With a Russian cosmonaut, two Americans, and a Japanese astronaut flying together in space amid concerns related to the Ukraine crisis, a SpaceX rocket sent the next long-term International Space Station crew into orbit from Florida on Wednesday.
As they leave the Operations and Checkout building and head to Launch Pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral on Wednesday for a mission to the International Space Station, SpaceX Crew5 astronauts Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina, NASA astronaut Josh Cassada, NASA astronaut Nicole Mann and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata pose for a picture.
The Crew-5 mission, the fifth full-fledged ISS crew NASA has flown on a SpaceX craft since the private rocket company founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk started launching US astronauts into orbit in May 2020, is known for its innovative technology.
At noon from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, the SpaceX launch vehicle—a Falcon 9 rocket topped with a Crew Dragon module named Endurance—launched into a bright sky. The nine Merlin engines of the two-stage, 23-story-tall Falcon 9 screamed to life, sending up billowing clouds of vapour and a reddish-orange blaze as it lifted off from the launch tower.
The fact that the mission will feature 38-year-old Anna Kikina, the only female cosmonaut currently serving on active duty with Roscosmos, will make it the first Russian-led space mission launched from US land in 20 years. Kikina thanked NASA, Roscosmos, and its International Space Station partners over radio as the ship reached Earth's orbit for "giving us this great opportunity."
As mission control wished the astronauts "Godspeed" shortly after they entered orbit, Mann radioed back, "Awesome. The Falcon team is greatly appreciated. Whew! The ascent was without incident.
Seven current ISS residents, two Russians, and the NASA astronaut who travelled to orbit with them on a Soyuz voyage will all greet the crew.
