NASA and SpaceX’s historic launch cheered across the globe as stuffed dinosaur becomes star of the show
Elon Musk's SpaceX made history on Saturday, May 30, with the launch of the SpaceX Crew Dragon carrying NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Not only was this the first crewed launch from U.S. soil in nine years, but it also marked the beginning of an era of private-sector spaceflight.
The launch was originally scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, but was canceled 20 minutes before the rocket was set to blast off, following bad weather conditions.
Twelve minutes into the flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, per NASA, the spacecraft separated from the Falcon 9 rocket’s second stage, signaling the end of the climb to space. The Crew Dragon, Behnken, and Hurley are embarking on a 19-hour pursuit of the International Space Station.
This historic launch has earned SpaceX, Elon Musk, and NASA praise from across the board. Florida Senator Marco Rubio tweeted, “Congratulations to everyone at @SpaceX & @NASA on a historic & successful launch today from #Florida. America is back in space!”
Almost everyone tweeting about the event registered their awe at the launch. “The 10-year kid inside me who had once wanted to become an Astronaut had its own moments of goosebumps & joy today and kept screaming ‘Go Go Go!’ Thanks, NASA & SpaceX!” wrote one Twitter user.
Journalist Jamie Little wrote, “That @SpaceX launch was incredible!!! Chills. Those gentlemen are complete bada**es.”
As everyone watched the footage from inside the shuttle, many could not help but show their love for a glittery toy dinosaur, floating around the astronauts. “Two humans (and one dinosaur) went to space today,” wrote a Twitter user, sharing footage from inside the shuttle. Another wrote, “My favorite part about this launch is that a glittery dinosaur has gone to space before almost all of us and I love that.”
Many also noted that this was probably the first good thing to happen in 2020. The coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns have left people feeling down. This was, in that spirit, a gargantuan change. “Something FINALLY went right in 2020.... I’m not gonna lie, I thought this thing was going to blow up on the launch pad,” wrote a Twitter user.