SpaceX and NASA Adjust Crew-4 Launch Date to April 23

After successfully launching the first all-private human space flight earlier this month, NASA and SpaceX have announced a slight adjustment to an upcoming launch.

NASA and SpaceX have delayed the launch of the Crew-4 mission and are now targeting Saturday, April 23 for the launch, with a launch window beginning at 5:26 a.m. EDT, according to NASA’s website.

The launch of the Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station was delayed to allow for more time for final prelaunch processing after the recent Ax-1 mission.

NASA will conduct a flight readiness review on Friday, April 15, as well as a media teleconference one hour afterward at 5:30 p.m.

In addition to the April 23 launch window, NASA and SpaceX are holding backup launch opportunities on Sunday, April 24 and Monday, April 25.

The Crew-4 mission will bring three NASA astronauts and one European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut to the International Space Station aboard a new Crew Dragon spacecraft dubbed Freedom, using a Falcon 9 booster.

The crew consists of Mission Commander Kjell Lindgren, Pilot Robert Hines, Mission Specialist Jessica Watkins and ESA astronaut Samantha Critoforetti.

Following Crew-4 arrival at the International Space Station and a brief handover period, Crew-3 are expected to splash down off the coast of Florida.