A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on April 5, 2023, carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft toward the International Space Station. The launch, which took place under clear skies, marked the first crewed mission to the ISS since 2021 and the third under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. SpaceX’s reusable rocket and spacecraft were designed to transport astronauts and cargo to low-Earth orbit. The mission is part of a $2.6 billion contract between NASA and SpaceX to provide crewed flights to the ISS through 2025.
The Falcon 9’s first stage separated 2 minutes and 45 seconds after liftoff and landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The Dragon spacecraft, which will dock with the ISS in about 24 hours, is expected to carry four NASA astronauts and two commercial crew members. This mission follows SpaceX’s first operational crewed flight in 2020 and a demonstration mission in 2019.
NASA Administrator William H. Gerstenmaier said the launch demonstrates the agency’s partnership with private companies to reduce costs and increase access to space. SpaceX has conducted 15 crewed missions since 2020, including three to the ISS and two to the Moon. The company’s Boca Chica facility in Texas is also developing Starship, a spacecraft intended for deep-space missions.
The launch drew crowds to the Space Coast, with spectators gathering along the Florida coast to watch the rocket ascend. Local officials praised the event for boosting Brevard County’s economy and reinforcing its role as a hub for space exploration. The next mission is scheduled for June 2023, pending weather and technical reviews.