BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – SpaceX and NASA are gearing up for a crewed launch to the International Space Station on Friday from Florida’s Space Coast.
According to SpaceX, the launch will send the Crew-8 mission to the ISS aboard the company’s Falcon 9 rocket.
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The launch is targeting Friday at 12:04 a.m. from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, though a backup opportunity is scheduled for 11:41 p.m. on the same day if needed, the company stated.
Earlier this month, NASA announced the Crew-8 members who will fly in this mission. They are:
- NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick — Commander
- NASA astronaut Michael Barratt — Pilot
- NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps — Mission Specialist
- Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin — Mission Specialist
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During their time aboard the ISS, Crew-8 are expected to conduct hundreds of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations, such as research to help humans explore beyond Earth’s orbit.
In a release, SpaceX officials said the Dragon spacecraft used in this mission — nicknamed “Endeavour” — has previously been used to launch other missions to the ISS, including the Demo-2, Crew-2, Ax-1 and Crew-6 missions.
After separation, the first stage booster is set to land at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
News 6 will stream the launch live when it happens.
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