Today, Explained One giant leap for SpaceX
May 26, 2020
Loren Grush, a senior science reporter at The Verge, breaks down the historic launch of SpaceX's crewed rocket, a major milestone for American spaceflight. She discusses the collaboration with NASA and the implications for future missions, including commercial space tourism and the ambition to send humans to Mars. The conversation also touches on the challenges posed by SpaceX’s Starlink satellites on rural internet access and their impact on astronomical observations, illustrating the exciting yet complex future of space exploration.
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A New Era in Spaceflight
- This is the first human orbital launch from US soil since 2011, marking the end of reliance on the Space Shuttle program.
- It's also the first time humans will launch on a private vehicle (SpaceX's), not a government-built one.
NASA's New Business Model
- NASA shifted from building spacecraft to becoming a customer, partially investing in private companies like SpaceX.
- This change aims to foster innovation and create a profitable commercial spaceflight market.
SpaceX's Martian Dream
- SpaceX's ultimate goal is to send humans to Mars.
- Despite explosions and setbacks, they developed the Crew Dragon, upgrading their cargo vehicle for human transport.