CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Four astronauts from four countries have launched into space to join the International Space Station crew. The astronauts, hailing from NASA, Denmark, Japan, and Russia, are expected to reach the space station on Sunday. They will replace the four astronauts who have been living there since March.
This launch marks the first time that every seat on a U.S. spacecraft has been occupied by astronauts from different countries. Previously, NASA had included their own astronauts on SpaceX taxi flights. However, this time the assignment was made due to timing and was not planned.
During liftoff, the astronauts held each other’s gloved hands as a symbol of unity and collaboration. NASA’s Jasmin Moghbeli expressed the sentiment of the international crew, stating, “We’re a united team with a common mission.” NASA’s Ken Bowersox, the space operations mission chief, described the launch with four international crew members as an exciting sight.
Leading the mission is NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, who is joined by the European Space Agency’s Andreas Mogensen, Japan’s Satoshi Furukawa, and Russia’s Konstantin Borisov. The director general of the European Space Agency, Josef Aschbacher, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in space exploration.
The astronauts have diverse backgrounds that have led them to this space mission. Moghbeli, a commander and Marine pilot, hopes to inspire Iranian girls to aim high. Andreas Mogensen worked on oil rigs before becoming Denmark’s first astronaut. Furukawa is a former surgeon, while Borisov turned to engineering after studying business and runs a freediving school in Moscow.
One of the perks of having an international crew is the variety of food. The astronauts will enjoy Persian herbed stew, Danish chocolate, and Japanese mackerel during their mission.
SpaceX successfully landed its first-stage booster back at Cape Canaveral after liftoff, providing an extra treat for the spectators. The launch was delayed for additional data reviews and almost faced another delay due to a fuel leak. However, the leak was determined to be non-threatening just minutes before liftoff.
In mid-September, another NASA astronaut will launch to the space station from Kazakhstan, along with two Russian astronauts. SpaceX has launched eight crews for NASA, while Boeing is still working on its crew capsule and is scheduled to fly astronauts in 2024.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
