Launch America Explained

Status:Active
Genre:Long-term public-private partnership
Country:United States
Prev:SpaceX Crew-9
Next:SpaceX Crew-10
Organized:NASA

Launch America is a public–private partnership between the United States and multiple space companies, closely related to NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The term "Launch America" was used as early as May 2016.[1] The initiative aims to end NASA's reliance on Roscosmos by developing launch systems that can carry crews to space from American soil.[2] [3]

The first space launch under the "Launch America" banner occurred at the Demo-2 mission on 30 May 2020, successfully taking two astronauts to the International Space Station. This marked both the first launch of astronauts by a wholly commercial provider mission in the world, as well as the first crewed space launch by the U.S. in a decade, and the first ever crewed space launch by SpaceX.[4] [5] [6]

Flights

Mission and PatchCapsuleLaunch dateLanding dateDescriptionCrewOutcome
Crew Dragon Endeavour30 May 20202 August 2020First space launch under "Launch America" banner. This marked both the first launch of astronauts by a wholly commercial provider mission in the world, and the first crewed space launch by the U.S. in a decade, as well as being the first ever crewed space launch by SpaceX.
Crew Dragon Resilience16 November 2020[7] 2 May 2021[8] First operational Commercial Crew flight, second overall crewed orbital flight of Crew Dragon, flying four astronauts to the ISS for a six-month mission. Roscosmos had not yet certified the Crew Dragon vehicle, so a third NASA astronaut was added instead of a Russian cosmonaut.[9] Broke the record for the longest spaceflight by a U.S. crew vehicle, previously held by the Skylab 4 mission.[10] All members of this flight were part of the Expedition 64 crew.
Crew Dragon Endeavour23 April 2021[11] 9 November 2021[12] Second operational Commercial Crew flight, third overall crewed orbital flight of Crew Dragon, transferring crew to the ISS for a six-month mission. NASA agreed to allow SpaceX to reuse a booster and capsule for the first time on this flight. It was the first NASA orbital flight to reuse a crewed vehicle since STS-135 in 2011. After spending almost 200 days in orbit, the Crew Dragon Endeavour set the record for the longest spaceflight by a U.S. crew vehicle previously set by her sibling Crew Dragon Resilience on May 2, 2021.[13] All members of this flight were part of the Expedition 65 crew.
Crew Dragon Endurance11 November 2021[14] 6 May 2022[15] Third operational Commercial Crew flight, fifth overall crewed flight of Crew Dragon, transporting four astronauts to the ISS for a six-month mission. All members of this flight were part of the Expedition 66 and Expedition 67 crews.
Crew Dragon Freedom27 April 2022[16] 14 October 2022[17] The fourth flight contracted under CCP contract and the seventh overall crewed flight of Crew Dragon.[18] All members of this flight were part of the Expedition 67 and Expedition 68 crews.
Crew Dragon Endurance[19] 5 October 2022[20] 18 March 2023[21] The fifth flight contracted under CCP contract and the eighth overall crewed orbital flight of Crew Dragon. The fourth astronaut is Russian cosmonaut, Anna Kikina, flying on this mission as a part of Dragon–Soyuz swap flights that ensures both countries would have a presence on the station, and the ability to maintain their separate systems, if either Soyuz or commercial crew vehicles are grounded for an extended period.[22] All members of this flight are part of the Expedition 68 and Expedition 69 crews.
Crew Dragon Endeavour[23] 2 March 2023[24] 4 September 2023The sixth flight contracted under CCP contract.
Crew Dragon Endurance26 August 2023[25] 12 March 2024In late 2021, NASA contracted SpaceX for three more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-7.[26]
Crew Dragon Endeavour4 March 202425 October 2024In late 2021, NASA contracted SpaceX for three more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-7.
Boeing Crew Flight Test
(patch)
Starliner Calypso[27] 5 June 2024June 2024The first crewed mission of Boeing Starliner. Landed uncrewed due to malfunctioning thrusters.
Crew Dragon Freedom28 September 2024February 2025The ninth flight contracted under CCP contract and the fifteenth overall crewed flight of Crew Dragon. All members of this flight were part of the Expedition 72 crew.
Crew Dragon C213February 2025July 2025In May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10.
SpaceX Crew-11[28] TBAJuly 2025TBAIn May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10. TBA
TBDTBDFirst operational flight of Boeing Starliner.
SpaceX Crew-12TBATBATBAIn May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10. TBA
SpaceX Crew-13TBATBATBAIn May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10. TBA
SpaceX Crew-14TBATBATBAIn May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10. TBA

Notes and References

  1. Commercial Crew: Launch America . The Space Congress Proceedings . 2016 (44th) The Journey: Further Exploration for Universal Opportunities . 24 May 2016 . Lisa Colloredo . Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University . NASA .
  2. Web site: Carter . Jamie . Despite SpaceX Success NASA Will Pay Russia $90 Million To Take U.S. Astronaut To The ISS . 2022-08-09 . Forbes . en.
  3. Web site: 2020-05-29 . SpaceX Launch America sets NASA's path to the moon and Mars in "huge step forward" for U.S. space exploration . 2022-08-09 . Newsweek . en.
  4. News: CNN . NASA rolls out 'Launch America' campaign . KCBD . 8 May 2020 . 30 May 2020 . 31 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200531132113/https://www.kcbd.com/2020/05/08/nasa-rolls-out-launch-america-campaign/ . dead .
  5. Web site: Launch America: NASA and SpaceX Demo-2 Test Flight . U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna . 20 May 2020 .
  6. News: Trump wants America looking at the stars as he drags it through the gutter . David Smith . 30 May 2020 . The Guardian .
  7. Web site: Commercial Crew Press Kit. 2021-03-28. www.nasa.gov.
  8. Web site: Crew-1 Makes Nighttime Splashdown, Ends Mission. NASA. 2 May 2021. 2 May 2021. 2 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502072154/https://blogs.nasa.gov/crew-1/2021/05/02/crew-1-makes-nighttime-splashdown-ends-mission/. live.
  9. Web site: NASA selects astronauts for Crew Dragon mission. 31 March 2020. 1 April 2020 . Foust . Jeff. spacenews.com. 2 April 2020. https://archive.today/20200402052416/https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-astronauts-for-crew-dragon-mission/. live.
  10. Web site: Live coverage: SpaceX crew capsule set to move to new space station docking port. Spaceflight Now. 5 April 2021. 5 April 2021. 5 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210405055233/https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/04/05/crew-1-dragon-relocation-mission-status-center/. live.
  11. Web site: Herridge. Linda. NASA, SpaceX Officials Thrilled With Crew-2 Launch Success. 23 April 2021. NASA. 23 April 2021.
  12. Web site: Sempsrott. Danielle. NASA, SpaceX Update Crew Launch and Return Dates. NASA. 14 June 2021. 14 June 2021. 14 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210614203104/https://blogs.nasa.gov/kennedy/2021/06/14/nasa-spacex-update-crew-launch-and-return-dates/. live.
  13. Web site: Ralph . Eric . SpaceX Dragon returns astronauts to Earth after record-breaking spaceflight . Teslarati . 9 November 2021.
  14. Web site: Sempsrott. Danielle. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 Underway as Endurance Journeys to Station. 10 November 2021. NASA. 5 October 2022.
  15. Web site: Chelsea . Gohd . SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts have fun testing spacesuits before coming home (photos) . space.com . 28 April 2022 .
  16. Web site: Costa. Jason. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 Underway as Freedom Journeys to Station. 27 April 2022. NASA. 5 October 2022.
  17. Web site: NASA, SpaceX Adjust Crew-5 Launch Date . 30 August 2022.
  18. Web site: Boeing, SpaceX Secure Additional Crewed Missions Under NASA's Commercial Space Transport Program. 4 January 2017. 23 February 2019. 22 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181222033223/https://www.govconwire.com/2017/01/boeing-spacex-secure-additional-crewed-missions-under-nasas-commercial-space-transport-program/. live.
  19. Web site: Media Briefing: NASA's SpaceX Crew-4 Prelaunch . . 26 April 2022. 26 April 2022. Alt URL
  20. Web site: Cawley. James. Liftoff! Crew-5 Flight Crew Soars into the Florida Afternoon Sky. 5 October 2022. NASA. 5 October 2022.
  21. Web site: Lavelle . Heidi . Dragon Endurance Undocks from the Space Station . 11 March 2023 . NASA . 11 March 2023 .
  22. Web site: 2021-10-26. Rogozin says Crew Dragon safe for Russian cosmonauts. 2021-10-29. SpaceNews. en-US.
  23. Web site: Cawley . James . NASA Updates Crew Flight Manifest to Space Station . NASA . 5 November 2022 . 3 November 2022 . The Crew-6 mission will be Dragon Endeavour’s fourth flight to the space station.
  24. Web site: Cawley . James . Liftoff! Crew-6 Lights Up the Florida Early Morning Sky . 2 March 2023 . NASA . 3 March 2023.
  25. Web site: Falcon 9 Block 5 - SpaceX Crew-7 . 25 July 2023 . 26 July 2023 . Next Spaceflight.
  26. Web site: NASA to Secure Additional Commercial Crew Transportation – Commercial Crew Program.
  27. Web site: Dunbar . Brian . 2019-12-22 . Starliner Returns to Earth With a New Name: Calypso . 2023-02-26 . NASA.
  28. News: NASA just bought the rest of the space station crew flights from SpaceX. 3 June 2022. 3 June 2022.