Here’s How to Watch the Historic NASA and SpaceX Launch Live

The historic launch will be sending U.S. astronauts to space for the first time in nine years.

The United States is heading back to space this week. NASA and Elon Musk’s SpaceX will be launching a joint mission that’ll send two veteran astronauts, Bob Behnken and Douglas G. Hurley, to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. This will be the first mission – called the Demo-2 test flight – to send humans into space in nine years from U.S. soil. Viewers can witness the historic event on the National Geographic cable network and stream it on ABC News Live.

The “Launch America: Mission to Space Live” is a two-hour-long special that will air on May 27th at 3 p.m. EST and cover liftoff from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The televised event will include an in-depth analysis of the launch, insight from SpaceX founder Elon Musk, and exclusive interviews with former NASA astronauts and other aerospace professionals.

“This is the perfect moment to remind viewers everywhere about the power of the human spirit and how science is leading the way forward,” said Geoff Daniels, executive vice president of global unscripted entertainment for National Geographic, in a prepared statement.

If the mission is successful, SpaceX will be the first privately owned company to send humans into orbit. Last year, SpaceX successfully completed a test mission of its Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station without a crew aboard. Earlier this year, NASA praised SpaceX for effectively conducting a test of an emergency abort system in flight that would carry astronauts to safety if something went wrong. The momentous upcoming flight will be a culmination of SpaceX and NASA’s testing and hard work through the years.

Of course, the Crew Dragon’s liftoff is no exception to traditional launch delays. Factors like weather and mechanical difficulties can cause the launch to be scrapped, but its backup dates are May 30, May 31, and June 1 if a suspension occurs.

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