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  • A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is seen in this false colour infrared exposure as it is launched on Nasa's SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station with Nasa astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard, at Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US. EPA
    A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is seen in this false colour infrared exposure as it is launched on Nasa's SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station with Nasa astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard, at Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US. EPA
  • US President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as he arrives to watch the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, US. Reuters
    US President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as he arrives to watch the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, US. Reuters
  • SpaceX chief executive and owner Elon Musk celebrates after the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft on Nasa's SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Reuters
    SpaceX chief executive and owner Elon Musk celebrates after the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft on Nasa's SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Reuters
  • President Donald Trump arrives to speak after viewing the SpaceX flight to the International Space Station, at Kennedy Space Centre, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AP Photo
    President Donald Trump arrives to speak after viewing the SpaceX flight to the International Space Station, at Kennedy Space Centre, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AP Photo
  • The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off. AFP
    The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off. AFP
  • Former Nasa astronaut Garrett Reisman holds the sign before the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Centre, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Reuters
    Former Nasa astronaut Garrett Reisman holds the sign before the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Centre, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Reuters
  • Nasa astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken head for the International Space Station. AFP
    Nasa astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken head for the International Space Station. AFP
  • President Donald Trump acknowledges SpaceX founder Elon Musk, right, after the successful launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the manned Crew Dragon spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AFP
    President Donald Trump acknowledges SpaceX founder Elon Musk, right, after the successful launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the manned Crew Dragon spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AFP
  • The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's second stage separates from the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Nasa
    The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's second stage separates from the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Nasa
  • Nasa astronauts Bob Behnken, rear, and Doug Hurley are strapped in the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Nasa
    Nasa astronauts Bob Behnken, rear, and Doug Hurley are strapped in the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Nasa
  • People view the launch from a beach in Florida. Reuters
    People view the launch from a beach in Florida. Reuters
  • A split image of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule and astronauts Bob Behnken, rear, and Doug Hurley are strapped into it. Nasa
    A split image of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule and astronauts Bob Behnken, rear, and Doug Hurley are strapped into it. Nasa
  • Spectators at Shiloh's Steak & Seafood restaurant in Titusville, Fla. watching the launch of the SpaceX rocket. AP
    Spectators at Shiloh's Steak & Seafood restaurant in Titusville, Fla. watching the launch of the SpaceX rocket. AP
  • The launch makes history and was the first time astronauts have taken off from US soil in a decade. Reuters
    The launch makes history and was the first time astronauts have taken off from US soil in a decade. Reuters
  • The crew access arm is retracted about 30 minutes before the launch time. Nasa
    The crew access arm is retracted about 30 minutes before the launch time. Nasa
  • Nasa astronauts Douglas Hurley, left, and Robert Behnken walk out of the Neil A Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. AP
    Nasa astronauts Douglas Hurley, left, and Robert Behnken walk out of the Neil A Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. AP
  • Norm Knight, deputy director of Flight Operations at Nasa's Johnson Space Center, watches the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft on the Demo-2 mission with Nasa astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken onboard, in firing room four of the Launch Control Centre at Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US. EPA
    Norm Knight, deputy director of Flight Operations at Nasa's Johnson Space Center, watches the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft on the Demo-2 mission with Nasa astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken onboard, in firing room four of the Launch Control Centre at Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US. EPA
  • In this image released by Nasa, astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley are displayed on a monitor as they sit inside the Dragon crew capsule during the successful launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at the Launch Control Centre at Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AP
    In this image released by Nasa, astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley are displayed on a monitor as they sit inside the Dragon crew capsule during the successful launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at the Launch Control Centre at Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AP

SpaceX tracker: how to follow the Crew Dragon rocket's flight to space station

The mission, dubbed 'Demo-2,' ends a government monopoly on space flight

The National

May 31, 2020

Two veteran Nasa astronauts were headed for the International Space Station on Sunday after Elon Musk's SpaceX became the first commercial company to launch a rocket carrying humans into orbit, ushering in a new era in space travel.

Astronauts Robert Behnken, 49, and Douglas Hurley, 53, former military test pilots who joined NASA in 2000, are scheduled to dock with the space station at 10:29am local time (1429 GMT) on Sunday.

They will join US astronaut Chris Cassidy and Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner aboard the ISS.

Here's how you can track its progress:

You can see the ISS' location and speed here, while this link provides live high-definition views of Earth from the space station.

You can also check the website Heavens Above to track the flight, which also provides sighting times for your specific location.

SpaceX's two-stage Falcon 9 rocket aboard blasted off flawlessly in a cloud of bright orange flames and smoke from Florida's Kennedy Space Center for a 19-hour voyage to the space station.

"Let's light this candle," Mr Hurley, the mission commander, told SpaceX mission control in Hawthorne, California, before liftoff at 3:22 pm (1922 GMT) from NASA's storied Launch Pad 39A.

The SpaceX launch is the first of American astronauts from US soil since the space shuttle program ended in 2011 and the first crewed flight ever by a private company.

"I'm really quite overcome with emotion," Mr Musk said. "It's been 18 years working towards this goal.

"This is hopefully the first step on a journey towards civilisation on Mars," the SpaceX founder said.

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