NASA reveals date to launch astronauts into space from US soil for first time in nearly a decade

NASA touted the planned flight as a “new era of human spaceflight” and included photos of the two astronauts, Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, who will be charged with making it into orbit and docking with the International Space Station.

“Lifting off from Launch Pad 39A atop a specially instrumented Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon will accelerate its two passengers to approximately 17,000 mph and put it on an intercept course with the International Space Station,” a Thursday news release from NASA read.

“Once in orbit, the crew and SpaceX mission control will verify the spacecraft is performing as intended by testing the environmental control system, the displays and control system and the maneuvering thrusters, among other things,” NASA added.

The duration of the mission has not yet been decided, but the Crew Dragon spacecraft can stay in orbit for at least 110 days.

The Crew Dragon will reenter Earth’s atmosphere after its mission is complete and splash down in the Atlantic Ocean, where recovery vessels will come and pick up Behnken and Hurley as well as the spacecraft.

NASA said the May flight “lays the groundwork for future exploration of the Moon and Mars starting with the agency’s Artemis program, which will land the first woman and the next man on the lunar surface in 2024.”

Since the space shuttle program ended, the United States has paid Russia to send astronauts into space while private companies work to develop new space travel and exploration technologies.