.