SpaceX Crew Dragon Successfully Docks with International Space Station, Bringing NASA Astronauts and Russian Cosmonaut
In a remarkable display of technological prowess, the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, bringing with it three NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut. The docking marked the culmination of a 28-hour orbital chase and a series of back-to-back Falcon 9 flights that placed 76 satellites into orbit.
The Crew Dragon’s journey to the ISS began on Sunday at 10:53 p.m. EST with its launch from Florida. Despite a three-day delay caused by high winds, the spacecraft continued its automated approach to the space station, catching up from behind and below. It finally docked at the Harmony module’s forward port at 2:28 a.m. EST on Tuesday, approximately 30 minutes earlier than expected.
After the docking sequence was complete and the spacecraft was securely locked in place, the Crew Dragon Endeavour received a warm welcome from the ISS. A SpaceX flight controller congratulated the crew, stating, “Crew Dragon Endeavour, welcome to the International Space Station. We would also like to note that you can’t be ‘Crew L8’ (late) when you arrive 30 minutes early.” Commander Matthew Dominick responded with excitement and gratitude, saying, “So excited to be here, and thank you, all the teams that got us here, so much.”
The crew of the Crew Dragon Endeavour consists of Commander Matthew Dominick, space station veteran Mike Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin. They are replacing the previous crew members, including Commander Jasmin Moghbeli, European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, Japanese flier Satoshi Furukawa, and cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov. The incoming crew will spend six months in space before their planned undocking on March 11.
Upon docking, Commander Jasmin Moghbeli radioed her welcome to the new crew members, saying, “From those of us on board, welcome to the International Space Station. Mike, welcome back. We think a few things have changed since you left. Matt, Jeanette, Sasha, you’re going to absolutely love it here.” Commander Dominick expressed his excitement to see Moghbeli, and she responded with a mix of excitement and sadness, acknowledging that her departure was imminent.
Following the necessary leak checks to ensure an airtight seal, the hatches were opened, and the Crew 8 members floated into the space station. They were greeted by the outgoing crew members and three other station crew members who arrived via a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. The incoming crew received a warm welcome from station commander Andreas Mogensen, who expressed his confidence in their upcoming mission.
Commander Dominick expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in making the mission possible, emphasizing the global teamwork required. Mike Barratt, a seasoned astronaut making his third space flight and second long-duration visit to the station, expressed his eagerness to begin the mission and thanked everyone for the warm welcome.
The Crew 7 members will spend nearly a week familiarizing their replacements with the intricacies of space station operations before undocking and returning to Earth. The outgoing crew members, including Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, and NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara, have been aboard the ISS since September. While Kononenko and Chub are halfway through their yearlong stay, O’Hara is concluding her six-month tour.
Looking ahead, a fresh Soyuz spacecraft will be delivered to the space station on March 21 by veteran cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, Belarus guest flier Marina Vasilevskaya, and NASA veteran Tracy Dyson. On April 2, Novitskiy and Vasilevskaya will return to Earth along with NASA’s O’Hara, using the same Soyuz spacecraft that brought them to the station in September. Dyson will return to Earth in September, joining Kononenko and Chub on their journey back home.
The successful docking of the SpaceX Crew Dragon with the International Space Station represents another milestone in human space exploration. With the arrival of the new crew members, the ISS continues to serve as a hub for scientific research and international collaboration in space. As we look to the future, these missions pave the way for further advancements and discoveries beyond our planet’s boundaries.
