Bhubaneswar, May 27 -- Washington: Ahead of their historic launch to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on Wednesday, NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken said that they were ready for the upcoming journey.

".The teams are ready and we are ready. #LaunchAmerica," Hurley said in a tweet.

This "Crew Demo-2" mission will mark the first launch of astronauts on an American rocket from American soil since the last space shuttle mission in 2011.

NASA said that its prelaunch coverage also includes a special performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Grammy Award-winning singer Kelly Clarkson.

Launch of the mission, dubbed Launch America, is scheduled for 4.33 p.m. EDT on Wednesday.

The...