WATCH NOW: Countdown is on to historic launch

SpaceX liftoff marks first public/private space partnership

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (KYMA, KECY/NBC News) - The countdown is on to the liftoff the Crew Dragon capsule atop the Falcon 9 rocket.

SpaceX is providing a multi-billion dollar taxi ride to the International Space Station (ISS) for two NASA astronauts. It's the first time the publicly-funded space agency is teaming up with a private company to make a trip into space.

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NBC News is providing continuing coverage of the countdown to liftoff. You can watch that here:

Stay with KYMA.com throughout the day for continuing coverage of this historic mission. Or, dowload our app, and we'll let you know when there's a development.