Commercial Crew
NASA assigns astronauts for third SpaceX commercial crew mission
NASA has selected three astronauts for a future SpaceX commercial crew mission to the International Space Station as it leaves open the possibility of exchanging seats with Russia.
Next Starliner test flight scheduled for late March
A second uncrewed test flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner commercial crew spacecraft is now scheduled for no earlier than the end of March, 15 months after its first, flawed mission.
Crew Dragon docks to ISS on first operational mission
A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft with four astronauts on board successfully docked with the International Space Station Nov. 16, a day after launch on the first operational commercial crew mission.
SpaceX launches first operational Crew Dragon mission to ISS
A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying four American and Japanese astronauts is on its way to the international Space Station after a successful Falcon 9 launch Nov. 15.
Weather delays Crew-1 launch
NASA has postponed the launch of its first operational commercial crew mission by a day, citing weather conditions that delayed the arrival of the droneship used for the recovery of the Falcon 9 first stage.
NASA certifies SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft ahead of Crew-1 launch
NASA formally certified SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft for transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station, clearing the way for a Nov. 14 launch.
SpaceX finds cause of Falcon 9 engine abort
NASA and SpaceX say they believe they have identified the Falcon 9 engine problem that aborted a GPS satellite launch in early October and delayed a commercial crew mission to the middle of November.
NASA’s Crew-1 commander to be sworn into U.S. Space Force from the International Space Station
Air Force Col. Michael “Hopper” Hopkins, commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission, will be commissioned into the U.S. Space Force.
Soyuz launch marks end of an era for NASA
A Soyuz spacecraft launched to the International Space Station Oct. 14 on what will likely be the last mission where NASA pays Russia for a seat, but not necessarily the last time NASA astronauts fly on the spacecraft.
NASA delays commercial crew mission to study Falcon 9 engine issue
NASA is delaying the launch of the first operational SpaceX commercial crew mission to the first half of November to provide more time to review a problem during a recent Falcon 9 launch attempt.
Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson withdraws from Starliner test flight
Chris Ferguson, the former NASA astronaut who was to command the first crewed flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle, has withdrawn from the mission for personal reasons, the company announced Oct. 7.
Antares launches Cygnus cargo spacecraft to space station
A Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station after a successful launch on the company’s Antares rocket Oct. 2.
NASA safety panel raises doubts about Starliner test flight schedule
A NASA safety panel said that while Boeing was making good progress on implementing changes to its CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle, it had doubts that work could be done in time to allow another test flight this year.
NASA human spaceflight directorate completes reorganization
The NASA directorate responsible for human spaceflight efforts has completed a long-anticipated internal reorganization intended to better align activities ranging from the International Space Station to Artemis.
NASA and Boeing outline schedule of Starliner test flights
NASA and Boeing announced an updated schedule of test flights of the company’s CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle that would allow it to begin operational missions to the International Space Station at the end of 2021.
