NASA Astronauts Make Final Preparations for First Private Space Launch
2020-05-25
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1Two American space agency astronauts are making final preparations for the first crewed space flight to launch from American soil since 2011.
2Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley - both former NASA shuttle pilots - arrived at Florida's Kennedy Space Center last week.
3They had been training at their home base in Houston, Texas.
4The astronauts are set to launch from Kennedy on a test mission to the International Space Station, or ISS, on Wednesday, May 27.
5They will fly on a Crew Dragon spacecraft, carried by a Falcon 9 rocket.
6The American company SpaceX designed and built each.
7 The flight will be the first by a private company to send astronauts into orbit.
8The trip will also mark the first U.S.-based space launch since NASA ended its space shuttle program nine years ago.
9Since then, American astronauts have been flying to the ISS on Russian rockets launched from Kazakhstan.
10Hurley was one of the four astronauts who took part in the final NASA shuttle flight in July 2011.
11Speaking to reporters in Florida, he said "it has been a long road" back.
12But he added that it was "humbling to be here to start out the next launch from the United States."
13Behnken called it "an awesome time to be an astronaut, with a new spacecraft."
14Kennedy Space Center's director, former shuttle commander Robert Cabana, and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, welcomed the astronauts on their arrival.
15The NASA chief told the two he saw them as "a bright light for all of America right now."
16The crowd in attendance was greatly reduced because of the coronavirus crisis.
17The astronauts did not wear nose and mouth covers but stayed socially distant.
18Cabana and Bridenstine wore face coverings.
19Bridenstine spoke to the group. During these difficult times, he said, "this is a moment when we can all look and be inspired as to what the future holds."
20The two astronauts do not know how long they will remain at the ISS, but the stay is expected to last at least a month.
21NASA has said the length of stay will be decided after their arrival and will be "based on the readiness" of the next crew launch.
22Only one American is currently on the ISS, astronaut Chris Cassidy.
23NASA says the three U.S. astronauts will team up to test the Crew Dragon's systems and carry out research and maintenance operations.
24Some of the tests will aim to confirm that the spacecraft will be able to carry out future missions while connected to the station for up to 210 days, NASA said.
25The mission is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which partners with private American companies to develop U.S. spaceflight systems.
26NASA selected SpaceX and Boeing in 2014 to transport crews from the United States to the ISS.
27The space agency is paying the two companies a combined $6.8 billion to build competing rocket and capsule systems.
28Boeing is also preparing to launch astronauts aboard its Starliner spacecraft to the ISS.
29But the company suffered a setback in December during an unmanned test flight to reach the space station.
30After lifting off for the test flight, the Starliner experienced software issues that sent the spacecraft to the wrong orbit, causing officials to cancel its trip to the ISS.
31Boeing says it has been working on the software issues and plans to carry out another unpiloted test flight later this year.
32I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Two American space agency astronauts are making final preparations for the first crewed space flight to launch from American soil since 2011. 2Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley - both former NASA shuttle pilots - arrived at Florida's Kennedy Space Center last week. They had been training at their home base in Houston, Texas. 3The astronauts are set to launch from Kennedy on a test mission to the International Space Station, or ISS, on Wednesday, May 27. 4They will fly on a Crew Dragon spacecraft, carried by a Falcon 9 rocket. The American company SpaceX designed and built each. The flight will be the first by a private company to send astronauts into orbit. 5The trip will also mark the first U.S.-based space launch since NASA ended its space shuttle program nine years ago. Since then, American astronauts have been flying to the ISS on Russian rockets launched from Kazakhstan. 6Hurley was one of the four astronauts who took part in the final NASA shuttle flight in July 2011. Speaking to reporters in Florida, he said "it has been a long road" back. But he added that it was "humbling to be here to start out the next launch from the United States." 7Behnken called it "an awesome time to be an astronaut, with a new spacecraft." 8Kennedy Space Center's director, former shuttle commander Robert Cabana, and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, welcomed the astronauts on their arrival. The NASA chief told the two he saw them as "a bright light for all of America right now." 9The crowd in attendance was greatly reduced because of the coronavirus crisis. The astronauts did not wear nose and mouth covers but stayed socially distant. Cabana and Bridenstine wore face coverings. 10Bridenstine spoke to the group. During these difficult times, he said, "this is a moment when we can all look and be inspired as to what the future holds." 11The two astronauts do not know how long they will remain at the ISS, but the stay is expected to last at least a month. NASA has said the length of stay will be decided after their arrival and will be "based on the readiness" of the next crew launch. 12Only one American is currently on the ISS, astronaut Chris Cassidy. NASA says the three U.S. astronauts will team up to test the Crew Dragon's systems and carry out research and maintenance operations. 13Some of the tests will aim to confirm that the spacecraft will be able to carry out future missions while connected to the station for up to 210 days, NASA said. 14The mission is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which partners with private American companies to develop U.S. spaceflight systems. 15NASA selected SpaceX and Boeing in 2014 to transport crews from the United States to the ISS. The space agency is paying the two companies a combined $6.8 billion to build competing rocket and capsule systems. 16Boeing is also preparing to launch astronauts aboard its Starliner spacecraft to the ISS. But the company suffered a setback in December during an unmanned test flight to reach the space station. 17After lifting off for the test flight, the Starliner experienced software issues that sent the spacecraft to the wrong orbit, causing officials to cancel its trip to the ISS. Boeing says it has been working on the software issues and plans to carry out another unpiloted test flight later this year. 18I'm Bryan Lynn. 19Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse and NASA. Caty Weaver was the editor. 20We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 21________________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23mission - n. an important task, usually involving travel somewhere 24humbling - adj. not proud or arrogant 25inspire - v. to make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it 26maintenance - n. work that is done to keep something in good condition 27setback - n. a problem that makes something happen later or more slowly than it should