SpaceX has safely delivered four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) in a swift 15-hour flight. The crew launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and docked smoothly above the South Pacific.
The new crew members are Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke from NASA, Kimiya Yui from Japan, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov.
They’re expected to stay at the ISS for six months, replacing the team that has been there since March. SpaceX plans to return the outgoing astronauts to Earth by Wednesday.
“Hello, space station!” Fincke radioed shortly after their successful docking.
Swapped Missions and Delays
All four astronauts had originally been scheduled for different missions. Cardman was removed from a 2023 SpaceX flight to accommodate NASA’s Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose quick trip aboard Boeing’s Starliner turned into a nine-month stay.
Due to persistent thruster issues, the Starliner has been grounded.
NASA says the program won’t fly again until 2026. Fincke and Yui, who had been training for that next Starliner mission, were reassigned to this SpaceX launch.
Platonov, the Russian cosmonaut, had previously been dropped from a Soyuz mission after a medical issue. He was cleared for space once again this year.
Warm Welcome, Record Still Unbroken
The new arrivals were greeted warmly with cold drinks and hot meals prepared by the current ISS occupants, bringing the total number aboard the station to 11.
Though the 15-hour journey was rapid by American standards, Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft still holds the record for fastest trip to the ISS — just three hours.
What do you think about these international collaborations in space? Do they show humanity the way to work cooperatively, rather than as rivals?Rate, Like 👍, Comment💬, share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
