NASA Handpicks Sunita Williams, 8 Others For First Mission Into Space On Commercial Flights

NASA announced the first nine astronauts who will fly to space on Boeing and SpaceX vehicles in 2019. According to reports, these flights will restore the American ability to send people into orbit for the first time since the US space shuttle program retired in 2011.

And Indian-origin US astronaut Sunita Williams is going to be part of this glorious history.

Reuters

After years of vehicle development and building anticipation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has now put the crew in commercial crew spacecraft, reports PTI.

A monumental @Commercial_Crew announcement, transforming global data into local solutions and tracking California wildfires from space. For all of this and more, watch to see what happened This Week at NASA: https://t.co/9FAu6DNVXR pic.twitter.com/32VIWmdWNg

¡ª NASA (@NASA) August 4, 2018

"This is a big deal for our country and we want America to know that we are back, that we are flying American astronauts on American rockets from American soil," said NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine at a ceremony to announce the crew members in Houston, Texas.

¡°We are on the brink of launching American astronauts on American rockets from American soil,¡± said @JimBridenstine during today¡¯s #LaunchAmerica announcement. Check out the highlights in this @Twitter moment: https://t.co/2Dki4LTw1K pic.twitter.com/5cOTzOrqmT

¡ª NASA (@NASA) August 3, 2018

The first nine astronauts include-- Eric Boe, Christopher Ferguson, Nicole Aunapu Mann, Robert Behnken, Douglas Hurley, Josh Cassada, Sunita Williams, Victor Glover, Michael Hopkins.

Uncrewed Orbital flight test is scheduled for later this year, with the first crew on board in mid 2019.

SpaceX's first crew tests will be manned by shuttle astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley.

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