NASA and SpaceX have successfully launched a new crew to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday. This mission is particularly significant as it aims to bring US astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back to Earth after they were stranded at the ISS for nine months. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which took off at 7:03 local time from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carried four astronauts who will replace Wilmore and Williams and spend six months on the ISS, a standard duration of stay.
The rocket is expected to dock at the ISS on Saturday evening. The current ISS crew, including NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who arrived at the ISS in September, will assist in familiarizing the newcomers with the station before departing as early as Wednesday.
The new crew consists of NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russia’s Kirill Peskov, all with backgrounds in military or airline piloting. McClain remarked shortly after launch, highlighting the challenges and the importance of international cooperation in space exploration.
The launch was initially planned for Wednesday but was postponed due to technical issues on the ground. This event marks a significant milestone in overcoming the recent challenges and political tensions surrounding the return of the stranded astronauts.
Despite concerns, NASA assured that Wilmore and Williams are safe and have continued their research and maintenance tasks on the ISS. Williams, who recently set a new record for the most spacewalks by a woman, expressed her excitement about returning home to see her family and dogs.
This mission underscores the ongoing collaborative efforts between NASA and SpaceX to advance space travel and exploration, despite the challenges and delays encountered. The successful launch is a reassuring step towards ensuring the safety and well-being of astronauts in space and maintaining the continuity of international space missions.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/spacex-launches-replacement-crew-for-stuck-astronauts/a-71929112?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
