Completely Changed US Spaceflight... Slim Outfits and Touchscreens Included

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The manned spacecraft 'Crew Dragon' from the private company SpaceX was successfully launched, ushering in the 'era of private space exploration.'

It marked a page in the history of human spaceflight. The process from preparation to final launch will be recorded. This was quite different from previous spaceflights, drawing attention. It showed that spaceflight can also reflect the era.

The manned spacecraft 'Crew Dragon' took off at 3:22 PM local time on the 30th.

The astronauts moved to the launch pad early.

Douglas Hurley (53) and Robert Behnken (49), NASA astronauts boarding the spacecraft, put on their spacesuits four hours ahead of the scheduled launch time.

The suits were sleek and streamlined, tailored to fit the Crew Dragon seats. This was distinctly different from the past Apollo astronauts who wore large helmets and bulky suits, hopping like rabbits on the lunar surface.

Each suit was 3D printed to fit their body shapes and integrated with the helmet. Some even said the suits resembled tuxedos or superhero costumes.

The two astronauts, dressed in slim suits, rode Tesla's electric car 'Model X' to launch pad 39A. The launch pad holds the glorious history of Apollo 11, the first manned spacecraft to successfully land on the moon in 1969.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Before boarding the Model X, Behnken made a hugging gesture 'virtually' with his son.

Shortly after arriving at launch pad 39A, the astronauts took an elevator to the top of the launch pad and entered the spacecraft.

The spacecraft is operated via touchscreen rather than joysticks or buttons. The astronauts manipulate the screen wearing special gloves. It was not a spacecraft filled with countless buttons like in the past.

The unpredictable weather conditions became somewhat clear only a couple of hours before the launch.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Director Bridesstein reported around 1 PM that thunderstorms were moving toward the launch pad but expected the weather to clear up by 3 PM at the earliest or by 3:30 PM at the latest, CNBC reported.

This meant the weather would dramatically improve only at the scheduled launch time, clearly showing the uncertainties of space exploration. This was not much different from past spaceflights.

At 3:22 PM, the rocket soared into the sky with the countdown, and cheers erupted among the crowds gathered around Kennedy Space Center.

Despite authorities' requests to watch the launch from home as much as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19, roads leading to Cape Canaveral were filled with parked vehicles around 9 AM, according to The New York Times (NYT).

The spacecraft launch that day was the first in the United States in nine years.

Since NASA ended its Space Shuttle program in 2011, the U.S. had been sending its astronauts to space aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft. This launch succeeded on the second attempt, three days after the countdown was halted on the 27th due to weather issues.