SpaceX to make history in first astronaut launch

Elon Musk's SpaceX is set to launch the first crewed spaceflight by a private company on Wednesday, May 27.

NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley will be piloting the Crew Dragon capsule to their destination, the International Space Station.

The launch window for SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida begins at 4:33 p.m. on May 27.

It is the first crewed flight for NASA since its space shuttle program ended in 2011.

If Wednesday's launch is canceled for any reason, the backup dates are May 30 and May 31.

If the test succeeds, SpaceX will be certified by NASA for additional crewed missions to the ISS.

SpaceX said Tuesday that it has raised $346 million in new funding ahead of the launch.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)