Residents along Florida's local space coast are becoming accustomed to frequent rocket launches, with a major SpaceX crew mission scheduled for tonight. The launch, set for a little past 11 p.m. Eastern Time, will see eight astronauts heading to the International Space Station.
Weather forecasters have indicated a 40% chance of favorable conditions for the launch. Concerns extend beyond the launch site, with attention also focused on potential emergency landing scenarios in the Atlantic.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule named Endeavor will transport three NASA astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut to the International Space Station. During their approximately six-month stay, the crew will conduct around 250 experiments, including research on the effects of long-term space travel on the human body.
Research conducted in low Earth orbit is crucial for preparing for future deep-space missions. NASA is increasingly partnering with private sector spacecraft, such as intuitive machines like the Odysseus Moon Lander, to explore potential sites for upcoming astronaut missions to the lunar South Pole.
This collaboration with the commercial industry has significantly reduced costs for space missions. Inflation-adjusted data shows a substantial decrease in the cost of sending astronauts to low Earth orbit over the years. For instance, the cost has dropped from $390 million for NASA's Apollo seven in 1968 to $170 million for the space shuttle, and now stands between $60 and $67 million per seat aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon.
