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Cape Canaveral, Florida.. (AP) – For the first time in 20 years, Russian astronauts were rocketed from the United States on Wednesday to join NASA and Japanese astronauts despite tensions over the war in Ukraine. Launched to the International Space Station together.
Their SpaceX flight was delayed by Hurricane Ian, which hit the state last week.
Koichi Wakata of the National Space Development Agency of Japan, who will make the fifth space flight, said, “I hope this launch will brighten the skies over Florida.
Joining him on the five-month mission are three other people from space. Colonel Josh Kasada and Anna Kikina, Russia’s only female cosmonaut.
“Great! When they reached orbit, Mann said, “The uphill was smooth. Now we have three newcomers who are very happy to be floating in space.”
It is scheduled to arrive at the space station on Thursday, 29 hours after leaving NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at noon, and will not return to Earth until March. They are replacing US and Italian crews who arrived in April.
Kikina is the exchange office of the Russian Space Agency. NASA’s Frank Rubio, It was launched from Kazakhstan to the space station two weeks ago on a Soyuz rocket. He flew with two astronauts.
During the summer, the space agency swap seats on a flight To ensure the continued presence of the United States and Russia at the 260-mile (420-kilometer) high outpost. The barter was also approved at a time of heightened global hostility over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February. The next crew change is in the spring.
Shortly before takeoff, NASA administrator Bill Nelson said safety was the primary reason for the seat swap. Even if an emergency forced the crew of one of his capsules to evacuate, there would still be Americans and Russians on board.
In the meantime, Russia will remain committed to the space station until at least 2024, Russian space official Sergey Krikalev assured reporters this week. Russia wants to build its own station in orbit in this decade, but “we know it won’t happen anytime soon, so until then he wants to fly with NASA.” I will continue,” he said.
Beginning with Krikalev in 1994, NASA began flying astronauts on space shuttles. First to Russia’s Mir space station, then to the fledgling space station. The 2003 Columbia re-entry disaster put an end to that. But US astronauts continued to ride Russian rockets for tens of millions of dollars per seat.
Kakina is the fifth Russian woman to be rocketed from Earth. She said she was surprised that she was chosen to replace her after she encountered “many trials and obstacles” in her ten years of training. “But I did it. I’m maybe lucky. I’m strong,” she said.
Mann is a member of the Wairakki tribe of the Round Valley Indian tribe of California and takes up his mother’s dream catcher. This is a small traditional webbed hoop believed to offer protection. Former NASA astronaut and Chickasaw native John Herrington became the first Native American to go into space in 2002.
“I’m very proud to represent Native Americans and my heritage,” Mann said before the flight, adding that the entire crew has unique backgrounds. It’s important to celebrate, but it’s also important to understand how important it is for us to work together and unite to achieve incredible results.”
Regarding the war in Ukraine, Mann said all four put their politics and personal beliefs aside, adding: “It’s really great that the space station’s common mission unites us instantly.” Told.
Cassada adds:
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has launched eight crew members since 2020, six for NASA and two for private groups. Boeing, another of NASA’s contract taxi services, is planning its first astronaut flight early next year. r, after delays in fixing software and other problems encountered in test flights;
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The Associated Press’ Health Sciences Division is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education Division. AP is solely responsible for all content.
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