As soon as NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley lifted off atop a SpaceX rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, reaction from all corners of Alabama was swift.
Saturday afternoon’s launch set forth the commercial crew era of U.S. human spaceflight, and significant support for the mission is taking place at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.
“What a great day for NASA, what a great day for SpaceX, and what a great day for the United States of America,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine at a Saturday evening press conference. “It’s been nine years since we’ve launched American astronauts on American rockets from American soil, and now we have done it again.”
After the launch was scrubbed earlier in the week due to inclement weather, the NASA Marshall team prepared for the next launch window during the days in between.
Our team at #NASAMarshall‘s Huntsville Operations Support Center is working to make sure conditions are optimal for this weekend’s #LaunchAmerica flight.
Learn more about the HOSC team in our recent Reddit AMA >> https://t.co/HG15QOm6tY pic.twitter.com/D417nd7WIx
— NASA Marshall (@NASA_Marshall) May 29, 2020
Following the successful launch, Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) congratulated Behnken and Hurley through a series of tweets, adding, “Success in space has always required close work between the private sector and NASA. I look forward to a regular tempo of crewed flights to the Space Station followed soon by flights of the Space Launch System program.”
Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-01) sought to convey the historic nature of the launch.
A legendary day for America! ?? ?? ?? https://t.co/ALAwLIKaBo
— Rep. Bradley Byrne (@RepByrne) May 30, 2020
“FANTASTIC for America!” were the words of Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05).
FANTASTIC for America!
Today, @NASA & @SpaceX launched American astronauts on American rockets from American soil for the first time in nearly a decade!
Congrats to all who made this historic launch successful. #LaunchAmerica ?https://t.co/qdVBTrFH32
— Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) May 30, 2020
The spacecraft arrived to orbit and separation occurred about 12 minutes into the flight. The crew has spent several hours performing maneuvers to prepare for docking at the International Space Station on Sunday morning. Hatches should open and the crew will board the station sometime around 11:45 a.m. CST.
At the conclusion of their time on the International Space Station, Behnken and Hurley will depart aboard the spacecraft on their way to reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere. Targeted splashdown is off of Florida’s Atlantic coast.
Tim Howe is an owner of Yellowhammer Multimedia
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.