NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 mission en route to International Space Station

1 of 9 | A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches its Cargo Dragon spacecraft pinch NASA's Crew 8 to nan International Space Station astatine 10:53 p.m. from Launch Complex 39A astatine nan Kennedy Space Center, Fla., connected Sunday. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo

March 3 (UPI) -- NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 successfully launched from nan Florida seashore connected Sunday nighttime pinch a last destination of nan International Space Station.

The Falcon 9 rocket topped pinch a Dragon Endeavour spacecraft launched astatine 10:53 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A astatine NASA's Kennedy Space Center, to cheers from nan crushed crew.

The spacecraft was sent hurtling into abstraction wherever Crew-8's 3 American astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut will unrecorded for nan adjacent 28 hours aliases truthful arsenic they make their measurement to nan International Space Station. There, they will dock early Tuesday, relieve Crew-7 and commencement a six-month ngo of their own.

The motorboat was initially scheduled for Saturday night, but SpaceX posted an update connected X that evening opinionated down nan ngo owed to elevated winds astatine nan motorboat tract and successful nan formation way of nan spacecraft.

On Sunday night, arsenic nan countdown ticked toward zero, location were concerns complete a mini ace recovered successful nan seal of nan capsule's broadside hatch. SpaceX had initially said it whitethorn coming problems connected re-entry but pursuing further study ruled nan motorboat could spell up arsenic planned.

"We are assured that we understand nan rumor and we tin still alert nan full ngo safely," crushed power told Crew-8.

"We expect nan spread created by this ace successful nan seal to adjacent arsenic nan worldly will swell pinch re-entry heating," it said. "The engineering squad present is comfortable proceeding."

"Crew-7, this is Crew-8, we're coming for you," NASA's Matthew Dominick said successful response. "It's clip for Crew-8 to relieve you of nan watch of nan International Space Station. SpaceX Dragon, we are fresh for you to formed disconnected nan strongback and motorboat Dragon Endeavour connected its 5th voyage."

"We copied all," said crushed control. "Godspeed, Crew-8."

Crew-8 consists of NASA astronauts Dominick, aviator Michael Barratt and ngo master Jeanette Epps. Of nan three, only Barratt has been to abstraction before, pinch Sunday being his 4th travel disconnected Earth.

Alexander Grebenkin of Russia's Roscosmos abstraction agency was besides connected nan unit and will service arsenic a formation engineer.

Minutes aft launch, first-stage separation was confirmed and nan booster successfully returned to Earth, which was followed by Endeavour's separation and entranceway into orbit.

"The words that travel to my mind are that I'm truthful grateful and I'm thankful for everyone who sewage america to this point," Epps, a Syracuse, N.Y., native, said erstwhile hitting orbit.

"I americium successful a New York authorities of mind correct now. It is amazing."

Crew-8 is scheduled to dock pinch nan ISS' forward-facing Harmony module larboard astatine astir 3 a.m. Tuesday. After astir an hr and a half later, nan hatch is to open, and they will beryllium greeted connected nan abstraction position by nan seven-member Expedition 70 crew.

To travel will beryllium respective days of what NASA calls "handover activities." Crew-7, which reached nan ISS successful September, is past to de-dock from nan abstraction orbital and return to Earth later this month.

During Crew-8's six-month stay, they are to behaviour immoderate 200 technological experiments, including aesculapian experiments, and exertion demonstrations, officials said.

SpaceX said pinch Sunday's launch, it has put 50 humans into space.