--- title: "SpaceX Is Officially Sending Astronauts to Space Next Month" description: "SpaceX finally has a launch date to return astronauts from US soil to space since the retirement of NASA's Space Shuttle program in 2011: May 27." date: "2020-04-17" modified: "2020-04-17" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-is-officially-sending-astronauts-to-space-next-month" categories: - "Space" - "SpaceX" tags: - "crew dragon" - "falcon 9" - "NASA" - "SpaceX" - "the digest" --- # SpaceX Is Officially Sending Astronauts to Space Next Month ![SpaceX finally has a launch date to return astronauts from US soil to space since the retirement of NASA's Space Shuttle program in 2011: May 27.]() *\Image: SpaceX\* ## Launch Date SpaceX finally has a launch date to launch astronauts to space — the first planned launch from U.S. soil since the retirement of NASA's Space Shuttle program in 2011. On May 27, SpaceX will launch US astronauts Bob Behnken and Dough Hurley to the International Space Station aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft, powered by SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff is scheduled for 4:32 pm Eastern from Launch Complex 39A in Florida. "On May 27, will once again launch American astronauts on American rockets from American soil!" NASA chief administrator Jim Bridenstine wrote in [a tweet]() today. ## Demo-2 The launch dubbed Demo-2 is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. A successful uncrewed test flight, [Demo-1](), took place in March 2019. Both SpaceX and aerospace giant Boeing have been developing spacecraft to shuttle astronauts to the space station. Both companies have seen [delays]() — as well as a [dramatic explosion]() during testing. ## Ready for Liftoff Behnken and Hurley have been busy running through a gauntlet of [tests and rehearsals]() to make sure everything goes according to plan on launch day. The news comes after SpaceX sacrificed a Falcon 9 rocket during a [January 19 in-flight abortion test flight](), intentionally blowing it up in a massive fireball. **READ MORE:** [SpaceX, NASA target May 27 for 1st Crew Dragon test flight with astronauts]() **More on Demo-2:***[SpaceX Says It’ll Drive Astronauts to Launchpad in Tesla Model X]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()