A SpaceX capsule carrying four astronauts arrived Thursday at the International Space Station, their new home until spring. It took 21 hours to fly from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to the glittering outpost. The German astronaut and three Americans said it was an emotional moment when they first spotted the space station 30 kilometers away – “a pretty glorious sight,”
According to Raja Chari commander of the capsule. In space and shining like a diamond, “observed German astronaut Matthias Mauser. At one point, they reported what looked like a” gnarled button “or perhaps a small mechanical nut floating beyond it. field of view of their camera, but SpaceX Mission Control said that was no problem. The docking took place 263 miles (423 kilometers) above the Eastern Caribbean. The welcoming committee consisted of three astronauts instead of the seven initially planned.That’s because SpaceX fired four of the station’s residents on Monday, after the newcomer launch continued to experience delays. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see these smiley faces,” NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei said after giving each of them a hug. new arrivals. “All of us, all seven of us, are friends and will become even better friends over time.
Vande Hei and one of the two Russians on board are in the middle of a one-year mission they won. ‘in March. As Chari, Marshburn, Maurer and NASA astronaut Kayla Barron adjusted to weightlessness – all but Marshburn are newcomers to space – the previous crew adjusted to life on Earth.
“Gravity is zero, but you get used to it slowly,” tweeted Japanese astronaut Akihoki Hoshide. The new crew will spend the next six months in the space station and, meanwhile, will host two tour groups. Russia will launch the first group in December and SpaceX the second in February.
