Crew-5 Launch to the International Space Station

NASA and SpaceX are preparing to send a historic crew to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday. This mission, known as Crew-5, includes the first indigenous woman astronaut, and the team will be conducting various groundbreaking studies in space.

1. Crew Launch Details

The launch is scheduled for 12 p.m. EDT at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA will broadcast the launch live on NASA TV, as well as through its app. Additionally, updates will be provided by both NASA and SpaceX on their respective Twitter accounts.

A livestream is also being broadcasted on NASA’s Twitter account.

Crew-5 will board SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, with an expected landing at the ISS on Thursday at 4:57 p.m. EDT. Their mission is slated to last for five months, presenting ample opportunities for exploration and discovery.

2. Crew Members

For NASA’s Nicole Mann, this will be her first spaceflight since becoming an astronaut in 2013. The California native holds the distinction of being the first Native American female astronaut to head to the ISS and will serve as the mission commander for this flight.

“I am very proud to represent Native Americans and my heritage,” Mann stated at a recent press conference. “It’s important to celebrate our diversity and understand the incredible accomplishments we can achieve when we collaborate and unite.”

Mann is a registered member of the Wailacki tribe of the Round Valley reservation.

Joining the mission is former U.S. Marine Corps pilot Josh Cassada, who will also be on his inaugural flight with NASA.

Koichi Wakata from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) brings the most experience to the mission, marking his fifth journey into space as mission specialist.

The crew also includes cosmonaut Anna Kikina from Russia’s Roscosmos, who is thrilled to be flying on an American rocket for the first time since 2002. She will serve as another mission specialist.

3. Mission Goals

The Crew-5 team aims to conduct exploratory research that includes studies related to printing human organs in space, understanding fuel systems that could operate on the Moon, and gaining deeper insights into heart disease.

The Crew-5 astronauts will join seven astronauts from Expedition 68 at the ISS, fostering international collaboration and scientific advancement.