Apr 23, 2021

SpaceX launches 3rd crew in under year, fly on reused rocket

Posted Apr 23, 2021 10:19 AM

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX has launched its third crew in under a year for NASA, this time using a recycled rocket and capsule.

A Falcon rocket carrying four astronauts blasted toward orbit early Friday morning from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.

The Dragon capsule should reach the International Space Station on Saturday.

It’s the same capsule that carried up the first SpaceX crew last May. And the rocket hoisted the second crew in November.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk met briefly with the U.S., French and Japanese astronauts before they headed to the launch pad.