[ad_1]
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.
The flight to the ISS, which orbits the Earth at an altitude of about 400 kilometers, lasts 27 hours.
Joe Biden and Mike Pence congratulate
US Vice President Mike Pence said that under the presidency of Donald Trump, the United States has “renewed our commitment to human space exploration.” President-elect Joe Biden expressed his congratulations on Twitter, calling the launch “a testament to the power of science.”
BILD answers the most important questions about the mission.
Photo: Joel Kowsky / AP Photo / dpa
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/das-sind-die-vier-astronauten-beim-einchecken-fuer-den-flug-in-der-nacht-zu-sonntag- 201577634-73965202 / image / 2.image.jpg “/> 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).
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.
Photo: dpa
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/photos/alexander-gerst-44-war-der-letzt-deutsche-im-all-zur-zeit-wertet-er-seine-dort- above-made-exp-201443953-73965204 / image / 2.bild.jpg “/> Alexander Gerst (44) was the last German in space. Right now he’s evaluating his experiments up there.Photo: dpa
Photo: AP
Photo: Christian Knieps
