NASA announces the first commercial astronauts to pilot the next generation of spacecraft

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Barring more delays, the first American astronauts will be launching from U.S. soil since the retirement of the Space Shuttle.

NASA Announces The First Commercial Astronauts to Pilot The Next Generation of Spacecraft

The commercial space race is on, but delays are inevitable.

The last manned mission to take off from the US was in July of 2011 with the launch of the STS-135 mission.

SpaceX and Boeing will begin commercial crew test launches this year

Both companies are preparing for flights as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, the next iteration of NASA's manned missions to space.

SpaceX and Boeing Will Begin Commercial Crew Test Launches This Year

Both companies aim to facilitate six crew missions each to the ISS between 2019 and 2024.

About 45 seconds into flight, at an altitude of 16,000 feet (5,000 meters), Blue Origin's capsule fired its onboard "escape motor" in a test trial today.
The parachutes successfully deployed and, to top it off, the rocket landed safely back on Earth.

/Commercial Space Flight

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NASA Announces The First Commercial Astronauts to Pilot The Next Generation of Spacecraft

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SpaceX and Boeing Will Begin Commercial Crew Test Launches This Year

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Unexpected Result: Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Dramatically Lands New Shepard Rocket

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