LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) — The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and SpaceX launched the company’s Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft roared off Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at midday Eastern Time Wednesday.
Shortly after the liftoff, NASA confirmed the primary engine cutoff and stage separation.
The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket accomplished its descent and efficiently landed on SpaceX’s drone ship, Just Read the Instructions, off the coast of Florida.
The Dragon Endurance spacecraft has separated from the second stage, and headed to the ISS.
The mission carries NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, together with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina to the ISS.