Have a nice trip! See you next fall (literally) :

NASA’s @SpaceX #Crew8 lifted off from @NASAKennedy at 10:53 p.m. ET on March 3 (0353 UTC March 4). The four crew members—three of which are first-time fliers—are traveling to the @ISS and are targeted to dock this afternoon (2:15 p.m. ET, 1915 UTC).

The crew will spend six months in orbit conducting research to benefit both humans in space and humans on Earth. Projects include using stem cells to study degenerative diseases and testing wearable pressure cuffs on the legs to prevent fluid shifts and reduce health problems in astronauts.

This is the eighth crew rotation in our Commercial Crew program. These missions aim to open access to space and better prepare humanity for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Image Descriptions:

Image 1: The flame of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lights up an otherwise dark night. The orange light in the center of the image reflects off the launch platform, the ascending rocket, and fluffy clouds billowing over the ground. Still waters and the shadow of reeds can be seen in the foreground.

Image 2: In this long exposure photo, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Crew-8 streaks upward through the dark sky after liftoff.

Image 3: The four members of Crew-8 (left to right: Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, and Jeanette Epps) waving at the camera. They are wearing white space suits with black trim.