The ultimate time astronauts were able to get a direct flight from the U.S. To the stars was in 2011 when Space Shuttle Atlantis flew its closing mission.
That may want to exchange soon with each Boeing and SpaceX operating to persuade NASA that they are able to begin serving as a taxi provider for astronauts heading to the International Space Station.
On Thursday NASA released goal dates for both the Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Dragon tablets to begin testing. Un-crewed check flights will start in August, accompanied by means of Boeing’s first crewed check flight in November when the Starliner blasts off with (possibly!) a NASA astronaut and Boeing employee aboard. Then, SpaceX’s Dragon will usher NASA astronauts to orbit from Kennedy Space Center in December, some months behind the unique test schedule.