Here are the best photos of the Crew-2 launch from across Central Florida
Disney, Universal and more share pictures of the launch
Thomas Mates, Streaming Executive Producer
A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifts off in this time exposure from Launch Complex 39A Friday, April 23, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Four astronauts will fly on the SpaceX Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
SpaceX launched four astronauts from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center early Friday on the company’s third mission carrying humans to the International Space Station.
As the second long-duration mission flying via SpaceX Crew Dragon, the four astronauts — two American, one Japanese and one European — make up the Crew-2 mission.
NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet launched Friday at 5:49 a.m. in the SpaceX Crew Dragon atop the Falcon 9 rocket.
The astronauts are now traveling in the Dragon Endeavour to the space station and will arrive Saturday morning.
Central Floridians were watching the sky Friday morning as the Crew-2 mission launched from the Space Coast.
Here are some of the best photos of the mission:
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, with Crew Dragon atop, as seen above Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., after launching early Friday morning, April 23, 2021, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ((Kent Phillips, photographer))
Seen over Oakboro NC this morning around 6am (Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)The contrail following the Crew-2 launch Friday morning (Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)
Spectacular launch of the #CREW2 mission to the ISS this morning by @Spacex! Hard-working booster B1061 bent a leg on the Crew-1 flight, but nailed the landing this time. The "after party" noctilucent glow was simply amazing, then the rocket "set" over Jetty Park pier. 🥳 pic.twitter.com/9mwnUphhxK
The Crew-2 launch as seen from Belton, SC (Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)Oviedo: About two minutes into the flight, just after the first stage shut down and the second stage ignited. (Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)Crew-2 launch as seen from Winter Garden (Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)
Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.
