Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will be brought back to Earth in February next year. SpaceX’s Dragon Crew capsule is being used to bring them back. This is the Crew-9 mission, which will be launched on 24 September 2024. Earlier four astronauts were going in it. Now only two will go. So that Sunita and Butch can be brought back while returning. The two astronauts who have been stopped have been assigned to the next mission.
In the earlier plan, the commander of this mission was Jenna Cardman, pilot Nick Hague, mission specialist Stephanie Wilson and Russian cosmonaut mission specialist Alexander Gorbunov were going. But now only the two male astronauts i.e. Russian astronaut Alexander Gorbunov and pilot Nick Hague will go. Both female astronauts Jenna Cardman and Stephanie Wilson are not going in this mission, they have been assigned a different mission.
Also read: The Starliner capsule carrying Sunita Williams to the space station will return to Earth on this date
Nick Hague becomes mission commander, Starliner will be removed for Dragon
Previous mission pilot Nick Hague will now be the commander of the mission. There is no change in Alexander’s profile. First, space is being created to dock the Dragon capsule of the Crew-9 mission with the space station. Boeing’s faulty Starliner will be undocked at around 3:15 am on September 6. That capsule will return to Earth at around 10 am on September 7. After this, the Dragon will dock in its place.
What is Crew-9 Space Mission?
This is a part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The space station has 9 rotational missions in collaboration with SpaceX. So that research can continue on the space station. The world can keep getting accurate information about the weather. For more than two decades, there has always been an astronaut on the International Space Station. It has never been empty. That is why astronauts have been continuously sent there.
Also read: Starliner Mission Abort: Boeing’s faulty spacecraft will return to Earth without Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore
Know what is the Dragon Capsule, through which Sunita will return
SpaceX’s Dragon Crew capsule has been launched 46 times since its construction. It has traveled to the International Space Station 42 times. It has been reflown 25 times. This capsule has seating arrangement for seven astronauts at a time. This is the world’s first private spacecraft, which has been continuously carrying astronauts and cargo to the space station. The empty capsule weighs 7700 kilograms.
When it is launched with cargo and astronauts, its maximum weight capacity is 12,500 kg. It can deliver 6000 kg of weight to an orbit. It can deliver or bring back 3307 kg of weight to the space station. Usually 2 to 4 astronauts sit in it. In case of emergency, seven can sit in it.
Also read: SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn: Private passengers will walk in space for the first time, know what is this mission?
It can stay in orbit for 10 days on its own
If it flies on its own in the lower orbit of the Earth, it can stay in space for 10 days. But if it is connected to the space station, it can stay in space for 210 days. The height of the Dragon Crew capsule is 15 feet. But after including the propulsion system below, its height becomes 26.7 feet. The capsule has a diameter of 13 feet inside and a width of 12 feet. SpaceX has made many variants of it. So far 12 Dragon capsules have been made. 6 crew, 3 cargo and 3 prototypes.
8 Dragon capsules are operational, 4 for astronauts
At present, a total of 8 Dragon capsules are operational. Four of these are crew capsules, i.e. for taking astronauts to and from the space station. Three are cargo capsules, i.e. for luggage. One is a prototype. Three capsules have been retired, of which one was crew and two were prototypes.
The flight of success has been taking off continuously since 2019
The first unmanned flight of this capsule took place on 2 March 2019. The first manned flight took place on 20 May 2020. The first cargo flight took place on 6 December 2020. It is usually launched from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket. It carries 2563 kg of fuel to go to and return from the space station.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)