Summary

  • The historic launch marks the first time a private vehicle has carried astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS)

  • Nasa astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are flying to the ISS in the Crew Dragon spacecraft, built by Elon Musk's company SpaceX

  • This was the second try at launching after Wednesday's attempt was called off due to bad weather

  • Hurley and Behnken are two of Nasa's most experienced astronauts, with two spaceflights each

  • There have been no launches from US soil since the retirement of the space shuttle in 2011

  1. Farewells to familypublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 30 May 2020

    They wave goodbye to family and friends and get into the white Tesla that will take them to the pad.

  2. The crew walks outpublished at 17:05 British Summer Time 30 May 2020

    Nasa astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken have walked out of the iconic doors of the Operations and Checkout Building to begin the journey to the pad.

  3. 'Possum's Fargo'published at 17:00 British Summer Time 30 May 2020

    On Nasa TV, Leland Melvin mentions an astronaut tradition that happens before the crew can walk out.

    They play a card game called Possum's Fargo - a bit like a kids' version of Poker.

    Tradition has it that the spacecraft commander, Doug Hurley in this case, must lose a hand before the astronauts can leave the building.

  4. Astronaut selfiepublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 30 May 2020

    SelfieImage source, NASA

    Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine and deputy administrator Jim Morhard have been chatting to the astronauts - who have suited up. No sign of Elon Musk, who attended the equivalent event on Wednesday.

    We can't hear what's being said, but Bridenstine decides to take a selfie with crew members Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley.

    And here's how it turned out.

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  5. Getting ready for the ride into the spacepublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 30 May 2020

    Nasa astronaut Doug Hurley has a young son with fellow astronaut Karen Nyberg. Earlier this month he tweeted this picture drawn by his son.

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  6. Time for the astronauts to get into their suitspublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 30 May 2020

    The team is getting the crew into their futuristic space suits.

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  7. 'The right call'published at 16:27 British Summer Time 30 May 2020

    As Nasa TV's live coverage commences, retired astronaut Leland Melvin comments on Wednesday's scrubbed launch.

    "We were down to T minus 17 and our teams made the right call."

    "We didn't want to go through that weather and have something happen". He called Wednesday's weather "really wild".

    Although Nasa had been hoping for a window of opportunity, storm clouds hovered throughout the run-up to launch.

    Today's attempt is 50-50, according to US Air Force forecasts.

    Leland MelvinImage source, Nasa
    Image caption,

    Leland Melvin enters the space station from the shuttle in 2009

  8. SpaceX Nasa launch: Take twopublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 30 May 2020

    Welcome back to our coverage of the historic SpaceX launch. Our team will be keeping you up to date this weekend on the second shot at sending two Nasa astronauts to the International Space Station. Here’s what you need to know:

    • Nasa astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken were in their seats ready to begin their ride when Wednesday’s flight was called off with only minutes to spare, due to poor weather
    • Forecasters say weather conditions at Florida's Kennedy Space Center will probably be touch and go again today
    • Lift-off is scheduled for 15:22 EDT (19:22 GMT; 20:22 BST)
    • The stakes are high; this is the first time Nasa astronauts will be launched from US soil since the space shuttle fleet was retired almost a decade ago
    • The mission will also mark the first occasion that the US space agency has used a private company to transport Americans into orbit.

    Falcon 9  rocket and Crew DragonImage source, AFP