SpaceX's Crew-8 mission blasted off successfully from Florida's Kennedy Space Center, aiming for the International Space Station (ISS). The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Dragon Endeavour spacecraft, took off amid cheers at 10:53 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A.
Three American astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut form the Crew-8 team, embarking on a journey that will take them about 28 hours to reach the ISS. They are set to dock early Tuesday, relieving the previous crew and beginning their own six-month mission.
Originally scheduled for Saturday, the launch was delayed due to strong winds. On Sunday, a last-minute issue with a seal crack on the capsule was resolved, allowing the launch to proceed as planned.
NASA's Matthew Dominick radioed, "Crew-7, this is Crew-8, we're coming for you," before liftoff, signaling the change of guard on the ISS. The Crew-8 astronauts include Dominick, pilot Michael Barratt, and mission specialist Jeanette Epps, with Alexander Grebenkin of Roscosmos also on board.
Once in orbit, Epps, a Syracuse native, expressed gratitude and excitement, saying, "I am in a New York state of mind right now. It is amazing." The crew is slated to dock with the ISS on Tuesday and conduct numerous scientific experiments during their stay.
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