In a historic event, four astronauts from four different countries arrived at the Space Coast on Sunday, preparing for the planned launch of the SpaceX Crew-7 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

This marks the first time a SpaceX Crew Dragon will be flying with astronauts from four different space agencies, symbolizing international cooperation in space exploration.

The Crew-7 mission is led by NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, the mission commander. She is joined by European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen of Denmark, JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa of Japan, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov of Russia. This diverse crew represents a new era of international collaboration in space missions.

The Crew-7 astronauts are set to fly in the Crew Dragon Endurance, aiming for liftoff from KSC’s Launch Complex 39-A at 3:26 a.m. Friday. The flight will be the third trip to space for the Crew Dragon Endurance, with backup opportunities on Saturday and Sunday.

The crew will join Expedition 69 for a 190-day stay on board the ISS, taking over for Crew-6. Only Mogensen and Furukawa have previous spaceflight experience, making this mission a blend of veteran knowledge and fresh perspectives.

This mission marks the seventh operational mission for SpaceX under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and the 11th flight of Crew Dragon with humans on board. The trip will bring the total number of passengers SpaceX has taken to space to 42.

Reflecting on the international nature of the mission, Moghbeli said, “If you look at our four patches, you’ll see a different nation’s flag on each one. We hope this represents what we can accomplish when we work together in unity and cooperate together. And we think this really is what the International Space Station is all about.”

The Crew-7 mission is not just a technological achievement but a symbol of global unity and cooperation. It showcases what humanity can achieve when working together, transcending national boundaries.