We've got a new crew orbiting the Earth. NASA's @SpaceX #Crew5 mission lifted off from @NASAKennedy at noon EDT (1600 UTC) on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Commanded by astronaut Nicole Mann, the first indigenous woman from NASA to go to space, Crew-5 will spend up to six months on the @ISS. They'll run hundreds of scientific experiments in orbit, including studies to keep our hearts healthy (in space and on Earth) and biology research that could one day help us build 3D-printed organs. The four space travelers will also take countless photos and talk with students, sharing space with audiences around the world. Currently approaching the International Space Station in SpaceX's Dragon Endurance spacecraft, Crew-5 is scheduled to dock with the station at 4:57 p.m. ET (2057 UTC) on Thursday, Oct. 6; live mission coverage is available on nasa.gov/live. Image descriptions: 1: A long-exposure photo of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifting off from Kennedy Space Center; the dominant feature is the giant red trail rising from the launchpad to the rocket hundreds of feet above, resembling a pillar of fire. Bushy trees flank the launchpad at bottom, alongside a large white sphere reading "Liquid Methane". 2: SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, a tall white cylinder with sections painted black, lifts off from the launchpad at Kennedy Space Center. The rocket is about to clear the launch tower, with a giant plume of smoke below; trees and water are visible at the bottom of the photo. 3: A close-up of the bottom of the Falcon 9 rocket and the fire coming from its nine engines shortly after launch. Everything else is in shadows and shades of black, including the safety system spraying water on the photo's right side. 4: A wide photo of the Crew-5 launch from across a reedy pond. The Falcon 9 rocket is visible several hundred feet in the air, with the launch tower and a giant plume of smoke beneath it. Credits: NASA/Joel Kowsky #NASA #Space #SpaceX #RocketLaunch #SpaceXFalcon9 #KennedySpaceCenter #SpaceStation #Rocket #Liftoff