Ramaphosa congratulates Elon Musk after historic flight into space

Ramaphosa congratulates Elon Musk after historic flight into space

- The President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for the launch of astronauts into space

- On the 30th of May, SpaceX became the first private company to launch astronauts for NASA

- South African born Elon Musk was overcome with emotion after years of hard work paid off

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The President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has offered warm congratulations to SpaceX CEO and South African citizen Elon Musk for his company's historic first commercial flight into space.

Musk was "overcome" with emotion after SpaceX's first astronaut launch. On the 30th of May 2020, SpaceX launched astronauts for the first time ever, making history and opening a new age of commercial spaceflight.

"I'm really quite overcome with emotion on this day, so it's kind of hard to talk, frankly" said Musk

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A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center, carrying SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule into orbit. The launch sent Bob Behken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station (ISS).

Pretoria born Elon Musk holds South African, Canadian and United States citizenship. Ramaphosa congratulated Musk, saying:

"In the midst of our struggle against Covid-19, Elon Musk has made us proud as a country and continent. It is most appropriate that we have been given this hope and excitement at a time when insecurity and uncertainty defines the human condition in many parts of the world".

By successfully launching its new Crew Dragon, SpaceX became the first private company to launch astronauts for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Elon Musk recently welcomed a baby boy into the world and he and his partner, Claire Elise Boucher (professionally known as Grimes), decided to name the baby after "the coolest plane ever".

Grimes gave birth to a son on the 4th of May 2020 and they decided to name him "X Æ A-12" (pronounced "Ex Ash A Twelve). The strange name is a reference to an aircraft launched in the 1960s.

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Source: Briefly News

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