SpaceX launches the NASA Crew-6 mission

SpaceX has launched four people to the International Space Station from Florida where Elon Musk’s company launched the final of the original six missions awarded by NASA.

known as Crew 6The NASA mission will bring the group to the space station for six months in orbit. The mission is SpaceX’s sixth operational crewed launch for NASA to date, and the company’s ninth human spaceflight to date.

“If you enjoyed your flight, please don’t forget to give us five stars,” SpaceX mission control called out after the capsule reached orbit.

Crew 6 Commander Stephen Bowen replied: “That was great, thank you.”

Crew-6 lifted off shortly after midnight Thursday, beginning a journey of just over 24 hours to the International Space Station. The mission brings to 34 the number of astronauts launched by SpaceX, including government and private missions, since it first launched in May 2020.

The crew consists of two Americans, one Russian and the other Emirati: NASA astronaut Warren Hoburg and Stephen Bowen, Roscosmos astronaut Andrei Fedyaev, and Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi.

SpaceX launched astronauts in a Crew Dragon capsule called Endeavor, atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Both the rocket and capsule are reusable, with the latter flying on its fourth mission to date.

After a last-minute delay during SpaceX’s first launch attempt Monday, a data review determined that a clogged filter in a ground system was the cause of an apparent problem with the fluid that ignites the rocket’s engines. SpaceX replaced the filter and completed verification steps for Thursday’s launch.

SpaceX developed its Crew Dragon spacecraft and tuned its Falcon 9 rocket under NASA’s competitive Commercial Crew program, competing with Boeing’s Starliner capsule. But Boeing’s capsule is still in development, as costly delays have delayed the start of operational Starliner flights.

NASA awarded SpaceX with an additional mission, 14 in total, compared to Boeing’s six.