Meet NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Crew

Official SpaceX Crew-8 portrait, from right to left, NASA astronauts Mission Specialist Jeanette Epps, Commander Matthew Dominick, and Pilot Michael Barratt, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut and Mission Specialist Aleksandr Grebenkin. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Stafford

Matthew Dominick will serve as commander for Crew-8, his first spaceflight, after being selected as an astronaut by NASA in 2017. He is from Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of San Diego, California, and a master’s in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He is an active-duty U.S. Navy astronaut. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland, and then served as a test pilot specializing in testing aircraft carriers’ landings and catapult launches.

Michael Barratt is the Crew-8 pilot, making his third visit to the International Space Station. In 2009, Barratt served as a flight engineer for Expeditions 19/20 as the station transitioned its standard crew complement from three to six and performed two spacewalks. He flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 2011 on STS-133, which delivered the Permanent Multipurpose Module and fourth Express Logistics Carrier. He has spent a total of 212 days in space. Born in Vancouver, Washington, he considers Camas, Washington, to be his hometown. Barratt earned a bachelor’s in zoology from the University of Washington, Seattle, and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Northwestern University in Chicago. He completed residencies in internal and aerospace medicine at Northwestern along with a master’s degree at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. After nine years as a NASA flight surgeon and project physician, Barratt joined the astronaut corps in 2000.

Jeanette Epps was selected by NASA as an astronaut in 2009. She serves as mission specialist aboard Crew-8, her first spaceflight, working with the commander and pilot to monitor the spacecraft during the dynamic launch and re-entry phases of flight. She is from Syracuse, New York, and earned a bachelor’s in physics from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, and a master’s in science and a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland at College Park. Prior to joining NASA, she worked at Ford Motor Co. and the Central Intelligence Agency. She has served on the Generic Joint Operation Panel working on space station crew efficiency, as a crew support astronaut for two expeditions, and as lead capsule communicator at NASA Johnson. Epps previously was assigned to NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission. NASA reassigned Epps to allow Boeing time to complete development of Starliner while also continuing plans for astronauts to gain spaceflight experience for future mission needs.

Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, who graduated from Irkutsk High Military Aviation School, Irkutsk, Russia, majoring in engineering, maintenance, and repair of aircraft radio navigation systems, also is flying on his first mission. He graduated from Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics with a degree in radio communications, broadcasting, and television. Grebenkin will serve as a flight engineer during Expeditions 70/71 aboard the International Space Station.

Details about the mission and NASA’s Commercial Crew Program can be found by following the Crew-8 blog, the commercial crew blog, X, and Facebook.

A Look at Tonight’s Key Launch Milestones

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Dragon spacecraft on top is seen during sunset on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Crew-8 mission, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Dragon spacecraft on top is seen during sunset on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Crew-8 mission at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani

We’re just about four hours away from the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission and weather continues to look great for launch, with the U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predicting an 75% chance of favorable weather conditions at launch.

NASA’s live coverage of the Crew-8 launch is airing now on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website, and you can follow along on the mission blog, the commercial crew blog, X, and Facebook for continuous coverage of important Crew-8 launch activities.

Here’s a look at some of the key milestones and critical events leading up to tonight’s launch and occurring after liftoff. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are scheduled to lift off at 10:53 p.m. EST from Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39A in Florida.

Time              Event (All times approximate)
6:48 p.m.     Crew handoff to SpaceX
6:53 p.m.      Suit donning and checkouts
7:33 p.m.      Crew walkout from Neil A. Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building
7:38 p.m.      Crew transportation to Launch Complex 39A
7:58 p.m.      Crew arrives at pad and ascends tower
8:18 p.m.      Crew ingress
8:23 p.m.      Communication check
8:24 p.m.      Seat rotation
8:25 p.m.      Suit leak checks
8:58 p.m.      Hatch close
10:08 p.m.    SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
10:11 p.m.    Crew access arm retracts
10:14 p.m.    Dragon’s launch escape system is armed
10:18 p.m.    RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
10:18 p.m.    1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
10:37 p.m.    2nd stage LOX loading begins
10:46 p.m.    Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
10:48 p.m.    Dragon transitions to internal power
10:52 p.m.    Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
10:52 p.m.    Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
10:52 p.m.    SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
10:53 p.m.    Falcon 9 liftoff
10:54 p.m.    Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
10:55 p.m.    1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
10:55 p.m.    1st and 2nd stages separate
10:55 p.m.    2nd stage engine starts
10:56 p.m.    Boostback Burn Starts
10:59 p.m.    Boostback Burn Ends
10:59 p.m.    1st stage entry burn starts
11:00 p.m.    1st stage entry burn ends
11:00 p.m.    1st stage landing burn starts
11:00 p.m.    1st stage landing
11:02 p.m.    2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
11:05 p.m.    Dragon separates from 2nd stage
11:06 p.m.    Dragon nosecone open sequence begins

Weather Forecast at 75% ‘Go’ for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Launch

The Crew-8 and American flags fly over the iconic countdown clock near the NASA News Center at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 launch, Sunday, March 3, 2024.
The Crew-8 and American flags fly over the iconic countdown clock near the NASA News Center at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 launch, Sunday, March 3, 2024. Photo credit: NASA Television

For NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 launch, targeted at 10:53 p.m. EST tonight, the U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 75% chance of favorable weather conditions at the launch pad for liftoff. The primary weather concerns for the launch area are flight through precipitation and the anvil cloud rule.

The Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, commander; Michael Barratt, pilot; and Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut mission specialist Alexander Grebenkin, will launch to the International Space Station on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

NASA’s live coverage of Crew-8 activities begins at 6:45 p.m. EST on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Follow along for details about the mission and NASA’s Commercial Crew Program on the Crew-8 blog, the commercial crew blog, X, and Facebook.

Heart Health, 3D Printing, and More Research Pack Station Schedule

The waxing gibbous Moon is pictured above the Earth's horizon in this photograph from the space station as it orbited above a cloudy Western Europe.
The waxing gibbous Moon is pictured above the Earth’s horizon in this photograph from the space station as it orbited above a cloudy Western Europe.

Heart scans, 3D printing, and fire safety were the top research topics aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday. The Expedition 70 crew also spent its day on a variety of scientific maintenance and cargo activities.

Astronauts Loral O’Hara and Satoshi Furukawa kicked off their day continuing more experimental work for the CIPHER suite of 14 human research investigations. O’Hara from NASA led the cardiac portion of the biology study scanning the chest of Furukawa from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) with the Ultrasound 2 device. Doctors on the ground observed the downlinked data for insights into heart health in space.

O’Hara then moved on and uninstalled robotic surgery demonstration hardware from an EXPRESS rack for return to Earth on a future mission. At the end of the day, she swapped out samples and research components supporting a space fire safety experiment inside the Combustion Integrated Rack. Furukawa checked out the operation of a free-flying camera robot then reconfigured the Kibo laboratory module to accommodate new cargo from an upcoming resupply mission.

Commander Andreas Mogensen from ESA (European Space Agency) spent most of his day setting up the Metal 3D printer in the Columbus laboratory module. The device is testing the ability to print parts in space reducing the need to depend on resupply missions or pack spare parts on future exploration missions. NASA Flight Engineer Jasmin Moghbeli worked inside the Tranquility module throughout Wednesday replacing orbital plumbing components.

Two cosmonauts, Konstantin Borisov and Nikolai Chub, tested a specialized suit that may speed up a crew member’s adjustment to Earth’s gravity after living in space for several months or longer. The lower body negative pressure suit is designed to counteract the tendency of body fluids to pool in the upper body due to the lack of gravity. Chub later continued unpacking the new Progress 87 resupply ship while Borisov synched station cameras to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) then serviced an oxygen generator.

Veteran cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko worked during the morning inspecting structures inside the Zvezda service module. During the afternoon, the five-time station resident checked seat shock absorbers inside the Soyuz MS-24 crew ship then performed a systems check on the Progress 87 with the vehicle’s hatch closed.


Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog@space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly video highlights at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/

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Expedition 70 Focuses on Science as Ax-3 Crew Returns to Earth

The space station is pictured from the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour during its departure and flyaround on Nov. 8, 2021.
The space station is pictured from the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft during its departure and flyaround on Nov. 8, 2021.

The Expedition 70 crew was in the middle of its shift aboard the International Space Station when the Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew splashed down off the coast of Florida on Friday. The seven orbital residents were exploring how microgravity affects bone cells and optical fibers while the Ax-3 crew was retrieved aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in the Atlantic Ocean near Daytona.

NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara took turns on Friday processing bone cells inside the Kibo laboratory module on Friday afternoon. The cells are housed inside a specialized habitat designed for the Microgravity Associated Bone Loss-A investigation and may provide a better understanding of space-caused bone loss and aging-related bone conditions on Earth.

O’Hara also swapped optical fiber samples being drawn inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox for the Flawless Space Fibers study. The space physics study seeks to produce optical fibers in space that are superior to those manufactured in Earth’s gravity environment. Moghbeli photographed plants growing for the APEX-10 space botany study then checked power connections on the European Drawer Rack, a research facility that can support experiments running autonomously.

Commander Andreas Mogensen of ESA (European Space Agency) stowed centrifuge-spun and incubated blood samples in a science freezer. Those samples will be analyzed later to gain insights into the adaptability of the human immune system in weightlessness. The ESA astronaut later attached sensors and breathing monitors to himself then pedaled on an exercise bike for an aerobics and fitness test.

JAXA (Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency) Satoshi Furukawa spent his day servicing a variety of orbital plumbing gear and exercise hardware. Furukawa started the day inside the Tranquility module replacing hydraulic components inside the station’s restroom, also known as the Waste and Hygiene Compartment. In the afternoon, he went back in Tranquility and installed a new instrumentation box and set up a laptop computer to support operations on the advanced resistive exercise device which mimics the inertial load of free-weights on Earth.

Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub joined each other Friday afternoon training on a computer for next week’s departure of the Progress 85 resupply ship. Earlier, Kononenko packed the Progress 85 with trash and discarded gear for disposal. Chub investigated futuristic spacecraft and robotic piloting techniques that may inform planetary missions. Flight Engineer Konstantin Borisov spent his day inside the Nauka science module cleaning smoke detectors.

Ax-3 Commander Michael López-Alegría returned to Earth on Friday with Pilot Walter Villadei and Mission Specialists Alper Gezeravcı and Marcus Wandt. The private quartet of astronauts from Axiom Space spent 18 days aboard the orbital outpost. The foursome orbited Earth for two more days after their departure before splashing down in the SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft off the coast of Daytona, Florida.


Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog@space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly video highlights at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/

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Immunity, Robotics, and Optical Fibers Top Station’s Research Schedule

Astronauts (from left) Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara are pictured inside the cupola with the Cygnus resupply ship outside in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm.
Astronauts (from left) Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara are pictured inside the cupola with the Cygnus resupply ship outside in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm.

The International Space Station has returned to its standard configuration of seven Expedition 70 crew members conducting advanced microgravity research and orbital lab maintenance. The four Axiom Mission 3 guests ended their stay at the orbital outpost on Wednesday and are targeting a return to Earth on Friday.

Biomedical science and space physics dominated the research schedule on Thursday as the crew investigated human immunity, robotic surgery, and optical fibers. The investigations have the potential to improve astronaut health, expand commercial space opportunities, and benefit the communications industry on Earth.

Flight Engineers Jasmin Moghbeli of NASA and Satoshi Furukawa from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) began Thursday morning collecting their blood and saliva samples for analysis. Next, Commander Andreas Mogensen spun the blood samples in a centrifuge preparing the samples for stowage in a science freezer and others for placement in an incubator. The high-flying lab work will help doctors understand how spaceflight impacts an astronaut’s immune system.

Moghbeli then spent the afternoon, assisted by cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, inspecting the condition of structures inside the Zvezda service module. Furukawa collected metallic samples exposed to extreme heat then cleaned the inside of the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace, a specialized, high-temperature furnace. Mogensen later photographed the Moon then readied the Columbus laboratory module for the installation of a new Metal 3D Printer.

NASA Flight Engineer Loral O’Hara installed a miniature surgical robot in the Destiny laboratory module that will demonstrate remotely controlled, or tele-operated, surgical techniques from Earth. Afterward, O’Hara worked in the Microgravity Science Glovebox testing the production of optical fibers superior to those manufactured in Earth’s gravity environment.

Prior to assisting Moghbeli, Kononenko strapped on a sensor-packed cap that measured his responses while practicing futuristic spacecraft and robotic piloting techniques on a computer. Roscosmos Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub checked out a carbon dioxide removal device then replaced an air conditioner power supply unit. Flight Engineer Konstantin Borisov spent his day servicing orbital plumbing gear, testing video hardware, and replacing smoke detectors.


Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog@space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly video highlights at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/

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Bone, Optical Fiber Studies as Ax-3 Crew Nears Departure

Astronauts (from left) Loral O'Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli are pictured in front of the Microgravity Science Glovebox, a biology and physics research facilty.
Astronauts (from left) Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli are pictured in front of the Microgravity Science Glovebox, a biology and physics research facilty inside the Destiny laboratory module.

Four Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) astronauts continue waiting for favorable weather conditions before ending their stay at the International Space Station. Meanwhile, the seven-member Expedition 70 crew focused its research objectives on bone health and high-quality optical fibers on Tuesday.

Mission managers from NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom Space waved off Tuesday’s planned undocking for the Ax-3 mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft. Ax-3 is now targeted to undock from the Harmony module’s forward port no earlier than 9:05 a.m. EST on Wednesday. Officials will continue to monitor weather at the potential splashdown sites off Florida’s coast before giving the final go for Ax-3 to return to Earth.

Veteran astronaut Michael López-Alegría is commanding Ax-3 leading Pilot Walter Villadei and Mission Specialists Alper Gezeravcı and Marcus Wandt on their first spaceflight. The foursome docked to the orbital laboratory on Jan. 20 beginning two weeks of science, educational, and commercial activities. All four Ax-3 astronauts spent their 17th day in space performing light science duties, photographing Earth, and relaxing.

The Expedition 70 crew stayed busy learning how to keep humans healthy in space and improve optical fiber production processes. The orbital septet also kept up its ongoing cargo work and life support maintenance.

NASA Flight Engineer Loral O’Hara spent the day processing bone cell samples obtained from human donors on Earth. She was exploring space-caused bone loss helping doctors learn how to protect and treat astronauts on long-term missions. Results may also inform treatments for bone conditions on Earth.

Several investigations on the space station have tested producing optical fibers using the microgravity environment that are higher quality than those made on Earth. The newest investigation, Flawless Space Fibers-1, is examining fiber drawn aboard the station and comparing the results to samples drawn on Earth. NASA Flight Engineer Jasmin Moghbeli set up the experiment inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox that may expand commercial production opportunities in space and communication and remote-sensing applications on Earth.

Commander Andreas Mogensen from ESA (European Space Agency) treated blood samples that are being analyzed to understand how weightlessness impacts an astronaut’s immune system. Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) worked in the Kibo laboratory module and checked out a free-flying camera robot for its ability to videotape and photograph activities on behalf of the crew.

The three cosmonauts representing Roscosmos spent their day readying a cargo ship for its departure while maintaining orbital lab systems. Veteran Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko packed the Progress 85 resupply ship with discarded gear for disposal ahead of the spacecraft’s departure planned for next week. Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub set up a personal carbon dioxide monitor then collected hair samples to be examined for a Roscosmos space adaptation study. Flight Engineer Konstantin Borisov spent his day servicing orbital plumbing gear and electronics components.


Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog@space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly video highlights at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/

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Private Astronauts Target Undocking for No Earlier Than Wednesday

The SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft carrying four Axiom Mission 3 astronauts is pictured docked to the space station shortly after an orbital sunrise. Credit: NASA TV
The SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft carrying four Axiom Mission 3 astronauts is pictured docked to the space station shortly after an orbital sunrise. Credit: NASA TV

NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than 9:05 a.m. EST Wednesday, Feb. 7, for the undocking of Axiom Mission 3 from the International Space Station following the latest review of weather conditions off the coast of Florida. The next weather briefing is at 2 a.m.

For this undocking opportunity, NASA will provide live coverage of space station joint operations with Axiom Space and SpaceX. Coverage of hatch-closure preparations will begin at 7 a.m. NASA coverage of undocking will resume at 8:45 a.m. (times subject to change based on operations).

Coverage will be available on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media.

NASA’s coverage ends approximately 30 minutes after undocking when space station joint operations with Axiom Space and SpaceX mission teams conclude. Axiom Space will resume coverage of Dragon’s re-entry and splashdown on the company’s website.


Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog@space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly video highlights at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/

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Dragon Safely on its Way to Space Station for NASA’s SpaceX Mission

First stage separation during NASA's SpaceX 29th commercial resupply services mission.
The first stage separates from the vehicle during NASA’s SpaceX 29th commercial resupply services mission launch on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. Photo credit: NASA

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft – carrying about 6,500 pounds of critical science, hardware, and crew supplies – is on its way to the International Space Station following a successful launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The company’s Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at 8:28 p.m. EST Thursday, Nov. 9, on SpaceX’s 29th resupply services mission for NASA to the orbiting laboratory.

The mission marks the ninth flight on the Commercial Resupply Services-2 SpaceX contract and the second flight of this Dragon, which previously flew on NASA’s SpaceX 26th resupply services mission.

Dragon now is safely in orbit, and its solar arrays have deployed. A series of thruster firings will help Dragon reach the space station at approximately 5:20 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11. Upon its arrival, it will dock autonomously to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module, with NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara monitoring operations.

Live coverage of Dragon’s arrival will air on NASA TV, the NASA app, and the agency’s website beginning at 3:45 a.m. EST.

Dragon will remain at the space station for about one month until it returns to Earth with research and return cargo, splashing down off the coast of Florida. To stay updated on all station activities, follow @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts. Or follow along the station blog at: https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/.

Space X Dragon Separates from Second Stage

SpaceX’s uncrewed Dragon spacecraft has separated from the company’s Falcon 9 rocket’s second stage as the spacecraft continues its journey to the International Space Station for NASA, delivering critical supplies, equipment, and material to support multiple science and research experiments that will take place aboard the orbiting laboratory.

Arrival to the station is scheduled for approximately 5:20 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will dock autonomously to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module.