NASA and SpaceX have efficiently despatched one other set of astronauts to orbit within the Dragon Endurance capsule so their predecessors can return house subsequent week.
The Crew-5 mission consists of NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, joined by Japan Aerospace Exploration Company astronaut Koichi Wakata and Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina.
The quartet launched simply after 9 a.m. PT atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Kennedy Area Middle on Wednesday. Earlier than Hurricane Ian bombarded Florida, the launch had been deliberate for Monday, nevertheless it was pushed to Tuesday after which pushed again once more by one other day.
After launch, the Dragon separated from the Falcon 9 first-stage booster, which efficiently landed on the droneship within the Atlantic Ocean.
NASA TV is televising elements of the mission, together with Thursday’s docking with the ISS. You’ll be able to comply with all of it with CNET’s Highlights YouTube channel under.
Crew-5 will spend roughly 22 hours touring to the ISS after launch. As soon as the brand new crew arrives, the members of the Crew-4 mission at the moment on the ISS will spend 5 days handing off duties to the brand new arrivals. Then the Crew-4 capsule docked to the ISS will head for house with these astronauts aboard for a splashdown return.
The astronauts of Crew-5 plan to stay aboard the ISS for about six months, finishing up science experiments and upkeep tasks.
