Posted on 04/23/2021 5:15:45 AM PDT by SmokingJoe
SpaceX launched its third crew to the International Space Station an hour before sunrise on Friday in Florida, recycling a rocket and spacecraft for the first time. The Crew-2 mission, the first involving a European, blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5.49am Eastern Time (7.49pm AEST).
“Endeavour launches once again — four astronauts from three countries on Crew-2, now making their way to the one and only International Space Station,” announcer Gary Jordan said to loud cheers and applause.
The Crew Dragon entered orbit a few minutes later and is racing to catch up with the ISS in around 23 and a half hours.
Earlier, astronauts Thomas Pesquet of France, Americans Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur and Japan’s Akihiko Hoshide strode out in their suits to say goodbye to their families.
They then boarded three white Teslas for the launchpad, a new tradition established by SpaceX, whose owner Elon Musk also made an appearance.
(Excerpt) Read more at amp.news.com.au ...
Say what you will about Musk and SpaceX, but they are doing more to forward manned spaceflight than anyone else in the US, and perhaps the world.
Fun lift off to watch, better marketing than NASA did back in the day, much better on board cameras.
Yup.
And you ain't even seen nuthin’ yet.
Wait till he starts the moon landings and the Mars flights.
Watched it from Tampa this morning. I have seen quite a few space launches over the years and I have to say that this one was truly an amazing sight.
Elon and Space X are amazing.
Watched from Titusville just across the river from KSC. Just awesome to see!
Soon they'll be able to drive their Teslas to the ISS
Putting Boeing to shame. My favorite part is watching the booster(s) land.
What’s the carbon footprint of one of these launches?
Watching it on NASA TV , the crew says they’re cold , the ground says turn up the heat or find a sweater ,LOL
Saw it lighting up the sky here in Orangeburg/St. Matthews, SC. Brightest thing I have ever seen in the pre-dawn sky.
Stopped me in my tracks!
Always bet on Musk.
What’s the takeway here? Public Private Partnerships? Perhaps it should be extended to just about everything the government does.
Carbon footprint is about same as a transatlantic airliner.
Carbon footprint of one launch is offset by selling 59 Tesla cars.
At T+1:06 you can see it fly thru the sonic boom shock wave.
I’m currently reading LIFTOFF, by Eric Berger, which gives the history of Musk’s space business. Good read.
Well, that explains why John Kerry always travels to climate conferences by private jet...to avoid the commercial airliner carbon footprint.
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