Space
SpaceX and NASA launches Crew-8 mission to Space Station
SpaceX and NASA launched Dragon’s 8th human flight missions spaceflight mission (Crew-8) to the International Space Station (ISS) from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The Crew-8 mission hosts astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Alexandar Grebenkin. Before launch, these astronauts climbed into custom Tesla Model X vehicles for the 20-minute ride to the launch pad.
SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour carrying them to the space center. It previously supported Demo-2, Crew-2, Ax-1, and Crew-6 missions to the space station and brought them back to Earth.
Before entering Dragon, all of the Crew-8 members signed the White Room inside, an area at the end of the crew access arm that provides access to the spacecraft. The hatch then closed with 85 percent favorable weather for the “Go”.
Mission Objective:
After docking to the space station, the Crew-8 will perform new scientific research to prepare for human flights at a further distance from Earth’s orbit and on other planets.
These experiments include stem cells to create organoid models to study degenerative diseases to check the effects of microgravity and UV radiation on plants at a cellular level.
Also, to test whether wearing pressure cuffs on the legs could prevent fluid shifts and reduce health problems in astronauts. Overall, the mission expected to complete more than 200 scientific experiments and tech demonstrations.
Liftoff/First Stage/Orbit
Liftoff of Crew-8! pic.twitter.com/wqTFNNDGR9
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 4, 2024
Following the launch, the first stage reached Max Q within a minute and the first stage main engine cutoff was called at 2:30 minutes of the mission time. A few seconds later, the second stage started its engines and led the dragon to orbit.
The first stage landed back on the Landing Zone at 7:40 minutes.
Falcon 9’s first stage booster has landed at Landing Zone 1 pic.twitter.com/QIZYNFgLLA
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 4, 2024
At 12:10 minutes of the mission cut off the second stage and inserted the Dragon into orbit.
Dragon has separated from Falcon 9’s second stage and is on its way to the @Space_Station pic.twitter.com/AczzWvJKat
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 4, 2024