As planned, four astronauts are on their way to orbit on SpaceX's fifth crewed mission. The Crew-3 mission launched last night, and is set to begin a six-month science and research mission. They are NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron, as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer
“With Raja, Thomas, Kayla and Mattias on their way to the International Space Station just days after Crew-2’s return, we’re seeing the power of American ingenuity right before our eyes,” says NASA Chief Bill Nelson. “NASA’s partnership with SpaceX is not only critical for cutting-edge research, but also for international collaboration.”
This collaboration between NASA and SpaceX to keep the International Space Station staffed. The mission brings the number of astronauts launched into space to 18.