Excited For World’s 1st Private Crewed Launch By SpaceX? First, Watch These 9 Historic Space Launches!

Toy Story was a movie that invigorated our collective imagination.

I remember as a child hearing Buzz Lightyear say, “To infinity & beyond.”

Well, Buzz, we are on our way.

Space has become an exciting topic after a lull of several decades. Humanity is looking to explore the cosmos and make it their own through private enterprise.

We have Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Jeff Bezo’s Blue Origin and Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit aiming at space as the next frontier.

Such is the excitement that in addition to India’s premier space agency – ISRO, we have startups like Moon Express, Commsat and Indian Bellatrix Aerospace wanting to carve out their niche.

Heck, even flying cars could be a thing soon. You can check out the article on Twitter as a tweet storm as well. 

Closer to reality, on 27th May 2020, SpaceX made the first attempt to send a manned craft to the ISS. The launch that was delayed due to bad weather was to transport veteran NASA astronauts, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, to the international space station (ISS). The second attempt will be made on 29th May 2020. 

The international space station (ISS) is a collaborative mission between NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA. However, getting to ISS isn’t like hitching a ride to your buddy’s place. Until, SpaceX arrived on the scene, since 2011 Russia’s Soyuz has been the only option to ferry astronauts to and fro from ISS. 

SpaceX, Elon Musk-led space agency, has been vying to be selected by NASA to deliver humans and goods to the ISS. In preparation for it they have made several missions to space, here are a few historic launches that we enjoyed watching and so will you.

The SpaceX Falcon Heavy Test flight

At the time of the launch, it was the world’s most powerful operational rocket by a factor of 2! The test payload for this launch was the new Tesla Roadster with Starman.

SpaceX’s first Falcon 9 Landing

SpaceX’s made history in 2015 with the landing of the Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral while launching 11 satellites ? to low-Earth orbit for ORBCOMM. This was the first time such a landing had ever been performed.

Apollo 11 mission

Apollo11 was the spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon. Members were Commander Neil Armstrong, who became the first man to step onto the moon, lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin & Command module pilot Michael Collins, the first eagles!

The last American Space Shuttle program mission

STS-135 was the 135th & final mission of the American Space Shuttle program. For Atlantis orbiter’s final mission in 2011, it launched payload & astronauts to the ISS. The U.S. has since used Russia’s rockets to transport people & payload to the ISS.

Dragon capsule in-flight escape system test

1. Earlier this year in January, SpaceX tested the in-flight escape system of its Crew Dragon capsule which was launched on a Falcon 9 rocket that exploded. This test was quintessential before sending humans to the International Space Station via Dragon.

How US Astronauts go to space presently

Here’s how the U.S. transports astronauts to the International Space Station at present with the Russian Soyuz Spacecraft. With the SpaceX mission, this will change soon.

Here’s a video of space travellers launched to the ISS aboard a Soyuz spacecraft

Earth’s first artificial satellite

Here’s a brief documentary on the launch of the world’s first artificial satellite Sputnik 1. The satellite’s unanticipated success triggered the space war between the Soviet Union and the U.S.

The Delta IV

The launch of Delta IV Heavy, the world’s second highest-capacity rocket in operation, behind SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket.

Launch of model Falcon Heavy rocket 

BPS.Space made a model version of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket. With the model rocketeer space taking off, BPS’s Joe Barnard is at the forefront of innovations.

 In case you missed it

In case you missed the original launch scheduled for 27th May 2020, check out the video recording below.

The enthusiasm and anticipation of this historic launch were invigorating until it was cancelled & rescheduled due to unfavourable weather.

BONUS

Find where @Tesla Roadster & Starman are now?

https://www.whereisroadster.com/charts/

Learn how NOT to land an orbital rocket booster:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvim4rsNHkQ

The launch is scheduled for 3:22 p.m EDT May 30, Saturday, (12:52 am IST May 31st). You can watch it on NASA TV or on the SpaceX YouTube channel

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