issuing time: Change time:
(AFP, Washington, 11th) A Space Exploration Technology (SpaceX) spacecraft carrying four astronauts completed the docking with the International Space Station (ISS) today and started a six-month outpost at this orbital outpost. Stay.
After the U.S. Space Shuttle program ended in 2011, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and SpaceX, a space company under Elon Musk, signed a multi-billion-dollar partnership. The mission of Crew-3 is a part of cooperation between the two parties, aimed at restoring the United States‘ own ability to fly into space without relying on Russia’s connection with the International Space Station.
After the astronauts of the Crew-2 mission splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on the 7th, there is currently only one NASA astronaut working in the US section of the International Space Station (USOS).
American members of Crew-3, Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, and Tom Marshburn, and German member Matthias Maurer from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida yesterday evening ) Take off on the “Crew Dragon” spacecraft carried by the Falcon 9 rocket.
The spacecraft named Endurance docked with the International Space Station at about 7:10 p.m. on the 11th (0:10 GMT on the 12th).
According to Reuters, the four people will take inventory after they arrive, perform standard leak inspections, and pressurize the air between the space station and the spacecraft in preparation for opening the door into the space station in about 2 hours.
US Air Force Colonel Charlie is the commander of this mission, and this is his first space travel.
Ma Xipeng, who was a doctor, took a space shuttle into space in 2009, and then took part in space missions on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft from 2012 to 2013.
When NASA recently recruited newcomers in 2017, Baron and Charlie were selected together as NASA astronauts. Baron previously served as a naval submarine warfare officer, and Maurier was a materials science engineer and was also the 12th German ever to enter space.
The four members will stay on the International Space Station for 6 months and perform research to help provide information for future deep space exploration and benefit life on Earth.
The scientific highlights of this mission include experiments to grow plants in space without soil or other media, and another experiment to construct optical fibers in microgravity. Previous research has shown that this experiment will be superior in quality to finished products made on earth.
© 2021 AFP