Launch America

Launch America is a public–private partnership between the United States and multiple space companies, closely related to the NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The term "Launch America" was used as early as May 2016.[1] The initiative aims to end the NASA's reliance on the Russian space agency by developing launch systems that can carry crews to space from American soil.[2][3]

Launch America
StatusActive
GenreLong-term public-private partnership
CountryUnited States
Years active3
Previous eventSpaceX Crew-6
Next eventBoeing Crewed Flight Test
Organized byNASA

The first space launch under the "Launch America" banner occurred at the Demo-2 mission on 30 May 2020, successfully taking two astronauts to the International Space Station. This marked both the first launch of astronauts by a wholly commercial provider mission in the world, as well as the first crewed space launch by the U.S. in a decade, and the first ever crewed space launch by SpaceX.[4][5][6]

Flights
Mission and Patch Capsule Launch date Landing date Description Crew Outcome
Demo-2 Crew Dragon Endeavour 30 May 2020[5][6] 2 August 2020 First space launch under "Launch America" banner. This marked both the first launch of astronauts by a wholly commercial provider mission in the world, and the first crewed space launch by the U.S. in a decade, and the first ever crewed space launch by SpaceX.
Success
SpaceX Crew-1 Crew Dragon Resilience 16 November 2020[7] 2 May 2021[8] First operational Commercial Crew flight, second overall crewed orbital flight of Crew Dragon, flying four astronauts to the ISS for a six-month mission. Roscosmos had not yet certified the Crew Dragon vehicle, so a third NASA astronaut was added instead of a Russian cosmonaut.[9] Broke the record for the longest spaceflight by a U.S. crew vehicle, previously held by the Skylab 4 mission.[10] All members of this flight were part of the Expedition 64 crew.
Success
SpaceX Crew-2 Crew Dragon Endeavour 23 April 2021[11] 9 November 2021[12] Second operational Commercial Crew flight, third overall crewed orbital flight of Crew Dragon, transferring crew to the ISS for a six-month mission. NASA agreed to allow SpaceX to reuse a booster and capsule for the first time on this flight. It was the first NASA orbital flight to reuse a crewed vehicle since STS-135 in 2011. After spending almost 200 days in orbit, the Crew Dragon Endeavour set the record for the longest spaceflight by a U.S. crew vehicle previously set by her sibling Crew Dragon Resilience on May 2, 2021.[13] All members of this flight were part of the Expedition 65 crew.
Success
SpaceX Crew-3 Crew Dragon Endurance 11 November 2021[16] 6 May 2022[17] Third operational Commercial Crew flight, fifth overall crewed flight of Crew Dragon, transporting four astronauts to the ISS for a six-month mission. All members of this flight were part of the Expedition 66 and Expedition 67 crews.
Success
SpaceX Crew-4 Crew Dragon Freedom 27 April 2022[19] 14 October 2022[20] The fourth flight contracted under CCP contract and the seventh overall crewed flight of Crew Dragon.[21] All members of this flight were part of the Expedition 67 and Expedition 68 crews.
Success
SpaceX Crew-5 Crew Dragon Endurance[28] 5 October 2022[29] 18 March 2023[30] The fifth flight contracted under CCP contract and the eighth overall crewed orbital flight of Crew Dragon.[21] The fourth astronaut is Russian cosmonaut, Anna Kikina, flying on this mission as a part of Dragon–Soyuz swap flights that ensures both countries would have a presence on the station, and the ability to maintain their separate systems, if either Soyuz or commercial crew vehicles are grounded for an extended period.[31] All members of this flight are part of the Expedition 68 and Expedition 69 crews.
Success
SpaceX Crew-6 Crew Dragon Endeavour[35] 2 March 2023[36] 4 September 2023 The sixth flight contracted under CCP contract.[21]
Success
SpaceX Crew-7

C210.3 ♺ Endurance 26 August 2023[37] TBA In late 2021, NASA contracted SpaceX for three more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-7.[38]
Docked at ISS
SpaceX Crew-8 TBA NET January 2024 TBA In late 2021, NASA contracted SpaceX for three more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-7.[38]
Planned
Boeing Crewed Flight Test Starliner Calypso[43] March 2024[44] March 2024 The first crewed mission of Boeing Starliner
Planned
SpaceX Crew-9 TBA TBA TBA In late 2021, NASA contracted SpaceX for three more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-7.[38]
  • United States TBA
  • United States TBA
  • Europe/Japan/Canada TBA
  • TBA
 Planned
SpaceX Crew-10[45] TBA TBA TBA In May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10. TBA Planned
SpaceX Crew-11[45] TBA TBA TBA In May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10. TBA Planned
SpaceX Crew-12[45] TBA TBA TBA In May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10. TBA Planned
SpaceX Crew-13[45] TBA TBA TBA In May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10. TBA Planned
SpaceX Crew-14[45] TBA TBA TBA In May 2022, NASA contracted SpaceX for five more Commercial Crew Flights starting from Crew-10. TBA Planned

Notes
  1. Alongside the 3 other crew members, Megan McArthur is using the same seat of the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour in this mission which her husband, Bob Behnken, used in SpaceX Demo-2 mission, the first mission of the Endeavour capsule.[14]
  2. The European Portion of SpaceX Crew-2 is called Mission Alpha, which is headed by Thomas Pesquet shown by the logo
  3. The European Portion of SpaceX Crew-3 is called Mission Cosmic Kiss, which is headed by Matthias Maurer shown by the logo

References
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  25. ESA [@esa] (28 May 2021). "ESA astronaut @AstroSamantha Cristoforetti is named to serve as @Space_Station commander on Expedition 68, following an in-principle agreement by international partners on 19 May 2021. As part of #Crew4, Samantha will fly on a @SpaceX #CrewDragon in 2022 👉t.co/XWin3BnInK t.co/kMtXswUvUD" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021 – via Twitter.
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