SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station less than 24 hours after launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn and Kayla Barron and European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer will spend six months on the ISS conducting scientific research and monitoring the space station.
SpaceX’s Dragon vehicle successfully docked with the International Space Station
The fifth passenger flight was successfully completed for SpaceX, which was founded by Elon Musk in 2002. Wednesday’s launch carried the 600th person to reach orbit. Actually, the launch was supposed to take place on Halloween. But it was delayed due to bad weather and an undisclosed medical issue with a crew member.
Dragon spacecraft autonomously docked with the station’s Harmony module. After the pressurization and leak checks, approximately two hours later, the entrance to the station was made by opening the cover. Navy lieutenant commander added to flight in May; Kayla Barron became the first NASA astronaut to enter the International Space Station.
The crew includes two Russian and one NASA astronauts currently aboard the space station; He joins the ranks of three astronauts, namely Mark Vande Hei.
Speaking at the welcoming ceremony, Vande Hei said in his statement: “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see these smiling faces. All seven of us are friends and will become even better friends as time goes on.
Being here when these people come, being able to help, is not only dealing with science that will help humanity on earth right now; also to help the human race discover; It is truly an honor. ” he stated.
SpaceX successfully completed its 200 day mission
The team, consisting of NASA, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency and the European Space Agency, which has been working on the International Space Station (ISS) for a while, returned to Earth. Having successfully completed their mission with SpaceX Falcon 9, the astronauts began preparations for the next mission.
The crew of four astronauts landed in the Gulf of Mexico inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The crew includes two NASA astronauts, Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur; Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency and French astronaut Thomas Pesquet from the European Space Agency.