Image: SpaceX
On 27 May, two US astronauts, Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, are planning to launch from the Kennedy Space Centre on a mission to the International Space Station.
As a space policy expert, I find it hard to overstate the significance for both SpaceX and spaceflight in general.
Compared to an average space shuttle mission that cost US$1.6-billion, Nasa is paying only $55-million per seat for SpaceX’s upcoming ISS flights.
While space companies have long predicted opportunities for space tourism, SpaceX’s Dragon brings that possibility closer to reality.
While orbital space tourism might still be far off for the average American, SpaceX’s crew launch brings us closer to the day when an extraordinary event is a normal occurrence.
