NASA’s new commercial crew astronauts: Each wants to fly 1st

In this image made from video provided by NASA, astronauts, from left, Bob Behnken, Eric Boe, Doug Hurley and Suni Williams gather for an interview at the Johnson Space Center in Houston on Friday, July 10, 2015. On Wednesday, NASA announced the four were chosen to fly on the first test flights of commercial spacecraft. (NASA via AP) In this image made from video provided by NASA, astronauts, from left, Bob Behnken, Eric Boe, Doug Hurley and Suni Williams gather for an interview at the Johnson Space Center in Houston on Friday, July 10, 2015. On Wednesday, NASA announced the four were chosen to fly on the first test flights of commercial spacecraft. (NASA via AP)

By Associated Press July 10, 2015 1 min read

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – For now, just call them the Commercial Crew Cadre.

The four NASA astronauts chosen to fly on the first test flights of commercial spacecraft said Friday they haven’t come up yet with a more media-savvy name. They say the label, Commercial Crew Cadre, fits what they’ll be doing over the next few years.

The first test flight with one or more of them on board is targeted for 2017. SpaceX and Boeing are still developing the capsules, which will launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The U.S. hasn’t seen a manned launch since Atlantis blasted off on the final shuttle mission in 2011. One of the new commercial crew astronauts – Douglas Hurley – was on that last flight.

NASA named the four Thursday. Each wants to be first to fly.