NASA Reaches for the Stars: Space X Brings Four Astronauts to the ISS – Advisor



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The US space agency NASA will resume its official shuttle service between Earth and the International Space Station (ISS) this weekend.

On Monday night (1.27 am our time), another Falcon rocket with a Crew Dragon space shuttle starts toward the ISS. The departure was initially scheduled for the night before, but had to be postponed due to weather.

On board: four astronauts. It wasn’t until the end of May that two NASA astronauts began the US return to manned space travel after the end of the shuttle era with their historic test flight.

BILD broadcasts the evening start in a live broadcast and answers the most important questions about the mission.

Das sind die vier Astronauten beim Einchecken für den Flug in der Nacht zu SonntagPhoto: Joel Kowsky / AP Photo / dpa

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These are the four astronauts who check in for the flight on Sunday nightPhoto: Joel Kowsky / AP Photo / dpa

Who is on board this time?

This time, three American astronauts and a Japanese astronauts fly into space. The team: Michael Hopkins (51), Victor Glover (44) and Shannon Walker (55) as well as the Japanese Soichi Noguchi (55).


SpaceX mission expiration in May 2020

The four of them are a special team! Michael Hopkins is an old space fox, he’s been in space for 166 days. Glover is a former fighter pilot in the US Navy, for him it is the first space flight. Shannon Walker is the first woman to fly in the new Space X space capsule. And the Japanese Noguchi has the longest experience with 177 days. Unfortunately, there was no room for a European on this flight.

Alexander Gerst (44) war der letzte Deutsche im All. Zur Zeit wertet er seine dort oben gemachten Experimente ausPhoto: dpa

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Alexander Gerst (44) was the last German in space. Right now he’s evaluating his experiments up there.Photo: dpa

How long will the team stay?

A total of six months! The return is scheduled for June. During this time, astronauts are expected to conduct or continue a series of science experiments. A total of seven people are at the outpost in space. Two Russians and an American have been there since mid-October.

Die Landung der Raumfähre Atlantis im Sommer 2011 markierte das Ende der Shuttle-ÄraPhoto: AP

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The landing of the space shuttle Atlantis in the summer of 2011 marked the end of the shuttle era.Photo: AP

What makes the current mission so special?

After the dramatic end of the shuttle era in July 2011, the United States wants to regain the independence of the Russian Soyus capsules and, of course, underline their important role in space travel. Furthermore, the mission shows the dominance of private companies, because both the Falcon rocket and the Dragon capsule were developed by the company of visionary Elon Musk, albeit with the help of billions from NASA.

Matthias Maurer (50) wird im kommenden Herbst fliegen. Im Astronauten-Zentrum der ESAS in Köln hat wer sich für seine Mission vorbereitetPhoto: Christian Knieps

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Matthias Maurer (50) will fly next fall. At the ESAS astronaut center in Cologne, whoever has prepared for their missionPhoto: Christian Knieps

When will a German fly into space again?

The first German after Alexander Gerst should be Matthias Maurer (50) in autumn 2021. If the Saarlander flies with a Dragon-Kpasel, or perhaps even with the Starliner developed by the aircraft giant Boeing, it is still open. Maurer is currently preparing for his assignment in Houston, Texas.


Explanatory graphic for astronaut Alexander Gerst: Where on the International Space Station in space?  info.BILD.de

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