CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. —
A SpaceX capsule carrying 4 astronauts pulled up Thursday on the Worldwide Area Station, their new house till spring.
It took 21 hours for the flight from NASA’s Kennedy Area Middle to the glittering outpost.
The one German and three U.S. astronauts stated it was an emotional second once they first noticed the area station 20 miles (30 kilometers) distant — “a fairly superb sight,” in accordance with Raja Chari, commander of the Dragon capsule.
“Floating in area and shining like a diamond,” famous German astronaut Matthias Maurer. “We’re all very thrilled, very excited.”
The Dragon’s total flight was automated, with Chari and pilot Tom Marshburn monitoring the capsule techniques, able to take management if vital. At one level, they reported what seemed like a “gnarled knob” or presumably a small mechanical nut floating previous their digicam’s subject of view, however SpaceX Mission Management stated it posed no concern. The docking occurred 263 miles (423 kilometres) above the jap Caribbean.
The station’s welcoming committee consisted of three astronauts as a substitute of the initially deliberate seven. That is as a result of SpaceX returned 4 of the station residents on Monday, after the brand new arrivals’ launch saved getting delayed.
Whereas Chari, Marshburn, Maurer and NASA astronaut Kayla Barron have been adapting to weightlessness — all however Marshburn are area rookies — the earlier crew was adjusting to life again on Earth. “Gravity sucks, however getting used to it slowly,” Japanese astronaut Akihoki Hoshide tweeted.
The brand new crew will spend the following six months on the area station and, throughout that point, host two teams of visiting vacationers. Russia will launch the primary bunch in December and SpaceX the second in February.
