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Countdown to Launch: NASA and SpaceX Crew-2 Mission

By: Alexia Rosenfield

Liftoff set for Friday, April 23, at 5:49A EDT marks the second operational flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. Four space explorers are heading to the International Space Station for a six-month stay. It will take them 23 hours to reach their destination.

April 20, 2021

On Friday, April 23, NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, and JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide are scheduled for liftoff in a refurbished SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39A at 5:49A EDT. Crew-2 is scheduled to dock with the ISS on Saturday, April 24 at 5:10A EDT. The Crew Dragon, known as Endeavor, was the same spacecraft that flew last summer for the Demo-2 mission.

Crew-2 will continue the tradition of choosing a zero-g indicator. Previous zero-g indicators have been a plush Earth toy, a pink and blue dinosaur, and a plush baby Yoda. The item used to indicate zero gravity, when Crew-2 has reached space, is going to be revealed on launch day.

Photo by: NASA/SpaceX/ISS

NASA/SpaceX/ISS

Once Crew-2 reaches the International Space Station, they will be responsible for conducting about 260 scientific experiments including one that has the ability to increase research for the upcoming Artemis program.

Meet the Astronauts: NASA and SpaceX Crew-2 Mission 10 Photos

The NASA and SpaceX Crew-2 mission is set to launch via a Falcon 9 rocket in a Crew Dragon on Thursday, April 22, at 6:11A EDT, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Let’s meet the astronauts who will be staying aboard the International Space Station for six months.

To catch up on the previous NASA and SpaceX missions, stream SPACE LAUNCH LIVE on discovery+.

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Quiz: Test Your Space Exploration Knowledge

Ahead of the historic May 27th NASA and SpaceX crewed space launch, test your space exploration knowledge!

Liftoff of NASA and SpaceX Crew-2!

The NASA and SpaceX Crew-2 mission launched on Friday, April 23 at 5:49A ET from the NASA Launch Complex 39A. This historic milestone marks the second operational mission of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. Onboard was NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, and JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide. After a 23-hour journey, Crew-2 successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on April 24 at 5:08A ET. Here's everything that happened from launch day to the Crew-2's arrival at the ISS. (Updated April 24, 2021)

Countdown To Launch: NASA and SpaceX Crew-1 Mission

After a successful NASA and SpaceX Demo-2 Mission, the first operational mission of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon with four astronauts is targeted for November 15, 2020. Get ready to launch! Watch it live on SPACE LAUNCH LIVE: CREW-1 LIFT OFF starting at 5P ET on Discovery and Science Channcel or stream it live on Discovery GO.

SpaceX Crew-3 Launch for NASA to Blast Off Wednesday

After the NASA/SpaceX launch experienced a series of delays, Crew-3 is set to lift off no earlier than 9:03 P ET from NASA's Kennedy Space Center tomorrow!Watch SPACE LAUNCH LIVE: CREW-3 LIFT OFF on Science Channel at 8 P ET Wednesday, November 10.

Watch the Next NASA and SpaceX Mission on Discovery and Science Channel

On Sunday November 15, NASA and SpaceX team up again for the first operational mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Discovery and Science Channel will be coming to you LIVE from the launch pad for SPACE LAUNCH LIVE: CREW-1 LIFT OFF starting at 5 PM ET.

What Could Delay the Historic SpaceX and NASA Launch?

Detailed planning and test after test do not always mean smooth sailing in space flight.

SpaceX Crew-3 Launch for NASA to Blast Off Wednesday

After the NASA/SpaceX launch experienced a series of delays, Crew-3 is set to lift off no earlier than 9:03 P ET from NASA's Kennedy Space Center tomorrow! Watch SPACE LAUNCH LIVE: CREW-3 LIFT OFF on Science Channel at 8 P ET Wednesday, November 10.

Expedition 64 to Return Home on April 17

After 185 days in space aboard the ISS, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov are coming home. They are scheduled to land back on Earth in their Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft at 12:56A EDT on Saturday, April 17.

Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic Successfully Travels to Space

On Sunday, July 11, around 11:30A ET, Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Galactic, soared to the edge of space as a passenger aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity. The space plane then landed safely at Spaceport America in New Mexico, making Branson's space tourism dream come true.

Liftoff of Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-14 Scheduled for January 14

Blue Origin will attempt its next test flight of New Shepard on January 14 at 10:45A ET from Launch Site One in West Texas. Let’s learn more about Mission NS-14.

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