SpaceX Crew-4 facts for kids
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Crew Dragon Freedom launches to the ISS with the crew members of Crew-4 onboard.
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| Names | USCV-4 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | ISS crew transport |
| Operator | SpaceX |
| Mission duration | 6 months (planned) 1148 days and 4 hours (in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Cargo Dragon |
| Spacecraft type | Crew Dragon |
| Manufacturer | SpaceX |
| Launch mass | 12,519 kg (27,600 lb) |
| Landing mass | 9,616 kg (21,200 lb) |
| Crew | |
| Crew size | 4 |
| Members |
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| Expedition | Expedition 67 |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 27 April 2022, 07:52:55 UTC |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 (B1067.4) |
| Launch site | Kennedy Space Center, LC-39A |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | September 2022 (planned) |
| Landing site | Atlantic Ocean / Gulf of Mexico |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Inclination | 51.60° |
| Docking with ISS | |
| Docking port | Harmony zenith |
| Docking date | 27 April 2022, 23:37 UTC |
| Undocking date | June 2022 (planned) |
| Time docked | 1147 days and 12 hours (in progress) |
| Docking with ISS (Relocation) |
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| Docking port | Harmony forward |
| Docking date | June 2022 (planned) |
| Undocking date | September 2022 (planned) |
 SpaceX Crew-4 mission patch  Hines, Cristoforetti, Watkins, and Lindgren (L-R) Commercial Crew Program
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SpaceX Crew-4 was a special space mission. It was the fourth time a Crew Dragon spacecraft flew for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. This program helps send astronauts to space. It was also the seventh time a Crew Dragon carried people into orbit.
The mission launched on April 27, 2022, at 7:52 AM UTC. It then docked with the International Space Station (ISS) later that day at 11:37 PM UTC. This mission happened shortly after the private Axiom Mission 1 also visited the ISS using SpaceX equipment.
Four astronauts were on board the Crew-4 mission. Three were from NASA (United States), and one was from the European Space Agency (ESA).
Crew-4 was the very first flight for the Crew Dragon spacecraft named Freedom. The crew chose this name because it "celebrates a basic human right. It also honors the hard work and new ideas that come from a free human spirit." The rocket booster used for this mission was called B1067. This was the first time a Commercial Crew mission used a booster for its fourth flight. It had previously launched SpaceX Crew-3 in 2021.
Meet the Crew
NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Robert Hines were announced as part of the crew on February 12, 2021. Samantha Cristoforetti was named the commander of Expedition 68 on May 28, 2021. Jessica Watkins was named a Mission specialist on November 16, 2021. Samantha Cristoforetti was later removed as commander of Expedition 68 because the Crew-4 mission was shortened.
| Position | Astronaut | |
|---|---|---|
| Spacecraft commander |  Kjell N. Lindgren, NASAExpedition 67 Second spaceflight |
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| Pilot | Robert Hines, NASA Expedition 67 First spaceflight |
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| Mission Specialist 1 |  Samantha Cristoforetti, ESAExpedition 67 Second spaceflight |
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| Mission Specialist 2 | Jessica Watkins, NASA Expedition 67 First spaceflight |
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| Position | Astronaut | |
|---|---|---|
| Spacecraft commander | Steve Bowen, NASA |
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| Pilot | Not assigned, NASA |
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| Mission Specialist 1 | Not assigned | |
| Mission Specialist 2 | Not assigned | |
Mission Details
The Crew-4 mission was planned to last for about six months. The part of the mission for the European Space Agency was called Minerva. This name comes from Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom. This was European astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti's second trip to the ISS.
Images for kids
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NASA's SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts preparing for launch.
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SpaceX Crew-4 promotional poster.
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Both Crew Dragon and Starliner spacecraft docked to the ISS.
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Commercial Crew Program vehicles Starliner and Dragon.
See also
In Spanish: SpaceX Crew-4 para niños
