Posted: Fri, Apr 23, 2021, 6:08 PM ET (2208 GMT)
SpaceX launched a Crew Dragon spacecraft with four astronauts on board this morning, heading toward the International Space Station. The Falcon 9 lifted off at 5:49 am EDT (0949 GMT) and released the Crew Dragon spacecraft into orbit 12 minutes later. The spacecraft, flying a mission called Crew-2, is carrying NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet and JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide to the station for a six-month stay. The spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the station at about 5:10 am EDT (910 GMT) Saturday.

Related Links:

•  SpaceNews article
•  CBS News article
•  Spaceflight Now article
•  BBC article
•  NASA press release