Editor’s notice: This unencumber was once up to date March 4, 2024, to proper the audio simplest hyperlink and alter the picture.
A world staff of 4 reached orbit following a a hit release to the Global Area Station at 10:53 p.m. EST Sunday from Release Complicated 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Area Middle in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Staff-8 project is the company’s 8th industrial staff rotation project with the corporate to the distance station.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Dragon spacecraft into orbit sporting NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, along side Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, for a science expedition aboard the orbital laboratory.
“Congratulations to NASA and SpaceX on every other a hit release to the Global Area Station! In this 8th staff rotation project, we’re as soon as once more appearing the power of our industrial partnerships and American ingenuity that may propel us additional within the cosmos,” mentioned NASA Administrator Invoice Nelson. “Aboard the station, the staff will habits greater than 200 science experiments and era demonstrations to assist gasoline this new generation of house exploration and receive advantages humanity right here on Earth.”
All over Dragon’s flight, SpaceX will observe a chain of computerized spacecraft maneuvers from its project keep watch over middle in Hawthorne, California. NASA groups will observe house station operations all the way through the flight from the Project Regulate Middle on the company’s Johnson Area Middle in Houston. NASA protection continues with audio simplest observation till the beginning of the rendezvous and docking broadcast.
The Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, will dock autonomously to the ahead port of the station’s Unity module about 3 a.m. Tuesday, March 5. NASA will supply reside protection of rendezvous, docking, and hatch opening, starting at 1 a.m., on NASA+, NASA Tv, the NASA app, YouTube, and the company’s web site. NASA additionally will proceed protection of the staff welcome rite as soon as they’re aboard the orbital outpost. Discover ways to circulation NASA TV via numerous platforms together with social media.
Staff-8 will sign up for the distance station’s Expedition 70 staff of NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara, ESA (Eu Area Company) astronaut Andreas Mogensen, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Company) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Konstantin Borisov, Oleg Kononenko, and Nikolai Chubb. For a little while, the selection of staff aboard the distance station will build up to 11 till Staff-7 contributors Moghbeli, Mogensen, Furukawa, and Borisov go back to Earth a couple of days later.
Staff-8 will habits new medical analysis to organize for human exploration past low Earth orbit and receive advantages humanity on Earth. Experiments come with a find out about of mind organoids to grasp neurodegenerative issues, shifts in frame fluids all through spaceflight, and the results of UV radiation and microgravity on plant expansion. Those are simply some of the greater than 200 science experiments and era demonstrations that may happen all through their project.
With this project, NASA will maximize use of the distance station, the place astronauts have lived and labored often for greater than 23 years checking out applied sciences, acting science, and growing the talents had to perform long term industrial locations in low Earth orbit and discover further from Earth. Analysis performed at the house station supplies advantages for other people on Earth and paves the way in which for long term long-duration journeys to the Moon and past via NASA’s Artemis missions.
Extra about Staff-8
Matthew Dominick is the commander for Staff-8, his first spaceflight since his variety as an astronaut in 2017. All over Expedition 70/71 aboard the distance station, he’s going to function a project specialist. Observe @dominickmatthew on X.
Michael Barratt is the Staff-8 pilot, making his 3rd talk over with to the distance station. In 2009, Barratt served as a flight engineer for Expeditions 19/20 because the station transitioned its usual staff supplement from 3 to 6 and carried out two spacewalks. He flew aboard the distance commute Discovery in 2011 on STS-133, which delivered the Everlasting Multipurpose Module and fourth Specific Logistics Provider. Barratt has spent a complete of 212 days in house. All over Expedition 70/71, he’s going to function a project specialist.
Jeanette Epps is a project specialist for Staff-8, her first spaceflight, running with the commander and pilot to watch the spacecraft all through the dynamic release and re-entry levels of flight. Epps was once decided on by means of NASA as an astronaut in 2009. She’s going to function a flight engineer all through Expeditions 70/71. Observe @Astro_Jeanette on X.
Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin is flying on his first project. He’s going to function a flight engineer all through Expeditions 70/71.
Be told extra about NASA’s SpaceX Staff-8 project and Business Staff Program at:
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Josh Finch / Claire O’Shea
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / claire.a.oshea@nasa.gov
Steven Siceloff / Danielle Sempsrott
Kennedy Area Middle, Florida
321-867-2468
steven.p.siceloff@nasa.gov / danielle.c.sempsrott@nasa.gov
Leah Cheshier
Johnson Area Middle, Houston
281-483-5111
leah.d.cheshier@nasa.gov
