Two stranded astronauts are one step closer to returning from the International Space Station.
SpaceX rescue mission departs from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida At 1:17 p.m. The aim is to finally return to Earth two Boeing Starliner astronauts who have been stranded in orbit since June 5.
The launch was the first manned spaceflight mission to begin from the new launch pad. NASA on Friday cleared two crew members for a mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
NASA astronaut Nick Haig and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov set out on a five-month scientific mission in an orbiting laboratory. At the end of that mission, Butch Wilmore and Suni William, who arrived on Boeing's malfunctioning Starliner spacecraft in June for an eight-day mission, should be able to hitchhike back to Earth in February.
NASA's live video feed Showed the journey of Hague and Gorbunov.
At the time of departure, Hague and Gorbunov were strapped into SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft atop the Falcon 9 rocket. The launch vehicle then powered up nine engines at its base, propelling the rocket system into the air.
“Once the Crew Dragon capsule reaches orbital speed, the spacecraft will separate from Falcon 9's second stage and begin moving in orbit under its own power. It will use its onboard thrusters to gradually adjust its position and We will be able to connect to the space station on Sunday at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET.” CNN Reported before crew departure.
Last month, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, which was scheduled to return William and Willmore to Earth, suddenly launched. It comes just days after NASA revealed that Elon Musk's company had been selected to help return stranded Starliner astronauts.
After Starliner poured more than $1.5 billion into its commercial crew program, the June flight was supposed to be Boeing's final test to put it on par with rival SpaceX.
Instead, Starliner suffered a helium leak before launch, and authorities decided the initial problem was too small to pose a threat and elected to abort the flight, but once the ship left the atmosphere The problem was further exacerbated by the failure of its thrusters. Problems arise when Starliner docks.
