After days of weather delays and last minute concerns about a cracked hatch seal, the SpaceX crew Dragon Endeavour carrying Crew 8 to the ISS launched from the Kennedy Space Center Sunday night. The successful liftoff came at 10:53 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A. The mission marked SpaceX’s eighth commercial crew rotation mission on behalf of NASA, and the launch of the 50th human into space by the company since 2020.
The crew, a blend of experience and new blood, is comprised of NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick (Mission Commander), Michael Barratt (Pilot), Jeanette Epps (Mission Specialist), and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin (Flight Engineer). Only Barratt has previous spaceflight experience.
In the final hours of the countdown, concerns arose about a crack in the seal of the main hatch. After analysis, SpaceX made the determination that the crack did not pose a threat to the crew, and elected to proceed with the launch.
Minutes after the launch, the brand new Falcon 9 booster made a perfect landing at Cape Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1).
Commander Matthew Dominick, aged 42, couldn’t hide his excitement, stating, “What an incredible ride to orbit!” and extended his gratitude towards SpaceX. His sentiments were echoed by the mission’s pilot, Dr. Michael Barrett, 64, who expressed his honor in flying the “new-generation spaceship with this new-generation crew.”
The docking of Endeavour with the ISS’s Harmony module is set for about 3 a.m. on Tuesday, March 5, where the crew will be greeted by the current Expedition 70 crew, The arrival of Crew 8 will expanding the ISS’s population to 11 for a a few days, until the four astronauts of Crew 7 return home. You can watch the docking live on NASA TV, with coverage beginning at 1 AM.
Following the launch, NASA administrator Bill Nelson said, “Congratulations to NASA and SpaceX on another successful launch to the International Space Station! Aboard the station, the crew will conduct more than 200 science experiments and technology demonstrations to help fuel this new era of space exploration and benefit humanity here on Earth.”
Crew-8 is tasked with conducting over 250 experiments, ranging from studying neurodegenerative disorders and the effects of spaceflight on body fluids to the impact of UV radiation and microgravity on plant growth. These experiments are not just crucial for future expeditions to the Moon and Mars but also for advancing medical knowledge that could improve life on Earth.
As SpaceX gears up for an ambitious year with a target of 150 launches, Nelson cautions against viewing spaceflight as routine, emphasizing its inherent risks and complexities. “Spaceflight is hard. Spaceflight is risky… Every time we launch, it’s white-knuckle time, and especially if humans are on top.”
