NASA and SpaceX teams have set a launch date for the Crew-8 mission no earlier than 12:04 a.m. EST on Friday, March 1. The change follows the successful launch of the Intuitive Machines IM-1 lander on a robotic mission to land on the moon from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida early Thursday morning.

NASA astronauts Matthew Dominique, Michael Barratt and Jeanette Epps, along with cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, will lift off from Launch Complex 39A aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft to conduct research, technology demonstrations and maintenance on the space station. This is SpaceX’s eighth orbital mission to the station and the ninth human spaceflight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

NASA SpaceX Crew-8 mission

A key part of the ongoing collaboration between NASA and SpaceX, the NASA Crew-8 mission marks a significant advance in space exploration under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. This mission stands out for its international crew, which includes NASA astronauts Matthew Dominique, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and cosmonaut Oleksandr Grebenkin. These astronauts are tasked with conducting a variety of activities aboard the International Space Station (ISS), from scientific research to technology demonstrations to station maintenance, contributing to humanity’s existence in space and our understanding of life beyond Earth.

Crew-8 It continues its legacy of international cooperation and technological innovation, underscoring the mission’s importance in the broader context of human spaceflight and exploration. SpaceX’s eighth crew rotation mission for NASA underscores the successful partnership between the public and private sectors and paves the way for future endeavors in the infinite expanses of space.