WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

In Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site auditorium, agency and industry leaders speak to members of the media during a post launch news conference following the March 2, 2:49 a.m. EST launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. From left are:

Steve Stich, NASA launch manager, Commercial Crew Program; Kirk Shireman, manager, International Space Station Program; Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator; Elon Musk, CEO and lead designer, SpaceX; Bob Behnken, NASA astronaut and Doug Hurley, NASA astronaut. The Crew Dragon’s trip to the space station is designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the CCP spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations, such as the space station.