‘We are ready’: 4 astronauts set to launch to ISS this weekend

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Crew-1 is a go for launch.

Four astronauts are scheduled to fly to the International Space Station at 7:49 p.m. on Saturday aboard the Crew Dragon Resilience after NASA and SpaceX completed its flight readiness review.

SpaceX has lowered the rocket on the pad because teams needed to swap out a component ahead of Wednesday’s static test fire.

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Crew-1 Commander Mike Hopkins, fellow NASA Victor Glover and Shannon Walker and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguichi spoke to the media on Monday about the first operational mission to the ISS under NASA’s Commercial Crew program.

“As a crew, we are ready,” Hopkins said. “We are ready for this launch, we are ready for the six months of work that’s waiting for us aboard the International Space Station, and we are ready for the return.”

WATCH: Crew-1 astronauts host Q&A ahead of SpaceX, NASA launch

When Crew-1 arrives on the ISS, they’ll join members of the Expedition 64 crew. And more astronauts aboard the space station means an opportunity to get more done.

“I think they’re going to keep us pretty busy,” Hopkins said.

Launch teams will be keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Eta because they need optimal launch and recovery conditions, just in case of a launch emergency.

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