SpaceX capsule arrives at space station to save NASA astronauts stranded by Boeing's Starliner
- by Daily Mail
- Sep 30, 2024
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Russian Space Agency's Alexander Gorbunov enters the International Space Station from the SpaceX capsule Dragon
In blue suits, NASA's Nick Hague, left, and the Russian Space Agency's Alexander Gorbunov enter the International Space Station from the SpaceX capsule Dragon
Hague said it was a smooth flight up. 'Coming through the hatch and seeing all the smiles, and as much as I've laughed and cried in the last 10 minutes, I know it's going to be an amazing expedition,' he said.
NASA likes to replace its station crews every six months or so.
SpaceX has provided the taxi service since the company's first astronaut flight in 2020.
NASA also hired Boeing for ferry flights after the space shuttles were retired, but flawed software and other Starliner issues led to years of delays and more than $1 billion in repairs.
Starliner inspections are underway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, with post-flight reviews of data set to begin this week.
'We're a long way from saying, "Hey, we're writing off Boeing,"' NASA's associate administrator Jim Free said at a pre-launch briefing.
SpaceX capsule Dragon carries NASA's Nick Hague and the Russian Space Agency's Alexander Gorbunov to dock at the International Space Station
The arrival of two fresh astronauts means the four who have been up there since March can now return to Earth in their own SpaceX capsule in just over a week, bringing the station's crew size back down to the normal seven.
Their stay was extended a month because of the Starliner turmoil.
Although Saturday's liftoff went well, SpaceX said the rocket's spent upper stage ended up outside its targeted impact zone in the Pacific because of a bad engine firing.
The company has halted all Falcon launches until it figures out what went wrong was extended a month because of the Starliner turmoil.
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