SpaceX successfully launched the Crew-4 astronaut mission for NASA at 3:52 a.m. EDT (0752 GMT) on April 27, 2022.
A Falcon 9 rocket sent a brand-new Dragon capsule named Freedom and four crewmembers — NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins and the European Space Agency's Samantha Cristoforetti — to the International Space Station for a roughly six-month stay.
You can see photos of the SpaceX launch, the mission and the Crew-4 astronauts here by clicking the arrows above.
In this image, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches four astronauts to the International Space Station from NASA's Kennedy Space Station in Florida on the Crew-4 mission on April 27.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket carrying the four Crew-4 astronauts streaks into the predawn sky over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in this long-exposure shot by photographer Octavio Jones for Getty Images.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the four Crew-4 astronauts for NASA soars toward orbit in this stunning view of its nine first-stage Merlin engines during liftoff before dawn on April 27, 2022.
The first stage of the Falcon 9 was making its fourth flight to space (and back). It successfully landed on a drone ship shortly after launch.
The four astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-4 mission settle into orbit after a successful launch of the Crew Dragon Freedom from Florida on April 27, 2022.
Jessica Watkins (far left) and Bob Hines (second from left) are making their first spaceflight. They are part of the astronaut class known as the Turtles, with Jessica holding a small stuffed turtle to represent her class in orbit.
Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency takes a picture with family members during the Crew-4 walk out at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building en route to launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 27, 2022.
SpaceX and NASA's Crew-4 mission astronauts including Jessica Watkins (L) and Bob Hines (2nd L) have an impromptu cheer to the success of their mission as they walk out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building en route to launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 27, 2022.
NASA astronaut Robert Hines gestures to family and friends as he and crew mates NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Launch Complex 39A to board the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for the Crew-4 mission launch April 26, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
From right to left, NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Robert Hines, Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, are seen as they prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Launch Complex 39A to board the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for the Crew-4 mission launch.
They walked out late April 26, 2022 for the launch before dawn on April 27 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren waves to family and friends as he and crew mates, NASA astronauts Robert Hines, Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Launch Complex 39A on April 26, 2022 to board the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for the Crew-4 mission at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASA astronaut Robert Hines waves to family and friends as he and crew mates NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Launch Complex 39A on April 26, 2022 to board the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for the Crew-4 mission launch at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Here, NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Robert Hines, Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, are seen as they prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Launch Complex 39A to board the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for the Crew-4 mission launch late at night on April 26 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Lindgren is waving to friends and family.
Crew-4 mission astronauts (from L) Bob Hines, Kjell Lindgren, Jessica Watkins and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency walk out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building en route to launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 27, 2022.
NASA astronauts Robert Hines, left, Kjell Lindgren, right, Jessica Watkins, back left, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, are seen as they prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Launch Complex 39A on April 26, 2022 to board the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for the Crew-4 mission launch before dawn on April 27 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
