The main team picture of the SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts representing NASAs Commercial Crew Program. Hines, Watkins, and Lindgren are NASA cristoforetti and astronauts is an ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut.
NASA and SpaceX are now aiming for a 3:52 a.m. EDT launch of the agencys SpaceX Crew-4 objective to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
Groups decided to delay a potential April 26 launch up until later in the week, when area station positioning and orbital mechanics are more favorable. Crew-4 will have another launch chance on Thursday, April 28, as the weather remains a concern heading into next week.
NASAs SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts, from left, Jessica Watson, Bob Hines, and Kjell Lindgren, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti stand outside Kennedy Space Centers Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building during a dry dress rehearsal on April 20, 2022. Named Freedom by the Crew-4 team, SpaceXs Crew Dragon will carry the astronauts to the International Space Station as part of NASAs Commercial Crew Program. Liftoff will be powered by SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket. Crew-4 will be the very first spaceflight for Hines and Watkins and the second flight for Lindgren and Cristoforetti. Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
For a Crew-4 launch Wednesday, April 27, NASA will host a prelaunch news teleconference at around 9:30 p.m. Monday, April 25, with the following individuals:
The main crew portrait of the SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts representing NASAs Commercial Crew Program. Hines, Watkins, and Lindgren are NASA cristoforetti and astronauts is an ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut. NASAs SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts, from left, Jessica Watson, Bob Hines, and Kjell Lindgren, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti stand outside Kennedy Space Centers Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building throughout a dry dress wedding rehearsal on April 20, 2022. Called Freedom by the Crew-4 team, SpaceXs Crew Dragon will bring the astronauts to the International Space Station as part of NASAs Commercial Crew Program.
Steve Stich, supervisor, Commercial Crew Program, NASA Kennedy
Joel Montalbano, supervisor, International Space Station Program, NASA Johnson
Zeb Scoville, flight director, Flight Operations Directorate, Johnson
Jessica Jensen, vice president, client operations and integration, SpaceX
Frank de Winne, manager, International Space Station Program, ESA
Arlena Moses, launch weather condition officer, U.S. Space Force 45th Weather Squadron
Extra modifications to the Crew-4 launch date might be necessary in the event inclement weather condition prevents an on time splashdown of the Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) presently docked to the area station. Ax-1, the first all private astronaut mission to the station, now is targeted to undock from the orbital complex at 6:35 p.m. Saturday, April 23, and splashdown at 1:46 p.m. Sunday, April 24, off the coast of Florida. The Ax-1 crew and Dragon spacecraft stay healthy at the station.
The Crew-4 flight will bring NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, objective leader, Robert Hines, pilot, and Jessica Watkins, objective professional and ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, who will serve as an objective specialist, to the space station for a science expedition mission. The astronauts will fly a new Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom, atop a flight proven Falcon 9 rocket. Following docking of Crew-4, NASAs SpaceX Crew-3 mission is expected to finish an approximate five-day handover with Crew-4 before undocking from the area station and returning to Earth.