NASA boss Jim Bridenstine said on Thursday that the first manned mission into orbit by SpaceX's Crew Dragon would take place in the first quarter of next year, pending the satisfactory outcome of tests.
On a visit to the SpaceX headquarters, Bridenstine praised Elon Musk's SpaceX for its "fail fast, then fix" approach to spacecraft design after a personal briefing on the company's long-delayed Crew Dragon capsule — a display of unity amid a rare public spat between the two key space figures.
But he also emphasized NASA's concern for astronaut safety. "We are not going to take any undue risk," he said.