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In a first, SpaceX reuses rocket to send humans into orbit

SpaceX has sent four astronauts into space using a recycled rocket and capsule, marking the first time it has sent people 鈥� and not just cargo 鈥� on a flight using reused parts. Reusability is crucial in lowering the costs of space travel.

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SpaceX launched four astronauts into orbit Friday using a recycled rocket and capsule, the third crew flight in less than a year for Elon Musk鈥檚 rapidly expanding company.

The astronauts from the United States, Japan, and France should reach the International Space Station early Saturday morning, following a 23-hour ride in the same Dragon capsule used by SpaceX鈥檚 debut crew last May. They鈥檒l spend six months at the orbiting lab.

It was the first time SpaceX reused a capsule and rocket to launch astronauts for NASA, after years of proving the capability on station supply runs. The rocket was used last November on the company鈥檚 second astronaut flight.

Embracing the trend, spacecraft commander Shane Kimbrough and his crew weeks ago wrote their initials in the rocket鈥檚 soot, hoping to start a tradition.

鈥淕lad to be back in space,鈥� Mr. Kimbrough radioed once the capsule was safely in orbit.

For NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, it was a bit of deja vu. She launched in the same seat in the same capsule as her husband, Bob Behnken, did during SpaceX鈥檚 first crew flight. This time, it was Mr. Behnken and their young son waving goodbye. Ms. McArthur blew kisses and offered virtual hugs.

Also flying SpaceX on Friday: Japan鈥檚 Akihiko Hoshide and France鈥檚 Thomas Pesquet, the first European to launch in a commercial crew capsule.

It was a stunning scene: The launch plume glowed against the dark sky, reflecting the sunlight at high altitude. 鈥淛ust spectacular,鈥� said NASA鈥檚 acting administrator Steve Jurczyk.

A masked Mr. Musk met briefly with the astronauts at NASA鈥檚 Kennedy Space Center before they boarded white gull-winged Teslas from his electric car company. The astronauts鈥� spouses and children huddled around the cars for one last 鈥渓ove you鈥� before the caravan pulled away and headed to the pad in the predawn darkness.

鈥淔rom now on, I鈥檒l see you on a screen!鈥� tweeted Mr. Pesquet鈥檚 partner, Anne Mottet.

Despite the early hour, spectators lined surrounding roads to watch the Falcon take flight an hour before sunrise. Liftoff was delayed a day to take advantage of better weather along the East Coast in case of a launch abort and emergency splashdown.

NASA limited the number of launch guests because of COVID-19 concerns, but SpaceX鈥檚 next private passengers made the cut. Tech billionaire Jared Isaacman, who has bought a three-day flight, watched the Falcon soar with the three people who will accompany him. Their capsule is still at the space station and due back on Earth with four astronauts next Wednesday. It will be refurbished in time for a September liftoff.

For Friday鈥檚 automated flight, SpaceX replaced some valves and thermal shielding, and installed new parachutes on the capsule, named Endeavour after NASA鈥檚 retired space shuttle. Otherwise, the spacecraft is the same vehicle that flew before.

鈥漌e鈥檙e thrilled to have a crew on board Endeavour once again,鈥� SpaceX Launch Control radioed just before liftoff.

All four astronauts clasped hands as Mr. Kimbrough noted it was the first time in more than 20 years that U.S., European, and Japanese astronauts had launched together.

The first-stage booster touched down on an ocean platform nine minutes after liftoff.

Rapid reusability is critical to Mr. Musk鈥檚 effort to open space to everyone, land NASA鈥檚 next moonwalkers and, his loftiest goal by far, build a city on Mars.

Mr. Musk will go a long way toward achieving that first objective with the private flight in September. It will be followed in October by SpaceX鈥檚 fourth crew launch for NASA.

SpaceX picked up the station slack for NASA after the space agency鈥檚 shuttles retired in 2011, starting with supply runs the following year. The big draw was last year鈥檚 return of astronaut launches to Florida, after years of relying on Russia for rides.

鈥滻t鈥檚 awesome to have this regular cadence again,鈥� said Kennedy鈥檚 director Robert Cabana, a former shuttle commander.

Boeing, NASA鈥檚 other contracted crew transporter, isn鈥檛 expected to start launching NASA astronauts until early next year. First, it needs to repeat a test flight of an empty Starliner capsule, possibly in late summer, to make up for its software-plagued debut in December 2019.

Last week, SpaceX beat out two other companies, including Jeff Bezos鈥� Blue Origin, to land astronauts on the moon for NASA in three or more years. They鈥檒l descend to the lunar surface in Starship, the shiny, bullet-shaped rocketship that Mr. Musk is testing in the skies over Texas, with fiery, explosive results.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great time to be here, and we鈥檙e very excited,鈥� the European Space Agency鈥檚 Frank De Winne, an astronaut turned manager, said shortly before liftoff. The space station eventually will come to an end, he noted, but the partnership will continue amid hopes of 鈥淓uropean astronauts one day walking on the surface of the moon.鈥�

This story was reported by The Associated Press.