NASA along with SpaceX has launched four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), in the third crewed mission of the US commercial rocket company in less than a year’s time, as reported by a news agency.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft, which reached orbit after a few minutes from its liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida, was carrying the four astronauts. The team of four astronauts comprise of Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur from US, and Thomas Pesquet from France and Akihiko Hoshide from Japan. However, the spacecraft is due to arrive at the ISS.
Elon Musk owned, SpaceX has reused a capsule and a rocket to launch the four astronauts.
Steve Jurczyk, NASA Acting Administrator, was quoted saying, “It has been an incredible year for NASA and our Commercial Crew Program, with three crewed launches to the space station since last May.”
He added, “This is another important milestone for NASA, SpaceX, and our international partners at ESA (European Space Agency) and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and for the future of scientific research on board the space station. It will be an exciting moment to see our crews greet one another on station for our first crew handover under the Commercial Crew Program.”
