SpaceX Crew-2 timeline: What's in store for the astronauts following liftoff

Godspeed! SpaceX launches 4 astronauts to the International Space Station

SpaceX’s Crew-2 is headed for the International Space Station after a successful pre-dawn launch on Friday.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - On Friday, four astronauts lifted off from Florida on a historic journey to the International Space Station. While the launch is the main event, there are plenty of milestones that lead up to the countdown and after they left Earth.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched the Crew Dragon Endeavour, marking the second crew rotation on a commercial spacecraft mission and the first with two international partner astronauts.

NASA's Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and French astronaut Thomas Pesquet will embark on a six-month trip aboard the ISS.

Liftoff went off as planned at 5:49 a.m. ET on Friday.

NASA released a breakdown of events happening on launch day leading up to the liftoff and beyond:

Thursday, April 22

11:09 p.m. -- Crew wake-up call

Friday, April 23

12:19 a.m. -- Launch readiness briefing

1:29 a.m. -- Crew weather briefing

1:44 a.m. -- Astronauts get suited up

2:29 a.m. -- Astronauts walk out of the Neil Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building where Tesla’s will take them to the launchpad. On the way, the astronauts will listen to the music of their choice. Megan McArthur tweeted her playlist that includes "Learn to Fly" by the Foo Fighters and "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne

2:54 a.m. – The crew arrives at launchpad 29A

3:29 a.m. – SpaceX to check communication systems and astronauts seats will be rotated into liftoff position

3:35 a.m. – Final suit leak checks

3:54 a.m. – Hatch to Dragon Endeavor closes

4:19 a.m. – The launch escape system is given final checks

5:04 a.m. – Fueling of Dragon given go/no go and instructions

5:07 a.m. – Crew access arm retracts

5:10 a.m. – Launch escape system on Dragon Endeavor activated

5:14 a.m. – Fueling begins

5:49 a.m. – Falcon 9 liftoff from Florida

Saturday, April 24

5:10 a.m. – Docking