- The SpaceX rocket successfully launched three American astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut into orbit
- A crack in the rocket’s side hatch nearly brought the launch to a halt
- The Falcon rocket carried three NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut
The SpaceX rocket successfully launched three American astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut into orbit after concerns about a crack in the side hatch made the launch nearly impossible.
Before the rocket launch, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission discovered a problem with a crack in the side hatch. However, crews continued with the launch, saying the crack was “too small” to cause concern.
At 10:53 p.m., the SpaceX, created by Elon Musk, Dragon Mission rocket carrying the astronauts bound for the International Space Station successfully took off from Florida and entered orbit.
“Over the past twelve years, Dragon missions have brought more than a thousand research experiments to orbit, giving researchers the opportunity to bring critical science to orbit,” SpaceX announced.
The SpaceX Falcon rocket is seen during liftoff as it heads to the International Space Station from Launch Pad 39-A on Sunday at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida
Space
Space
The astronauts should reach the orbiting laboratory on Tuesday. They will replace a crew from the US, Denmark, Japan and Russia, who have been there since August.
Boeing’s new Starliner capsule with test pilots is expected at the end of April. A month or two later, Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser, a mini-shuttle, is expected to arrive, delivering cargo to the station, but not yet passengers.
Epps was originally assigned to fly Boeing’s Starliner, but NASA switched her to SpaceX after problems caused the Starliner to stall and stall.
She is the second Black woman assigned to a long station mission. She said before the flight that she is especially proud to be a role model for Black girls, demonstrating that spaceflight “is an option for them” and “not just for other people.”
The astronauts should reach the orbiting laboratory on Tuesday. They will replace a crew from the US, Denmark, Japan and Russia, who have been there since August
Epps is the second Black woman assigned to a long station mission. Before she left, she said she was particularly proud to be a role model for black girls, demonstrating that spaceflight “is an option for them” and “not just for other people.”
She worked as an engineer for Ford Motor Co. and the CIA before becoming an astronaut in 2009.
Epps was supposed to fly to the space station on a Russian rocket in 2018, but was replaced for reasons that were never made public.
Dominick, a Navy pilot, and Grebenkin, a former Russian military officer, are also both new to space.
Barratt, a doctor on his third mission, is the oldest full-time astronaut to fly in space. He will turn 65 in April.
“As long as we stay healthy, fit and engaged, we can fly,” Barratt said.
Flight controllers monitor a growing cabin leak on the Russian side of the space station.
The leak has doubled in size in recent weeks and the area has been closed, NASA program manager Joel Montalbano said. He emphasized that there will be no consequences for the station’s operations or the safety of the crew.
