SpaceX has launched a capsule from its rival Boeing that will search for astronauts stranded in space
After months of uncertainty about how they would return to Earth, Barry astronauts ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williamsthey already know they’ll be back in February aboard a SpaceX ship.
Astronauts are stranded in space after the ship fails to return Starliner Boeing in its inaugural piloted flight on June 5. The ship had to return almost three months later without a crew from POT evaluated it The ship malfunctioned repeatedly and it was not certain that it would return inhabited.
Already proven SpaceX’s Dragon capsule lifted off from Complex 40 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida this afternoon at 1:17 p.m. local timemarking a milestone by becoming the first manned mission to lift off from this platform.
Your main The goal is to bring two astronauts from the Boeing Starliner back to Earthwho remain on the orbital station after technical problems such as helium leaks and malfunctions of several thrusters prevented their safe return. The arrival of SpaceX Crew-9 to the ISS is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, as confirmed by representatives of the US space agency.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsules typically carry four people to the orbital complex on these types of missions. But Crew-9 left two seats empty so Dragon could bring home two NASA astronauts who arrived at the orbiting lab in June on the first manned Boeing Starliner mission. That’s why only the commander took off. Nick Haguefrom NASA, and a cosmonaut of the Russian space agency Roskosmos, Alexander Gorbunov.
Ken Bowersoxdeputy administrator NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate in Washington explained that the decision to vacate the seats was a “big change” for Crew-9, adding that the resignation of the two astronauts from their seats was “difficult to accept, but necessary to prioritize the safety of the astronauts.” “crew members stranded on ISS.”
during the mission, Hague and Gorbunov They will remain on the ISS for about five months, conducting research and studies on blood clotting, the effect of humidity on plants grown in space, such as lettuce, and changes in astronauts’ vision.
Dina Contella, Operations Integration Manager at NASA, he explained that the study on vision changes is of particular importance to the agency because it will try to determine whether vitamin B can prevent or mitigate negative effects on astronauts’ eyes during their time in space.
NASA and SpaceX implemented improvements to the Dragon vehicle for the mission, including cleaning and repainting the radiators to “radiate heat to space and have adequate solar absorption capacity.” In addition, a superDraco thruster system was included that would activate in the event all parachutes will fail during the water landing, ensuring a safe return for the crew.
Williams and Wilmore said they’re not disappointed about spending all that extra time in space. Both emphasized that the Starliner mission was a test flight, so some problems are to be expected, and dealing with the unexpected is an important part of being a NASA astronaut (as well as being a Navy test pilot, which was what the stranded astronauts were now).
Both said they will miss their families and friends during their extended stay in orbit, but emphasized the positive. Williams, for example, described space as his “happy place” and emphasized the benefits of returning to Earth in a different way.
With this mission, NASA and SpaceX aim to continue joint operations to strengthen the manned space program and advance their scientific studies in the microgravity environment of the ISS until the crew returns in February 2025.