SpaceX Crew Dragon: 8 moments from NASA’s epic launch

Liftoff Up, up, and away! by Jennifer Walter Updated: Feb. 20, 2024 Originally Published: November 11, 2021 NASA/Joel Kowsky

After numerous rescheduled launch dates, NASA’s Crew-3 mission lifted off on November 10.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images Four astronauts flew to the International Space Station onboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft.

NASA/Joel Kowsky Partnering with private companies like SpaceX is the hallmark of NASA’s Commercial Crew program. It’s a way for the organization to rotate ISS crews without having to build every spacecraft internally.

The Crew-3 team will staff the ISS for six months. Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images Here’s a look back at eight moments from the Crew-3 launch:

8. Crew-3 astronauts Raja Chari, Matthias Maurer, Thomas Marshburn, and Kayla Barron wave as they prepare to board.

7. Look at that! Astronauts Chari and Marshburn gaze at the rocket before boarding.

6. Astronaut Barron ducks into the Crew Dragon entrance.

5. Liftoff! A successful launch takes the 4-person crew to the ISS.

NASA/Joel Kowsky 4. The rocket departed around 9 p.m. Eastern on November 10.

3. The rocket streaks through the sky as it heads for the ISS.

2. See that turtle floating near the window? It’s the astronauts’ zero-G indicator.

1. The crew shares what it’s like to travel in the Crew Dragon. You can listen to their video here. NASA

Endurance is expected to dock to the ISS around 7:10 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, November 11, 2021. NASA