It's still two years before humans launch from Central Florida once again, but a lot of work is going on behind the scenes to get ready to return Americans to space.

SpaceX is planning a pad abort test in the next month or so.

Before humans are ever allowed on board, SpaceX has to make sure it’s safe, in case a rocket malfunctions.

SpaceX will use a test version of its Crew Dragon capsule.

The abort test will take place at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

It’s going simulate an emergency, just seconds after liftoff, and pull the Dragon capsule to safety.

More tests will then be done both this year and next year, before the first human flight.

“We anticipate doing our uncrewed mission to the International Space Station on this upgraded crew vehicle later in ’16. And shortly follow thereafter with our crew flight in early 2017,” said SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell.

Besides upgrades to the Dragon, SpaceX is also working to upgrade the Falcon 9 rocket.

They just released an animation, showing a Falcon Heavy rocket taking off from Kennedy Space Center.

They hope to launch the upgraded rocket later this year from Florida.

Meanwhile, Boeing is also working on their crew capsule at the Kennedy Space Center.

They hope to launch their first crew mission in July 2017.

NASA selected both SpaceX and Boeing to start sending astronauts to the International Space Station, starting in 2017.