It was a picture-perfect day at Kennedy Space Center, as SpaceX launched NASA’s Crew-5 astronauts to the International Space Station.
The crew lifted off at 12:00pm EDT, thundering skyward off historic pad 39A atop a Falcon-9 rocket for the 17,500 mph chase to catch the ISS tomorrow.
First flight for half the crew
It’s the first spaceflight for both NASA astronauts Nicole Mann (Cdr) and Josh Cassada (pilot). Joining them are veteran astronaut Koichi Wakata from Japan on his 5th spaceflight, and cosmonaut Anna Kikina, who is also making her first trip to space.
So far their Dragon spacecraft “Endurance” is operating nominally, with no reported issues thus far.
“We are living through a golden era of commercial space exploration. It’s a new era powered by the spirit of partnership, fueled by scientific ingenuity, and inspired by the quest for new discoveries,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “While our eyes are focused upward on the heavens, let us never forget these missions will also better life here on Earth.”
ISS Bound
The crew will be at the ISS for 6 months, replacing NASA’s Crew-4 who have been there since last April.
They’ll conduct more than 200 science experiments and technology demonstrations, including studies on printing human organs in space and better understanding heart disease. You can read more about some of the work they’ll be doing HERE.
Following launch, the Falcon 9 booster made a successful return to Earth, landing on a SpaceX barge in the ocean so the company can reuse the rocket.
29 Hour Journey to the ISS
The crew will take about 29 hours to arrive and dock to the ISS. Once aboard, Crew-4 will help their Crew-5 replacements adjust to life there, before handing the station over to Crew-5 and returning to Earth for a splashdown off the coast of Florida a week later.
“Thank you so much Falcon team, that was a smooth ride uphill,” said commander Mann upon reaching orbit. “We’ve got 3 rookies that are pretty happy to be floating in space right now, and one veteran astronaut who is pretty happy to be back as well.”
Docking is scheduled for around 4:57 p.m. EDT Thursday, Oct. 6. You can watch that below as it happens live, the camera views as it happens are incredible.
NASA also will broadcast the ceremony to welcome the crew onboard at about 8:15 p.m. EDT Thurs.
