Astronauts make round trip to space station from U.S. soil (59 images)

SpaceX's first mission with NASA astronauts on board launched at 3:22 p.m. EDT May 30, 2020, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.This was the first crewed launch from U.S. soil since the space shuttle era ended in 2011. The Crew Dragon capsule successfully docked at the International Space Station the following day, delivering two American astronauts. The astronauts successfully returned to Earth on August 2.

SpaceX teams executed a full simulation of launch and docking of the Crew Dragon spacecraft, with Hurley (R) and Behnken participating in SpaceX's flight simulator on March 19 and 20. Photo courtesy of SpaceX

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SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule completes acoustic testing in Florida. Photo courtesy of SpaceX

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Hurley (L) and Behnken stand near Launch Pad 39A during a dress rehearsal ahead of the SpaceX uncrewed In-Flight Abort Test at Kennedy Space Center on January 17. In the background, the company's Falcon 9 rocket is topped by the Crew Dragon spacecraft. The flight test will demonstrate the spacecraft's escape capabilities. Photo by Kim Shiflett/NASA

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Bridenstine (L) and Musk converse at Kennedy Space Center's launch control center while awaiting liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft on the uncrewed in-flight abort test on January 19. Photo by Kim Shiflett/NASA

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