Four astronauts launched by SpaceX for NASA have arrived at the International Space Station. This is the first NASA crew to have equal number of men and women, including the first Black woman to make a long-term spaceflight, Jessica Watkins. The astronauts arrived at the space station just 16 hours after a predawn liftoff from Kennedy Space Center that thrilled spectators.

SpaceX has launched five crews for NASA and two private trips in under two years. A week after the new crew arrives, the three American nationals and one German they are replacing will return to Earth in their own SpaceX capsule. Three Russian astronauts also live at the space station. Both SpaceX and NASA officials stressed they are taking things one step at a time to ensure safety.