The flight from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to the gleaming outpost took 21 hours.
a spacex capsule Carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station on Thursday, their new home until spring.
The flight from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to the gleaming outpost took 21 hours.
One German and three American astronauts said it was an emotional moment when they first saw the space station 30 km away – “a very spectacular sight”, according to Raja Charik, Commander of the Dragon Capsule.
“Floating in space and shining like a diamond,” said German astronaut Matthias Maurer. “We are all very thrilled, very excited.”
The entire flight of the Dragon was automated, with Mr Chari and pilot Tom Marshburn monitoring the capsule system, ready to take control if necessary. At one point, he pointed out what looked like a “serious knob” or possibly a small mechanical nut that floats in his camera’s field of view, but SpaceX mission control said it was not a concern. The docking took place 423 km above the eastern Caribbean.
The station’s reception committee consisted of three astronauts instead of the seven originally planned. That’s because SpaceX returned the station’s four residents on Monday, after the launch of the new arrivals was delayed.
While Mr. Chari, Mr. Marshburn, Mr. Maurer and NASA astronaut Kayla Barron were embracing weightlessness – all except Marshburn are space rookies – the rear crew was adjusting to life back on Earth. “Gravity sucks, but slowly getting used to it,” Japanese astronaut Akihoki Hoshide tweeted.
The new crew will spend the next six months on the space station and will host two groups of visiting tourists during that time. Russia will launch the first in December and SpaceX the second in February.
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