Crew Dragon Launch

SpaceX, a private space company owned by Elon Musk, launched the Crew Dragon capsule into space on the 30th of May. It had been tested before with no astronauts on board, but this time it was carrying NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the ISS (International Space Station). The mission was called 'Demo 2' and would be the first time an American rocket had launched people into space for about 9 years.

The Crew Dragon capsule is separated into 2 sections. The trunk at the bottom and the crew section at the top. The trunk contains built-in solar panels which do not extend, radiator panels which help get rid of heat and fins. It has no engines though, and is not reusable. The crew section can hold seven astronauts and has touch-screens built into it. Underneath the seats is a small area for cargo that needs to be in the capsule with the astronauts, like food, water, emergency equipment and other things. It has engines built into it, which is unusual (most rockets have engines at the opposite end to the nose cone).

You can watch the launch here.