On Wednesday, October 5, four astronauts will board the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to head toward the International Space Station (ISS), according to Digital Trends.
The four astronauts are part of the Crew-5 mission, which will use a Falcon 9 rocket to get to the ISS. The space flight will be launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Where Can You Watch the Crew-5 Mission Launch?
If you are interested in watching the launch of the SpaceX Crew-5 mission, you can simply check NASA's YouTube channel, as it will show the livestream of the event.
Be sure to check NASA's YouTube Channel at 8:30 a.m. ET (5:30 a.m. PT) on Wednesday, October 5, since the coverage of the launch will begin on the said schedule. The coverage is expected to run throughout the launch.
Meanwhile, if you prefer to just watch just the launch itself, make sure to tune in at noon ET (9 a.m. PT). Moreover, the spacecraft docking with the ISS on the following day can be watched just before 5:00 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT) on Thursday, October 6.
The Crew-5 mission includes NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada. Joining them aboard the Dragon Endurance capsule are JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Koichi Wakata and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina.
The mission is a historic one as one of the crew, Mann will be the first Indigenous person in space. According to Mann, she is very proud to represent Native Americans and her heritage.
"I think it's important to celebrate our diversity and also realize how important it is when we collaborate and unite, the incredible accomplishments that we can have," Mann said at a media event.
Read Also: SpaceX's Crew-5 Mission Launch Has to Wait for a Little Longer
Crew-5 Mission Launch Was Delayed Due to Hurricane Ian
The launch was originally planned to launch on Monday, October 3, according to CNET. But due to hurricane Ian, it was moved on Tuesday. Eventually, it was pushed back again on Wednesday.
Because of the hurricane, the arrival of the astronauts at Kennedy Space Center in Florida was also delayed. They only arrived in the center yesterday.
The impact of hurricane Ian on the area is being monitored by NASA. According to CNET, the agency could adjust the launch date again if the condition calls for it. They have already scheduled a backup launch date on Thursday.
The entire launch will be televised through NASA TV. There will also be coverage of the spacecraft docking at the ISS.
Kikina will be the first cosmonaut to fly on Crew Dragon. She is part of the US-Russia crew swap. In September 2022, NASA astronaut Francisco Rubio flew on Soyuz MS-22.
The crew swap was approved by NASA and Roscomos in July 2022. In Spring 2023, another swap between Soyuz MS-23 and Crew-6 will be launched.
After the launch on October 5, Crew-5 will spend about a day traveling to the ISS. The astronauts are expected to stay in orbit for about six months. They will conduct science experiments and maintenance works at the ISS.
Related Article: SpaceX's Crew-5 Launch is Delayed to Next Month Due to Hurricane Ian
