NASA, SpaceX launch four astronauts to International Space Station - See pics
"The future's looking good. I think we're at the dawn of a new era of space exploration," Elon Musk said after the liftoff.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Elon Musk's commercial rocket company SpaceX on Friday (April 23, 2021) launched a new four-astronaut team on a flight to the International Space Station. The four astronauts will spend over six months aboard the orbiting research platform conducting science experiments and maintenance before returning to Earth.
NASA, SpaceX launch four astronauts to International Space Station
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Elon Musk's commercial rocket company SpaceX on Friday (April 23, 2021) launched a new four-astronaut team on a flight to the International Space Station.
It is the first crew ever propelled into orbit by a rocket booster recycled from a previous spaceflight.
(Photo: Reuters)
Astronauts of NASA-SpaceX Crew-2 mission
NASA-SpaceX launch
Crew-2 mission
Within 10 minutes of launch, the rocket's second stage had delivered the crew capsule to Earth orbit, travelling at nearly 17,000 miles per hour.
The rocket's first stage descended back to Earth and touched down safely on a landing platform floating in the Atlantic on a drone ship affectionately named 'Of Course I Still Love You'.
The Crew-2 will arrive at the space station, orbiting some 250 miles (400 km) above Earth, following a flight of about 23 hours.
(Photo: Reuters)