SpaceX launches Dragon capsule, sends astronauts to International Space Station

The launch, which took place in Florida, was the first full-fledged taxi flight for NASA by a private company.

“That was one heck of a ride,” astronaut Mike Hopkins said from Crew Dragon to SpaceX mission control about an hour after liftoff. “There was a lot of smiles.”

The crew on board includes Hopkins and two fellow NASA astronauts, mission pilot Victor Glover and physicist Shannon Walker. They were joined by Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi.

The Dragon capsule is due to reach the space station after 27-and-a-half hours and remain there until spring. The flight is totally automated but the crew can take control if need be.

CEO Elon Musk was forced to watch the action in isolation as he “most likely” had a moderate case of Covid-19.

SpaceX mission operator Jay Aranha, speaking from the company’s Hawthorne, California headquarters, told the crew to “have an amazing trip, and know that we are all for one.”

“This is another historic moment,” Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine said on Friday. But he noted: “Make no mistake: Vigilance is always required on every flight.”

Four hours after liftoff, NASA announced that it was investigating “an issue with propellant heaters and continuing to gather data”. Half an hour later, Nasa tweeted: “Teams are troubleshooting propellant heaters that heat the fuel aboard Crew Dragon. Temperatures remain stable and the crew remains safe.”