Liftoff to Space: NASA and SpaceX Crew-3 Mission

From pre-flight preparations to liftoff and beyond, here are the best moments from the NASA and SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron, and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Matthias Maurer were aboard the spacecraft, replacing the crew that successfully landed in the Gulf of Mexico Monday night.

Crew-3 lifted off at 9:03 P ET from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Want to rewatch the launch? Stream SPACE LAUNCH LIVE: CREW-3 LIFT OFF on discovery+.

November 10, 2021

By: Tatum Lenberg

Show: SPACE LAUNCH LIVE

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Photo By: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Photo By: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Photo By: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Photo By: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Photo By: SpaceX

Photo By: Joe Raedle

Photo By: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Photo By: Joe Raedle

Photo By: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Photo By: SpaceX

Photo By: Joe Raedle

Photo By: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani

Photo By: NASA/Joel Kowsky

SpaceX Crew-3 Rollout

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen as it is rolled out to the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Crew-3 mission, Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX Crew-3 FRR

NASA and SpaceX managers participate in a Flight Readiness Review for the agency’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission. International partners also participated.

SpaceX Crew-3 Preflight

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen on the launch pad as preparations continue for the Crew-3 mission. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission is the third crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

SpaceX Crew-3 Preflight

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at the launch pad. NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer are scheduled to launch at 9:03 p.m. EST, from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

SpaceX Crew-3 Preflight

Remote cameras set up to capture the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

SpaceX Crew-3 Dry Dress Rehearsal - Suit Up and Walkout

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts participate in a countdown dress rehearsal at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the upcoming launch.

SpaceX Crew-3 Dry Dress Rehearsal

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts participate in a countdown dress rehearsal. The astronauts are at Launch Pad 39A with the Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon behind them during the rehearsal.

SpaceX Crew-3 Rollout for Launch

The SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts stand on the transporter in front of the Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 stack inside the SpaceX horizontal processing facility.

Walking Out of Operations and Checkout Building

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 10: (L-R front) NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn and Raja Chari and (L-R back) European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer of Germany and NASA astronaut Kayla Barron walk out of the Operations and Checkout Building on their way to the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft on launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on November 10, 2021 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The astronauts are scheduled to lift off at 9:03pm to the International Space Station. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Walking Out of Operations and Checkout Building

The astronauts wave goodbye as they walk out of the building.

SpaceX Motorcade

Matthias Maurer waves as he and fellow crewmates depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building.

Driving to the Rocket

Matthias Maurer and Kayla Barron wait to be driven to the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Saying Goodbye to Family

NASA astronaut Raja Chari gestures to his family before being driven to the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

SpaceX Crew-3 Crew Walkout

The astronauts are followed closely by staff holding umbrellas to shield them from a light rainstorm.

Buckled Up

Less than an hour before liftoff, the crew is a go!

To the ISS

The Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off with four astronauts on board.

SpaceX Crew-3 Launch

Chari, Marshburn, Barron, Maurer launched at 9:03 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center to begin a six-month mission on board the orbital outpost.

SpaceX Crew-3 Launch

Close up of the launch.

SpaceX Crew-3 Launch

The rocket takes off for outer space.

SpaceX Crew-3 Launch

NASA and SpaceX officials clap during the launch in firing room four of the Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX Crew-3 Launch

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, right, and his son Bill Nelson Jr., left, watch the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the balcony of Operations Support Building II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX Crew-3 Launch

The rocket in the distance.