SpaceX launches Crew-6 mission for NASA, sending four more astronauts to the space station

SpaceX launches Crew-6 mission for NASA, sending four more astronauts to the space station


A long-exposure photograph shows SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew-6 mission in the company’s

Joel Kowsky / NASA

SpaceX launched four people to the International Space Station from Florida as Elon Musk’s company begins the final of the original six missions awarded by NASA.

Known as Crew-6, the mission for NASA will bring the group up to the space station for a six-month stay in orbit. The mission is SpaceX’s sixth operational crew launch for NASA to date, and the company’s ninth human spaceflight to date.

“If you enjoyed your ride, please don’t forget to give us five stars,” SpaceX mission control called out after the capsule reached orbit.

“That was fantastic, thank you,” Crew-6 commander Stephen Bowen responded.

Sign up here to receive weekly editions of CNBC’s Investing in Space newsletter.

Crew-6 launched a little after midnight on Thursday morning, beginning a just over 24-hour journey to the ISS. The mission brings the number of astronauts SpaceX has launched to 34, including both government and private missions, since its first crewed launch in May 2020.

The Crew-6 astronauts before launch, from left: Russian cosmonaut

SpaceX

The crew includes two Americans, one Russian and one Emirati: NASA astronauts Warren Hoburg and Stephen Bowen, Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, and United Arab Emirates astronaut Sultan Alneyadi.

SpaceX launched the astronauts in its Crew Dragon capsule called Endeavour, on top of a Falcon 9 rocket. Both the rocket and capsule are reusable, with the latter flying on its fourth mission to date.

After a last-minute delay during SpaceX’s first launch attempt on Monday, a data review identified a clogged filter in a ground system as the cause of an apparent issue in the fluid that ignites the rocket’s engines. SpaceX replaced the filter and completed verification steps to make Thursday’s launch.

SpaceX developed its Crew Dragon spacecraft and fine-tuned its Falcon 9 rocket under NASA’s competitive Commercial Crew program, competing against Boeing’s Starliner capsule. But Boeing’s capsule remains in development, with costly delays pushing back the start of operational Starliner flights.

NASA awarded SpaceX with additional missions, for a total of 14, compared to Boeing’s six.

How SpaceX beat Boeing in the race to launch NASA astronauts to space



Source

Cracker Barrel shares rise after restaurant chain gets rid of controversial new logo
Business

Cracker Barrel shares rise after restaurant chain gets rid of controversial new logo

A Cracker Barrel sign featuring the old logo is seen outside of a restaurant on August 21, 2025 in Homestead, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images Shares of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store rose 3% Wednesday after the restaurant chain said it would scrap its new logo and return to the original one, amid mounting […]

Read More
Abercrombie sales growth slows again, but Hollister surges 19%
Business

Abercrombie sales growth slows again, but Hollister surges 19%

Abercrombie & Fitch sales growth slowed again in its fiscal second quarter as the apparel company struggles to top the surge it enjoyed last fiscal year. During the quarter, sales at the namesake Abercrombie brand fell 5% while comparable sales dropped 11%.  But the success of teen-focused Hollister brand helped to salvage the quarter. Overall, […]

Read More
Kohl’s shares jump more than 15% after big earnings beat
Business

Kohl’s shares jump more than 15% after big earnings beat

A sign is displayed above a Kohl’s store in Chicago on March 1, 2023. Scott Olson | Getty Images Kohl’s shares climbed more than 15% on Wednesday after the retailer topped Wall Street’s second-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, even as its sales declined and it looks for a new CEO. The Wisconsin-based department store narrowed […]

Read More