MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. (Michigan News Source) – A four-man crew is on its way to the International Space Station (ISS). SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched at 12:34 AM EST on March 2, 72 hours after an initial launch attempt was scrubbed due to blocked engine-ignition fluid. The reusable booster successfully landed on the Just Read the Instructions recovery vessel, and the crew capsule, Endeavour, is expected to dock autonomously at the ISS on March 3.

Shortly after separation from the Falcon 9’s upper stage, the crew capsule experienced a minor issue with one of the hooks on its nose cone. A backup system took over and worked as intended, resulting in no delays to the schedule. Benji Reed, senior director of SpaceX’s human spaceflight program, said this shouldn’t be an issue going forward.

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“We see no elevated risk to the crew for docking,” he said during a postlaunch news conference.

Kathy Lueders, NASA’s human spaceflight chief, called the event “a beautiful launch.” In addition to the recent Venus-Jupiter conjunction, she said, “We added a bright new star to that night sky tonight.”

The Endeavour’s crew includes two NASA astronauts, Stephen Bowen and Warren “Woody” Hoburg, alongside Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev and United Arab Emirates astronaut Sultan Alneyadi. While in space, the crew “will conduct over 200 science experiments and technology demonstrations in areas such as life and physical sciences to advanced materials, technology development, in-space production applications, and even student-led research.”

“It may have taken two times,” Bowen said, referencing Monday’s aborted launch attempt, “but it was worth the trip.”