SpaceX on Friday successfully launched four astronauts en route to the international space station.
The Falcon 9 launched at 5:49 a.m ET Friday morning, from the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew is expected to reach the International Space Station Saturday at 5:10 a.m. ET.
SpaceX and NASA both posted photos and videos of the liftoff early Friday morning.
"Glad to be back in space for all of us." – @Astro_Kimbrough. The second stage has separated, and the @SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft with four astronauts aboard is in orbit, and on the way to the @Space_Station. pic.twitter.com/ygzlgtVjWd
— NASA (@NASA) April 23, 2021
Liftoff of Falcon 9 and Dragon! pic.twitter.com/g6Oi8qwU2Y
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 23, 2021
Flying in the craft were Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and Thomas Pesquet of France.
The astronauts are expected to spend six months conducting experiments and maintenance aboard the space station before returning to Earth, according to Reuters. They will join four other astronauts that are currently at the International Space Station that are due to return home on April 28.
Friday’s flight is the third launched into orbit under NASA’s public-private partnership with SpaceX, Reuters noted.
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SpaceX launches four astronauts to International Space Station https://t.co/Zx2MRj3Mfu pic.twitter.com/WBXPcQIP9D
— The Hill (@thehill) April 23, 2021
SpaceX launches four astronauts to international space station https://t.co/4Yj2byQHS2 pic.twitter.com/vD3ptoPBfL
— The Hill (@thehill) April 23, 2021
WATCH: NASA crew arrive at International Space Station in SpaceX capsule https://t.co/qY4aoyT1KE pic.twitter.com/7IpLF79F1r
— The Hill (@thehill) April 24, 2021
I miss the days when regular programming was pre-empted for wall-to-wall coverage of liftoff and splashdown. As a child in elementary school, we were ordered out of class and into an auditorium to watch these events on television. I’m glad there is some coverage now. For a long time, these events were largely ignored.
Wishing great success and God’s protection to the astronauts.
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