Live coverage: Falcon 9 disintegrates after launch

The astronauts assigned to fly SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft beginning later this year said Friday they are excited for the capsule’s first orbital mission set for launch Saturday, but significant work remains before the ship is cleared to carry people.

The mission marked the first time that an American-made rocket launched Europe’s answer to the GPS satellite constellation. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39A happened at 8:34 p.m. EDT (0034 UTC) on Saturday, April 27.

Watch a replay of Monday’s Falcon 9 launch as seen from the Kennedy Space Center press site, a viewpoint around three miles from pad 39A.