AIAA Celebrates First Crewed Launch from U.S. Soil Since 2011 Written 30 May 2020

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A SpaceX Falcon 9, with NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken in the Dragon crew capsule mounted atop, lifts off from Pad 39-A at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL, Saturday, 30 May 2020. | David J. Philip; Associated Press–©

May 30, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) celebrates the success of today’s history-making launch of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft from U.S. soil to the International Space Station.

“Today’s success heralds a new era of space exploration, one that will redefine U.S. leadership in space,” said Dan Dumbacher, AIAA executive director. “By working together, government and industry are creating a sustainable future for space exploration. Helmed by astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, today’s launch from the Kennedy Space Center proves what is possible in the new space ecosystem and sets the stage for utilization of low earth orbit, the moon and beyond. It is an exciting time to be in aerospace!”

Media contact: Michele McDonald, michelem@aiaa.org, 703.264.7542 

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.