By NASA
April 20, 2022
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the companys Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A during a quick fixed fire test ahead of NASAs SpaceX Crew-4 objective, Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
Today (April 20, 2022), the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that will introduce the Dragon Freedom pill and Crew-4 astronauts to the International Space Station passed a key turning point ahead of launch. While vertical on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Centers Launch Complex 39A in Florida, the rockets nine Merlin first-stage engines roared to life for 7 seconds, completing the regular but critical integrated fixed fire test.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a quick static fire test. NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Robert Hines, Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti are set up to launch on April 23 at 5:26 a.m. EDT, from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space.
The Crew-4 objective will carry Mission Commander Kjell Lindgren, Pilot Robert Hines, and Mission Specialist Jessica Watkins, in addition to ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, who will likewise act as an objective professional, to the spaceport station for a six-month science mission.
This is the fourth team rotation flight for the firms Commercial Crew Program.