NASA Certifies SpaceX Crew Dragon for Regular Astronaut Flights
NASA officially certifies SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket for regular astronaut missions, marking the first crew certification since the space shuttle era. The Crew-1 mission receives final approval to launch four astronauts to the International Space Station.
NASA officially certifies SpaceX's crew transportation system for regular astronaut flights, making Crew Dragon the first NASA-certified spacecraft to carry humans since the space shuttle program ends in 2011. This certification covers the Crew Dragon capsule, the Falcon 9 rocket, and their associated ground systems, allowing SpaceX to routinely ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
Following a critical flight readiness review, NASA and SpaceX give the green light for the Crew-1 mission to launch on Saturday, November 14. The flight carries four astronauts to the orbiting laboratory, with liftoff scheduled for 7:49 p.m. EST from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, pending favorable weather conditions.
NASA's human spaceflight chief Kathy Lueders calls the certification a big day for the agency and its commercial partners. However, she emphasizes that the teams continue to step carefully through final readiness checks to ensure a safe and successful flight for the crew.