FLORIDA – NASA successfully launched SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon Endeavour spacecraft that will carry Crew-8 to the International Space Station on Sunday.

The crew of four consists of NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, commander, Michael Barratt, pilot; Jeanette Epps, mission specialist; and Roscosmos cosmonaut mission specialist Alexander Grebenkin.

Official SpaceX Crew-8 portrait (BILL STAFFORD / NASA – Johnson Space Center)

According to NASA’s website, Crew-8 will conduct scientific research to prepare for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit and benefit humanity on Earth. The crew will spend several months living and working aboard the orbiting laboratory before returning to Earth in the fall of 2024.