SpaceX today sent astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for the third time, one hour before sunrise. This is the first time SpaceX has reused a rocket and spacecraft that have already run a mission.
AFP reports that the rocket running the Crew-2 mission launched at 5:49 a.m. EDT from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The spacecraft carried a European on board for the first time.
Crew Dragon Endeavour has lifted off again, carrying four astronauts from three countries on the Crew-2 mission and is now on its way to the International Space Station,” announcer Gary Jordan said to cheers and applause.
Crew Dragon Endeavour will enter orbit a few minutes later and is expected to catch up with the International Space Station in about 23 and a half hours.
French astronaut Thomas Pesquet, American astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, and Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide stepped out earlier in the day in their space suits to say goodbye to their families.
Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX and Tesla, also made an appearance.
The car’s license plate reads “recycle,” “reuse” and “reduce,” reflecting the fact that both the Falcon 9 rocket and the Dragon Endeavour have run missions in the past.
Vehicle reuse is an important goal of NASA’s alliance with private industry, aimed at saving costs.
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