SpaceX has taken on the task of bringing back two astronauts who have been on the International Space Station since June. The mission includes the Dragon capsule that took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with two unoccupied seats designed for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard.
Looking at the Dragon Capsule and its Usage in Astronaut Retrieval SpaceXÂ
Wilmore and Williams were initially scheduled to spend about eight days on the ISS and then return. However, a problem in the new Boeing Starliner spacecraft prompted its return to Earth without passengers as a safety measure. As a result, both astronauts had to stay at the station longer. To bring them back, the Dragon spacecraft was launched into space. The Dragon capsule deployed along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Alexander Gorbunov, a Russian cosmonaut, on board with supplies for the stranded crew. They expect to return Wilmore and Williams to Earth by the beginning of February.
Launch Postponed Because of Outbreak of Hurricane HeleneÂ
Later in the afternoon, officials confirmed that they postponed the Dragon launch, originally expected on Thursday, due to Hurricane Helene. The hurricane caused extensive destruction in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, forcing the mission to be called off.
The activities of SpaceX on ISS
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, a company co-founded by the billionaire Elon Musk, has been flying astronauts to ISS and back approximately every six months. This particular voyage represents another significant development in the progress of the private company as a space transportation provider, which aims to protect the astronauts’ lives and expand US human spaceflight. The Dragon spacecraft will dock with the ISS on Sunday at around 21:30 GMT, carrying Wilmore and Williams.
NASA and Roscosmos Cooperation
The current contract allows NASA to regularly launch astronauts to the ISS using modified Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Every five Rogue operations allows one of the three sewn-together spaceships to procure one NASA crew member on board. Every four-passenger Dragon flight includes a Russian cosmonaut, highlighting the essence of global cooperation in outer space. Such collaboration between NASA and Roscosmos is essential in facilitating the operation of the ISS and ensuring the safety of astronauts.
