Countdown is on to monumental space launch
Final checks for SpaceX liftoff underway - NBC's Tom Costello reports
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (KYMA, KECY/NBC News) - The historic liftoff of the first joint SpaceX/NASA mission is on track.
The rocket takes off from Florida in a matter of hours. Final weather and safety checks are well underway.
This is the first time American astronauts will take off from American soil in nearly a decade. Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are set to hitch a ride to the International Space Station (ISS) with a private company. They'll be aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon, propelled by its Falcon 9 rocket.
It's the public-private partnership NASA is banking on to launch a new era of space travel.
"It's all about commercialization of low-earth orbit so we can use NASA resources to do the things that have not yet been commercialized, like go to the moon and on to Mars." says NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.
Wednesday's mission, dubbed Demo-2, proves the concept that companies, like SpaceX, can serve as taxis for Americans, and eventually other nations, to reach low-earth orbit destinations, like the ISS.
"If we can have other countries buy seats on these rockets, it drives down costs for the United States of America taxpayers." says Bridenstine.
Those seats will cost $55-million each. The cost may sound staggering, but NASA has been shelling out upwards of $80-million per seat for Americans to ride on Russian rockets.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk shared this bird's eye view ahead of this crucial test for his company.
Also watching the launch closely, Behnken and Hurley's wives, Megan McArthurs and Karen Nyber. Both are also astronauts. Nyberg shared this image with their son - inspecting dad's ride on the launch pad.
The two man crew set to load into that Crew Dragon just over two-hourse before blast-off, wearing specially designed SpaceX suits using touch screens.
Minutes after the launch, the Falcon 9 booster will separate, and if things go as planned, land upright on a SpaceX barge in the ocean.
The Crew Dragon will continue on to dock with the ISS, where Behnken and Hurley will live and conduct research with the rest of the team for up to four-months.
"I'm really looking forward to having a couple of crew mates here to distribute the duties but also, to eat with, laugh with and joke around with, it'll be a great, great uh adventure with them." said Christopher Cassidey, Coimmander of the ISS.
Weather remains the biggest factor in Wednesday's launch. It could force NASA and SpaceX to postpone until the weekend.
In years past, big crowds turned out to watch these launches live. But NASA is asking people not to gather in light of the coronavirus pandemic. It urges people to watch the launch on their TVs or mobile devices.
