WATCH: SpaceX's Crew Dragon launches again tonight

Having amassed 466 days in orbit, surpassing any other crewed spacecraft's tenure, this mission will further augment its flight history by approximately 180 days
Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, pilot Michael Barratt, commander Matthew Dominick, and astronaut Jeanette Epps pose with a Falcon 9 rocket inside SpaceXs hangar in Florida. — SpaceX
 Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, pilot Michael Barratt, commander Matthew Dominick, and astronaut Jeanette Epps pose with a Falcon 9 rocket inside SpaceX's hangar in Florida. — SpaceX

SpaceX's oldest Crew Dragon spacecraft is gearing up for its fifth voyage to the International Space Station, sparking discussions among engineers on the feasibility of extending the fleet's lifespan to accommodate up to 15 missions.

With the inaugural Crew Dragon launch taking place five years ago, followed by the first astronaut mission nearly four years back in May 2020, SpaceX has since actively employed its fleet of Dragons for ferrying astronauts and cargo to and from low-Earth orbit.

Now, attention turns to extending the operational life of these spacecraft. Initially certified for five flights, Crew Dragon Endeavour, the pioneering vessel to transport astronauts, is poised for its fifth journey to the space station.

Having amassed 466 days in orbit, surpassing any other crewed spacecraft's tenure, this mission will further augment its flight history by approximately 180 days.

Scheduled for liftoff from Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket at 10:53 pm EST Sunday (03:53 UTC Monday), Commander Matthew Dominick, pilot Michael Barratt, mission specialist Jeanette Epps, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin are set to embark on the Crew-8 mission.

Despite facing a three-day delay due to adverse weather conditions over the Atlantic Ocean, the launch is anticipated to proceed Sunday night, with the crew expected to dock at the space station around 3 am EST (0800 UTC) Tuesday.

Crew-8 will relieve the four-person Crew-7 team stationed at the space station since August last year. Crew-7 is slated to return to Earth aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft in about a week, marking its third spaceflight.

Upon completion of the Crew-8 mission, scheduled for reentry and splashdown off the coast of Florida in late August, Crew Dragon Endeavour will conclude its fifth voyage to space. While the current certification restricts Crew Dragon to five flights, plans are underway to potentially extend its operational life to 15 missions.

Engineers from SpaceX and NASA are meticulously evaluating various components of the Dragon spacecraft, including structural elements, composite shells, engines, and valves, to ascertain their remaining lifespan. Although some components are already endorsed for 15 flights, others necessitate further testing and qualification.

With SpaceX's accelerated flight cadence, largely attributed to Boeing's Starliner delays, the demand for Crew Dragon missions has surged. Consequently, NASA has awarded contract extensions to SpaceX, securing 14 operational Crew Dragon flights compared to six Starliner missions from Boeing.

As SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of reusable technology, discussions continue on determining an optimal flight ceiling for Crew Dragon, balancing operational efficiency with safety standards. While the pathway to achieving SpaceX's 15-flight aspiration remains uncertain, the company's commitment to innovation and exploration remains unwavering.