New era of human spaceflight

NASA astronauts will blast off from American soil for the first time in almost nine years when the SpaceX Crew Dragon launches atop a Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station (ISS). In 2014, NASA allocated $8.5 billion to SpaceX and Boeing to develop crew capsules


Boeing CST-100 Starliner
Crew: 7.
Height: 5.0 metres

Reusable self-flying capsule, launched by ULA Atlas V rocket. Starliner is designed to fly up to 10 missions to ISS

SpaceX Crew Dragon
Crew: 7. Height: 8.1 metres
Trunk: Carries unpressurized cargo. Solar panels cover half of surface. Trunk jettisoned prior to re-entry

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket

Second stage: Contains avionics and flight control computers

Inter- stage adapter

Merlin 1D Vac engine: Generates 801kN (81,700kg) of thrust in vacuum

Nosecone
Covers docking hatch to ISS

Engine pods
Four pairs of SuperDraco engines provide escape system

Landing legs

Soyuz crew module 
Crew: 3 
Height: 7.5 metres

At least one Soyuz is always docked at ISS in case emergency evacuation is needed

Soyuz 2-1a launch vehicle
Roscosmos’ Soyuz has been ferrying crew to ISS since November 2000
Cost: Up to $86m/seat

ULA Atlas V rocket
Dec 2019: Unmanned test flight of Boeing Starliner fails to reach ISS
Cost: $90m/seat

May 27, 2020: Doug Hurley (above left) and Bob Behnken (right) will be
first two NASA astronauts to fly Crew Dragon to ISS

Falcon 9 reusable first stage: Nine Merlin 1D engines, each with sea-level thrust of 654kN (66,700kg) 
Cost: $58m/seat


Sources: NASA, Office of the Inspector General, Smithsonian Magazine, SpaceX, Space.com Pictures: SpaceX
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