Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley SpaceX’s First NASA Astronauts

By Sumiko Keil

Published May 27, 2020 6:04 AM

(KYMA, KECY)-Astronauts are set to launch into space from American soil today for the first time since 2011.

SpaceX is set to make history as it prepares to launch NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Doug Hurley into space on Wednesday, May 27, at 1:33 p.m.

According to the New York Times, both are former military pilots who rose to the rank of colonel, Mr. Behnken in the United States Air Force, Mr. Hurley in the Marines, before deciding they wanted to go even higher. Both joined NASA in 2000, two of the 17 astronauts selected by the space agency that year.

They have each flown to space twice on space shuttle missions, although never on the same mission. Mr. Hurley flew on the final space shuttle mission in 2011.

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Sumiko Keil

Sumiko Keil has served as the Digital Content Producer since March 2019.

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