Astronauts safely launch into orbit on a used rocket [Updated]

• 

  Flight-proven Falcon 9 B1061 stands ready to support the Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station, seen here on Thursday morning. [credit: Trevor Mahlmann / Ars Technica ]

6 am ET Friday Update: The launch of four astronauts aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft into orbit appeared to be nearly flawless on Friday morning. Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, Akihiko Hoshide, and Thomas Pesquet will now spend about a day aboard Dragon before docking with the International Space Station on Saturday morning.

Shortly after the crew reached orbit, the Falcon 9 rocket's first-stage booster landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship. This was the company's 80th landing of an orbital class rocket booster.

Original post: SpaceX and NASA say they are ready for the launch of four astronauts to the International Space Station early on Friday morning.

Read 11 remaining paragraphs | Comments