A team comprising three NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday (Mar 5).
As the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, named “Endeavour,” docked at the orbital laboratory, the six-month mission of NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, alongside Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin began.
NASA astronauts onboard ISS arrived as Dragon “docked to the complex at 2:28 am EST while the station was 260 statute miles over Newfoundland,” revealed NASA in an official statement on its website.
Departing off Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the quartet commenced their celestial journey in the late hours on Sunday (Mar 3).
Their arrival at the ISS heralded the initiation of a diverse array of scientific endeavours, encompassing over 200 experiments. Amidst the vast expanse of space, these experiments promise to unravel mysteries, expand human knowledge, and pave the way for future exploration.
One experiment involves transporting stem cells to space to investigate their impact on degenerative diseases, while another focuses on studying the cellular effects of microgravity and ultraviolet radiation on plants.
They will also explore whether microalgae can assist in removing carbon dioxide from the air, providing a source of food and oxygen.
The hatch of the capsule ceremoniously opened at 3:50 am Tuesday (Mar 5) US Eastern time. The new arrivals embraced their fellow crew members with palpable excitement and smiles, as per a live feed.
SpaceX contracted by NASA
SpaceX has been contracted by NASA to perform crew rotation missions to the ISS as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The Crew Dragon carries astronauts to and from the ISS, allowing for crew rotation and maintaining a continuous human presence aboard the station.
“The crewmates transferred Dragon freezers containing research samples and installed them into science racks throughout the station. Tuesday’s health studies included testing the inner-ear balance system, conducting eye scans with an ultrasound device, and evaluating a specialized suit’s ability to help a crew member readjust to Earth’s gravity,” as per NASA.
Watch | SpaceX launches eighth long-duration crew to ISS, webcast captures spectacular nightime launch
The Tuesday (Mar 5) docking of the four crew is the eighth standard ISS crew rotation mission, reflected in the mission name – Crew-8. “Crew-8 will join the space station’s Expedition 70 crew of NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andreas Mogensen, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Furukawa Satoshi, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Konstantin Borisov, Oleg Kononenko, and Nikolai Chub,” NASA said.
Until the time Crew-7 members Moghbeli, Satoshi, Mogensen, and Borisov return to Earth, the count of crew on ISS will be 11.
(With inputs from agencies)
Shambhu Kumar is a science communicator, making complex scientific topics accessible to all. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
