It followed shortly after the private Axiom 1 mission to the ISS earlier in the month utilizing SpaceX hardware.

[7][8][9] Crew-4 was the maiden flight of the Crew Dragon spacecraft named Freedom, named such by the crew because it "celebrates a fundamental human right, and the industry and innovation that emanate from the unencumbered human spirit".

[11] NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Robert Hines were announced on 12 February 2021 to the crew.

[12] Jessica Watkins was named mission specialist on 16 November 2021.

[13] Cristoforetti was later removed as commander of Expedition 68 due to the shortening of the Crew-4 mission.