NASA, SpaceX set April launch date for Crew-4 mission

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA and SpaceX now are targeting Saturday, April 23 for the launch of its Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station.

The launch from Kennedy Space Center is scheduled for 5:26 a.m. EDT.

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Read: ‘What a ride’: Axiom-1 becomes first all-private crewed mission to dock with ISS

Officials said the change will allow teams time to complete pre-launch processing for Crew-4 following the launch of Axiom Mission 1 on April 8.

Read: Crew-3 launch brings first-time spectators from around the globe to Titusville

NASA said the move also allows consecutive launch backups on Sunday, April 24, and Monday, April 25.

Crew-4 will carry NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Robert Hines, Jessica Watkins and ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti to the ISS for a science research mission.

READ: NASA, ESA select 2 astronauts to launch on Crew-7 mission

This will be the first flight for this particular crew dragon capsule aboard a flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket.

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