On the 6th of November 2021*, Space-x will blast off to space its fourth commercial-crewed mission. This mission will launch on the Space-x Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft and its Falcon 9 rocket from launch complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space center in Florida. The commercial crew program by NASA brought lots of success from the Crew Dragon Demo-2 last year May such that space-x has consistently sent astronauts to space at an interval of six months. This includes several launches to carry supply to the ISS, launch satellites for the starlink program and the fundraiser launch of inspiration4.

Static Fire Test of Falcon 9 courtesy Space-X

The importance of these science-based mission cannot be over-emphasized, one of the experiments that caught my attention was the growing of pepper in space. Yeah, that was not an error, you read it right. Pepper was grown in outer space, in an orbiting lab. We’ve not realized how this will positively impact how we grow food on earth and how astronauts will be able to produce their food in space in the coming future.

Megan McArthur @Astro_Megan takes a shot with the Chile Pepper grown in space credits: @Astro_Megan

Chile Pepper Growing in Space credits @astro_Megan.

The consistency of the Space-x team in these launches is highly commendable, a lot goes into preparing astronauts, vehicles, mission crew for space missions. The collaborations of various space agencies such as NASA, JAXA, ESA for these missions is highly commendable too. Without a doubt, the investments into commercial missions by NASA and the other partnering agencies does not seem to be a waste. I almost forgot to mention that the photographs by the crew have been supercool, in local parlance oh por gan. I enjoy all the shots however I won’t fail to mention that shots from Astro Thomas Pesquet stands out for me the most.

Doha, Qatar shot from space by Thomas Pesquet @Thom_astro credits: @Thom_astro

Other sight attractions like the space Olympics and music are stuffs I can’t get over easily. As we all wait anticipating the Sunday launch, I pray for good weather and wish the crew Godspeed.
SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts aboard endurance (from left) Matthias Maurer, Thomas Marshburn, Raja Chari and Kayla Barron Credits: SpaceX

GO ENDURANCE …GO CREW-3 GODSPEED. More Photos

Would you like to have a taste of chile Pepper from space some day?

*The date is subject to change due to weather conditions, it has been changed a couple of times.