SpaceX and NASA are gearing up for their next astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission, called Crew-8, will launch four astronauts into orbit on the Dragon capsule Endeavour and Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. Liftoff is scheduled for March 1 at 12:04 a.m. EST.
The Crew-8 mission will be a six-month expedition to the ISS, with the astronauts relieving the Crew-7 team who will return to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon a week after Crew-8 reaches the ISS. The four astronauts on Crew-8 include NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barrett, Jeannette Epps, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin. Dominick will command the mission with Barrett as the pilot, while Epps and Grebenkin will serve as mission specialists. This will be the first career spaceflight for all but Barrett on the Crew-8 team.
Originally scheduled for February 22, the launch was delayed to March 1 to accommodate a private moon launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from the same launch pad on February 15. Despite the delay, the crew and spacecraft are ensuring they are fully prepared for a successful mission.
Steve Stitch, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, mentioned that NASA and SpaceX are working through some final issues before the launch. These include reviews of composite material fasteners on the Dragon/Falcon 9 launch vehicle and addressing paint discoloration on Crew-7’s Dragon capsule currently docked at the ISS.
The Crew-8 astronauts arrived at the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday afternoon and will spend their final days on Earth before the launch. They will perform a dress rehearsal for their launch overnight on Monday and Tuesday. Additionally, SpaceX is expected to conduct a “hot-fire” test of the Falcon 9’s first stage engines.
The Crew-8 mission will mark the fifth flight of the Crew Dragon capsule Endeavour, which made its first-ever human spaceflight in May 2020. SpaceX and NASA are working towards certifying the reusable Dragon capsules for up to 15 spaceflights.
SpaceX is one of two commercial companies, along with Boeing, that have multi-billion-dollar contracts with NASA to transport astronauts to and from the ISS. Boeing aims to launch its first crewed flight on its Starliner spacecraft no earlier than April 22.
With the upcoming Crew-8 mission, SpaceX and NASA continue their partnership in advancing space exploration and ensuring a continuous human presence on the International Space Station. The successful launch and mission will further solidify the capabilities of commercial spaceflight and pave the way for future endeavors in space exploration.