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A secure docking will mark the tip of the primary leg of a landmark mission for NASA and SpaceX, which have been working collectively for a decade to return human spaceflight capabilities to the US and make sure the multibillion-dollar ISS stays absolutely staffed.
This additionally marks the primary absolutely operational crewed mission for SpaceX, following up a check mission in Could that carried NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken, each check pilots, to the area station for a short keep.
Throughout a short dispatch between mission management and the astronauts Monday afternoon, mission commander Hopkins requested floor management operators if they might see Glover smiling “as a result of it hasn’t stopped since we have been up right here.”
Although mission management needed to work by way of some minor technical hangups on the autonomous Crew Dragon spacecraft in a single day, the journey gave the impression to be going easily on Monday. Since taking off from Florida atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Sunday night, the Crew Dragon spacecraft has been slowly elevating its orbit and maneuvering nearer to the area station.
In the meantime, the astronauts have been in a position to swap their spacesuits for extra snug clothes and get some sleep. NASA deliberately lengthened the time that Crew Dragon is flying free in orbit to permit the crew to sleep so that they will be absolutely awake and alert when it comes time to dock with the ISS.
The Crew-1 astronauts are anticipated to spend about six months on board the ISS, the place they will work on a wide range of science experiments and conduct area walks to proceed updates and repairs on the area station’s exterior.
Earlier than returning dwelling, they will be joined by yet one more group of astronauts on a mission dubbed Crew-2 that is as a result of launch within the spring.
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