kids encyclopedia robot

SpaceX Crew-4 facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
SpaceX Crew-4
SpaceX Crew-4 Launch (NHQ202204270012).jpg
Crew Dragon Freedom launches to the ISS with the crew members of Crew-4 onboard.
Names USCV-4
Mission type ISS crew transport
Operator SpaceX
Mission duration 6 months (planned)
739 days and 2 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
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 738 days and 10 hours (in progress)
Docking with ISS
(Relocation)
Docking port Harmony forward
Docking date June 2022 (planned)
Undocking date September 2022 (planned)
SpaceX Crew 4 logo.png
SpaceX Crew-4 mission patch
SpaceX Crew-4 Official Portrait.jpg
Hines, Cristoforetti, Watkins, and Lindgren (L-R)
Commercial Crew Program
KSC-20220421-PH-KLS01 0042
Falcon 9 Block 5 unit B1060.12 launching SpaceX's Starlink Group 4-14 on the eve of SpaceX Crew-4 (Falcon 9 Block 5 B1067.4 and Crew Dragon)'s launch from LC-39A (left), with NASA's SLS moon rocket and Orion spacecraft for Artemis 1 on the right on LC-39B awaiting a rollback to the VAB for maintenance before Wet Dress Rehearsal, as an Atlas V N22 rocket is being assembled for Boeing OFT-2 in the ULA's VIF.

SpaceX Crew-4 is the Crew Dragon's fourth NASA Commercial Crew operational flight, and its seventh overall crewed orbital flight. The mission launched on 27 April 2022 at 07:52 UTC before docking with the International Space Station (ISS) at 23:37 UTC. It follows shortly after the private Axiom 1 mission to the ISS earlier in the month utilizing SpaceX hardware. Three American (NASA) astronauts and one European (ESA) astronaut are onboard the mission.

Crew-4 is the maiden flight of the Crew Dragon spacecraft named Freedom, named such by the crew because it "celebrates a fundamental human right, and the industry and innovation that emanate from the unencumbered human spirit". The booster used on this mission was the B1067, which makes it the first Commercial Crew mission to use a booster on its fourth flight (it previously was used to launch SpaceX Crew-3 in 2021).

Crew

NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Robert Hines were announced on 12 February 2021 to the crew. Samantha Cristoforetti was named the commander of Expedition 68 on 28 May 2021. Jessica Watkins was named Mission specialist on 16 November 2021. Cristoforetti was later removed as commander of Expedition 68 due to the shortening of the Crew-4 mission.

Prime crew
Position Astronaut
Spacecraft commander United States Kjell N. Lindgren, NASA
Expedition 67
Second spaceflight
Pilot United States Robert Hines, NASA
Expedition 67
First spaceflight
Mission Specialist 1 Italy Samantha Cristoforetti, ESA
Expedition 67
Second spaceflight
Mission Specialist 2 United States Jessica Watkins, NASA
Expedition 67
First spaceflight
Backup crew
Position Astronaut
Spacecraft commander United States Steve Bowen, NASA
Pilot United States Not assigned, NASA
Mission Specialist 1 Not assigned
Mission Specialist 2 Not assigned

Mission

The planned mission duration is around six months. The European part of the mission is called Minerva, named after the Roman goddess of wisdom, and will be European astronaut Cristoforetti's second mission to the ISS.

SpaceX Crew-4 Dry Dress Rehearsal
NASA's SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts participate in a countdown dress rehearsal at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 19 April 2022, to prepare for the Crew-4 launch on 27 April 2022.
SpaceX Crew-4 Commercial Crew Poster
SpaceX Crew-4 promotional poster
Both commercial Crew vehicles Crew Dragon and Starliner docked to ports on harmony module at the same time
Both commercial Crew vehicles Crew Dragon and Starliner docked to ports on harmony module at the same time
Commercial Crew Program vehicles
Commercial Crew Program vehicles Starliner and Dragon

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: SpaceX Crew-4 para niños

kids search engine
SpaceX Crew-4 Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.