AI illustration: SpaceX launches NASA astronauts to the ISS in 2018
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Delivered · Late

SpaceX's first crewed launch: promised for 2018, delivered late

Elon Musk promised NASA astronauts launched to the ISS in 2018 by the end of 2018. It happened, but 1.4 years late.

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“Looking forward to launching @NASA astronauts to the International Space Station next year!”
— Elon Musk · Aug 3, 2017 · @elonmusk, 2017-08-03 ↗
See his original post on XLoads Elon's actual tweet, right here.
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What actually happened

Musk looked forward to launching NASA astronauts to the ISS in 2018. Demo-2 carried Behnken and Hurley on May 30 2020, about 17 months late. NASA May 30 2020 — astronauts launch on Crew Dragon ↗

The Progression

Aug 3, 2017
The promise: “Looking forward to launching @NASA astronauts to the International Space Station next year!” · @elonmusk, 2017-08-03 ↗
May 30, 2020
Delivered · Late — 1.4 years late. Musk looked forward to launching NASA astronauts to the ISS in 2018. Demo-2 carried Behnken and Hurley on May 30 2020, about 17 months late. NASA May 30 2020 — astronauts launch on Crew Dragon ↗
Today · Oct 12, 2026
Status: Delivered · Late · 1.4 years late. It happened — eventually.

In August 2017 Elon Musk tweeted that he was looking forward to launching NASA astronauts to the space station the next year. The first crewed Dragon flew in May 2020.

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Receipts

LAST CHECKED 2026-10-11

SpaceX’s record

Delivered
23
62% of resolved claims delivered.
Missed
14
Deadline passed, still no-show.
Still open
36
On the clock now. All 73 SpaceX claims →

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