In pictures: Amazing launch photos of SpaceX's Crew-4 mission
(Image credit: NASA TV)
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.
The SpaceX Crew-4 Dragon Crew lifts off from launch Pad 39A at the NASA Kennedy Space Center on April 27, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Crew members Lindgren, Hines, Watkins, and Cristoforetti launched at 3:52 a.m. ET from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center to begin a six month mission onboard the orbital outpost.
(Image credit: Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
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.
(Image credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
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.
(Image credit: NASA TV)
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.
(Image credit: NASA TV)
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster for the Crew-4 astronaut mission stands atop the drone ship A Shortfall Of Gravitas after a successful landing on April 27, 2022.
(Image credit: NASA TV)
Here, the Crew-4 Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule, as seen about two hours before their planned liftoff.
(Image credit: NASA TV)
The four Crew-4 astronauts settle into their Dragon capsule Freedom about 2.5 hours before their planned launch on April 27, 2022.
(Image credit: NASA TV)
NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins and the European Space Agency's Samantha Cristoforetti walk down the crew access arm toward the SpaceX Dragon capsule that will carry them to the International Space Station.
(Image credit: NASA TV)
Crew-4 astronauts Jessica Watkins and Samantha Cristoforetti lean back to look up at their Falcon 9 rocket ride shortly after arriving at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A on April 27, 2022.
(Image credit: Gregg Newton/AFP via Getty Images)
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.
(Image credit: Gregg Newton/AFP via Getty Images)
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.
(Image credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
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.
(Image credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
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.
(Image credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
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.
(Image credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
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.
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, Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida
(Image credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
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.
(Image credit: Gregg Newton/AFP via Getty Images)
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.
(Image credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
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.
(Image credit: NASA TV)
The Crew-4 astronauts say goodbye to family and friends before getting into the Teslas that took them to Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A for liftoff on April 27, 2022.
Their Tesla rides can be seen behind them.
(Image credit: NASA TV)
The Crew-4 astronauts walk out of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at about 12:30 a.m. EDT (0430 GMT) on April 27, 2022.
They soon got into Teslas that drove them to KSC's Launch Pad 39A.
(Image credit: NASA)
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon atop is seen at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A on April 26, 2022, ahead of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-4 launch.
(Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX's Dragon Freedom crew capsule sits atop the Falcon 9 rocket on the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida one day before the scheduled launch of the Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station.
(Image credit: SpaceX)
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule that will fly the Crew-4 astronaut mission stand on the pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on April 19, 2022.
(Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule, as seen on April 20, 2022, sit on Pad 39A at NASA's KSC in Florida ahead of the SpaceX Crew-4 launch on April 23, 2022.
(Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
A close-up view of Crew-4's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule during their rollout on April 19, 2022.
(Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule for the Crew-4 astronaut mission roll out to their launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 19, 2022.
(Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The Crew-4 astronauts after landing in Florida on April 18, 2022. (From the left) NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins, Kjell Lindgren, ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and NASA astronaut Robert Hines.
(Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
(From the left) NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins, Kjell Lindgren, ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and NASA astronaut Robert Hines after their arrival in Florida on April 18, 2022 ahead of their April 23 Crew-4 flight.
(Image credit: SpaceX)
The astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-4 mission for NASA, from left: NASA's Jessica Watkins, Bob Hines and Kjell Lindgren and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency. They're backdropped by their SpaceX Dragon capsule, which they named "Freedom."
(Image credit: SpaceX)
Crew-4 astronauts Jessica Watkins, Bob Hines, Kjell Lindgren and Samantha Cristoforetti on the Crew Dragon "Freedom."
Michael Wall is a Senior Space Writer with Space.com and joined the team in 2010. He primarily covers exoplanets, spaceflight and military space, but has been known to dabble in the space art beat. His book about the search for alien life, "Out There," was published on Nov. 13, 2018. Before becoming a science writer, Michael worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz. To find out what his latest project is, you can follow Michael on Twitter.
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