NASA has given SpaceX the green light to test a new crew capsule by first sending an unmanned craft with a life-sized mannequin to the International Space Station.
“We’re go for launch, we’re go for docking,” said William Gerstenmaier, the associate administrator with NASA Human Exploration and Operations.
A Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX is scheduled to lift off on March 2. It will take the Crew Dragon test capsule to the ISS.
NASA signed contracts in 2014 with SpaceX and Boeing for the companies to shuttle U.S. astronauts to the ISS.
This will be the first time the U.S.. space agency lets a private-sector company transport their astronauts.