Join us virtually for the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission!

NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 mission will carry NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, commander; Michael Barratt, pilot; and mission specialist Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut mission specialist Alexander Grebenkin to the space station to conduct a wide range of operational and research activities. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the crew aboard a Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Registration will provide communications about launch schedule changes, access to curated launch resources, and a commemorative virtual stamp to collect following a successful launch.

There is no physical ticket for online participation nor access to on-center activities, register to participate from your spot in the universe! All resources, participation, and registration are FREE.

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[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Nah thanks, I'll watch when they are properly financed and don't rely on private rockets.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So never

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago

Never say never, maybe the USA will get its head out of its ass at some point and realize that private interests aren't the best thing ever 🤷

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

You will be waiting a long time. The commercial crew program has been a great success for NASA, and has eliminated the US reliance on Russian Soyuz capsules for crewed spaceflight. It would likely have been lengthier and costlier if NASA had stuck with the Constellation program. Private rockets are here to stay, and that's a good thing for spaceflight.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah but if NASA had been financed properly through the years they wouldn't need the private sector to take their place.

Hell, one is there to make profit, the other is there for research, it never ends up cheaper in the long run to rely on someone who's there to profit from you.

[–] laverabe 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

not neccessarily. NASA failed to achieve an economical space launch vehicle in 50 years, while private companies did it in 10.

The Apollo program that landed humans on the moon was built by private industry. There is a place for government and there is a place for industry.

Approximately 400,000 skilled people contributed to NASA’s success in putting the first man on the Moon. In the mid-1960s, the agency had 33,200 federal employees and 377,000 contractors. 1

That being said, NASA has a vital role in space as explorers and scientists - but for raw transportation of goods and heavy cargo, that is best handled largely by contractors.