NASA Launches SpaceX Crew-8 Mission With 4 New Astronauts

NASA launched the SpaceX Crew-8 of four new astronauts from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They are on their way to the International Space Station (ISS) to supervise the arrival of two new rocket ships during this six-month mission in space. They will be on a 16-hour flight to the ISS. The team comprises astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Alexander Grebenki. 

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Mission

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission is the eighth crew rotation mission for human spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS). It is also a part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and the ninth human spaceflight mission. 

On 4th March 2024, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Dragon spacecraft, Endeavour, carrying the four astronauts. During this expedition, the team will witness the arrival of two rocket ships, Boeing’s Starliner Capsule and Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser, following late April and a month later. However, these rocketships will only transport cargo.

The new crew will join the existing seven members of Expedition 70 at ISS. The new crew will conduct further studies for the next six months upon the return of the diverse group of 7 members. They will also carry out 250 experiments on stem cells to create organoid models (artificially grown masses of cells that resemble organs) for studying degenerative diseases and microgravity to test cell growth. 

This scientific research aims to prepare us for human exploration beyond the Earth and improve our understanding of space. 

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission launch is successful after the delay on Saturday due to strong winds. If everything goes according to the plan, the team will reach ISS on Tuesday, after the 16-hour flight.

Who are these four new astronauts?

The eighth crew rotation mission consists of four members of diverse backgrounds, including three U.S. astronauts and one cosmonaut from Russia. 

Matthew Dominick is the commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission. He is a Navy pilot selected by NASA  as an astronaut in 2017. He is from Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and will take off his first spaceflight. He is an Electrical engineering graduate from the University of San Diego, California, and has earned a Master’s degree in Systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He is currently an active-duty U.S. Navy astronaut. 

Michael Barratt, the NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 pilot. He will be on his third spaceflight visit to the ISS. Previously, he worked as a flight engineer during Expeditions 19/20 in 2009. He was born in Vancouver, Washington, and resides in Camas, Washington (his hometown). He will soon become the oldest full-time astronaut to fly in space in April.  

Jeanette Epps is an engineer and the second Black woman assigned to such an extended mission to the space station. She is from New York and has a B.S. in physics from LeMoyne College in Syracuse. She also has an M.S. and a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland. 

Alexander Grebenki is a Russian cosmonaut. He is a graduate in engineering, maintenance, and repair of aircraft radio navigation systems from Irkutsk High Military Aviation School, Irkutsk, Russia. He is on his first spaceflight on this mission and will also be a flight engineer in Expedition 70/71.  

This international team will further set milestones in the human history of space exploration.