SpaceX lifts off for ISS in recycled rocket

A SpaceX rocket blasted off towards the International Space Station on Friday. It is the firm's third NASA-crewed voyage this year.

"Endeavour launches once again — four astronauts from three countries on Crew-2, now making their way to the one and only International Space Station," an announcer said as the Falcon 9 rocket blasted off at 5:49 am local time (0949 GMT, 1149 CET) from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The crew included Spacecraft commander Shane Kimbrough and NASA's Megan McArthur, France's Thomas Pesquet and Japan's Akihiko Hoshide.

"Glad to be back in space," Kimbrough radioed once the capsule was safely in orbit.

They will embark upon a six-month mission on the ISS. They will replace a second set of astronauts, who will return to Earth next Wednesday in their own SpaceX capsule.

Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, met with the astronauts before they headed to the pad, wishing them well from a safe social distance.

What is their mission?

The team is expected to carry out 100 experiments during their six-month mission.

They will research "tissue chips" — small models of human organs that are made up of different types of cells and used to study things like aging in the immune system, kidney function and muscle loss.

Another important element of the mission is upgrading the station's solar power system by installing new compact panels that roll open like a huge yoga mat.

What kind of ship are they using?

For the first time, SpaceX used a recycled Falcon rocket and Dragon capsule for a crew launch.

The company has been helping NASA fly Astronauts to space after the agency's shuttles retired in 2011. 

Boeing, NASA's other designated taxi service, isn't expect to launch astronauts until early next year.

jf/rt (AP, AFP, Reuters)