Astronauts Arrive for 8 Month Mission at the International Space Station, After Medical Emergency Forced Early Departure Last Month of Crew Members
Four new astronauts arrived at the ISS on Saturday after some crew members were forced to evacuate last month due to medical issues. The arrival of the new astronauts brought the space station back to full capacity.
The astronauts, US, and French, along with a Russian cosmonaut, launched from Cape Canaveral on Friday on a Space X Rocket. The journey took about 34 hours.
The newly arrived astronauts are expected to be aboard the ISS for about 8 months.
Four new astronauts arrived at the International Space Station on Saturday, bringing the lab back up to full capacity after several of their colleagues were forced to leave early last month due to a medical issue.
The U.S., French and Russian astronauts and cosmonaut launched from Cape Canaveral in a SpaceX rocket on Friday for the approximately 34-hour journey.
“That was quite the ride,” NASA Commander Jessica Meir said immediately after the launch, according to BBC News. “We have left the Earth, but the Earth has not left us.”
“The launch had previously been delayed twice due to weather concerns.” Fox News Reported.
The four new arrivals are NASA Commander Jessica Meir, NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway, astronaut Sophie Adenot from France, and Russian cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev.
NASA Commander Meir, who is a Marine Biologist, and Cosmonaut Fedyaev, a former military pilot have both been to the International Space Station before.
Sophie Adenot is a military pilot, who flies helicopters, and Jack Hathaway is in the United States Navy with the rank of Captain.
The capsule docked with the ISS on Saturday afternoon, with the hatch opening at about 4:14 PM central time.
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The medical evacuation in January was the first time in 65 years. One of the crew members had a major health issue. NASA made a decision to also bring back the three other crew members who originally launched to the ISS on that mission. For medical privacy purposes, NASA did not name which astronaut had the medical issue or what the nature of the issue was.
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