Fijivillage
NEWS SPORTS IN DEPTH
8 April, 2026, 3:32 pm
Central - 29°C Clouds
8 April, 2026, 3:32 pm Central - 29°C Clouds

SpaceX launch: NASA astronauts begin historic mission on private spaceship

SpaceX launch: NASA astronauts begin historic mission on private spaceship

By Semi Turaga
31/05/2020
It's the first time since the retirement of the shuttles nine years ago that an American crew has made the journey from US territory. [image: BBC]

The private rocket company SpaceX has sent two NASA astronauts into orbit.

It's the first time since the retirement of the shuttles nine years ago that an American crew has made the journey from US territory.

BBC News eDoug Hurley and Bob Behnken are not only trialling a new capsule system, they are also initiating a new business model for NASA.

The agency will no longer own the vehicles it uses but merely purchase the "taxi" service offered by SpaceX.

It's hoped companies other than tech billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX outfit will come in to expand the market.

The aerospace giant Boeing already has a contract with NASA to do so.

The new capability will end the reliance of NASA on the Russian space agency Roscosmos to get its astronauts into space.

Since 2011, they've been going up on Soyuz rockets and capsules.

It was a point picked up on by President Donald Trump, who came to Florida to watch the launch.

[Source: BBC]

FEATURE NEWS
EFL introduces temporary power rationing, power outages continue in Central and Western divisions
Energy Fiji Limited has introduced temporary power rationing in some areas to manage electricity demand until full transmission capacity is restored....
18 minutes ago
LATEST NEWS
EFL introduces temporary power rationing, power outages continue in Central and Western divisions
Energy Fiji Limited has introduced temporary power rationing in some areas to manage electricity demand until full transmission capacity is ...
18 minutes ago

Floodwaters damage homes in Rifle Range Lautoka as residents begin clean-up
Floodwaters entered homes in Rifle Range, Lautoka early yesterday morning leaving families counting their losses and beginning clean-up efforts ...
2 hours ago

National Security Council to meet today to review the fuel situation in the country
The National Security Council is expected to meet later today to review the fuel situation in the country.Following this meeting, the government is ...
3 hours ago

Some roads in Western and Central divisions affected by TC Vaianu
Tropical Cyclone Vainanu continues to impact road networks with a number of crossings and roads in the Western and Central divisions either closed, ...
4 hours ago

Power outage continues in Central and Western Divisions
People in parts of the Central and Western Divisions continue to experience intermittent power outages following damage caused by Category 3 Tropical ...
4 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH

Fiji Sports Council Saga: Minister ready to repay business class air fare for wife as concerns grow about Sports Council deals
I was invited to travel to New Zealand by the Fiji Sports Council for a grassroots 7s tournament in 2024, I travelled business class but it was ...
33 days ago

TOP