/sci/ - Science & Math

Now Doug can get his flag back!

USA USA USA

for those that missed it:
QUICK RUNDOWN:
In 2011, the Space Shuttle was retired. This ended American manned access to space. Ever since, NASA has been paying the Russians to launch American astronauts on Soyuz rockets. In 2014, NASA selected two commercial partners—SpaceX and Boeing—to develop manned launch systems for a ‘Commercial Crew’ program. The idea was to replace government-operated space launch systems with commercial alternatives, through a public-private partnership. Eventually, NASA will be one customer of many for buying manned launch services from both Boeing and SpaceX, and other companies too.
This launch, Demo-2, is SpaceX’s final major test of their Dragon 2 capsule for this NASA commercial contract. If successful, it means that SpaceX will have a fully certified system to deliver NASA astronauts to space. Furthermore, this launch signifies the return of America’s capability to deliver humans into space, something which has not been possible for nine years. Demo-2 is also the first instance of a privately-owned company launching humans into orbit, and the first manned launch of a truly new spacecraft since Columbia and STS-1 in 1981.
Most importantly, this launch is the beginning of a new commercial age of manned spaceflight. Its importance cannot be understated.
Lastly, when the last shuttle left the International Space Station in 2011, the crew left behind a small American flag. The flag was only to be returned to earth by the next American crew on an American rocket to visit the station. This acted as sort of a ‘race’ between the two commercial crew partners, Boeing and SpaceX, to see who could get the flag first. If Demo-2 is successful, SpaceX will have finally captured the flag.