Russian Launches to Space From United States, First Time in 20 Years
For the first time in two decades, a Russian cosmonaut rocketed from the united state on Wednesday, launching to the International Space Station together with NASA and Japanese astronauts despite tensions over the war in Ukraine.
Their SpaceX flight was delayed by Hurricane Ian, that ripped across the state recently.
” I hope with this release we will brighten up the skies over Florida a little bit for everyone,” stated the Japan Space Agency’s Koichi Wakata, who is making his fifth spaceflight.
Joining him on a five-month goal are 3 new to space: Marine Col. Nicole Mann, the 1st Native American woman to orbit Earth; Navy Capt. Josh Cassada and Russia’s lone female cosmonaut, Anna Kikina.
” Awesome! stated Mann as they reached orbit. “That was a smooth ride uphill. You have got three rookies who are pretty happy to be floating precede right now.”
They’re due to arrive at the space station Thursday, twenty-nine hours after a noon departure from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and will not be back on Earth until March. They’re replacing a U.S.-Italian staff that arrived in April.
Kikina is the Russian Space Agency’s exchange for NASA’s Frank Rubio, that launched to the space station 2 weeks ago from Kazakhstan aboard a Soyuz rocket. He flew up with 2 cosmonauts.
The space companies agreed over the summer to swap seats on their flights to ensure a continuous United States and Russian presence aboard the 260-mile-high (420-kilometer-high) outpost. The swap was authorized even as global hostilities mounted over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February. The following crew exchange is in the spring.
Shortly before liftoff, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated that the fundamental reason for the seat exchange is safety– in case an emergency forces one capsule’s team home, there should still be one American and Russian on board.
In the meantime, Russia stays committed to the space station through at least 2024, Russia space official Sergei Krikalev assured reporters this week. Russia wants to construct its own station in orbit later this decade, “however, we understand that it’s not going to happen extremely fast, and so probably we will keep flying” with NASA until then, he stated.
Starting with Krikalev in 1994, NASA began flying cosmonauts on its space shuttles, 1st to Russia’s Mir space station and also then to the fledgling space station. The 2003 Columbia reentry calamity put an end to it. But united state astronauts continued to hitch rides on Russian rockets for tens of millions of dollars per seat.
Kakina is only the 5th Russian woman to rocket off the planet. She stated she was surprised to be selected for the seat swap after encountering “many tests and obstacles” throughout her decade of training. “However, I did it. I’m lucky, perhaps. I’m strong,” she said.
Mann is one member of the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in California and takes up her mother’s dream catcher, one small typical webbed hoop believed to provide protection. Retired NASA astronaut John Herrington of the Chickasaw Nation became the 1st Native American in space in 2002.
“I am extremely proud to represent Native Americans and my heritage,” Mann stated before the flight, adding that everyone on her staff has a unique background. “It is important to celebrate our diversity and also realize how crucial it is when we collaborate and unite, the incredible accomplishments that we can have.”
As for the war in Ukraine, Mann stated all 4 have put politics and personal beliefs aside, “and it is really cool how the common mission of the space station simply instantly unites us.”
Added Cassada: “We have one opportunity to be one example for society on how to work together and live together and explore together.”
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has currently launched 8 staffs since 2020: six for NASA and 2 private teams. Boeing, NASA’s other got taxi service, plans to make its first astronaut flight early following year after delays to fix software and other concerns that cropped up on test flights.
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