Context:
NASA launched a new crew to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday night to replace the two stranded astronauts. The relief team is expected to dock, ensuring a smooth transition.
- The new crew includes
- Anne McClain (NASA) and Nichole Ayers (NASA) – Both are military pilots.
- Takuya Onishi (Japan) and Kirill Peskov (Russia) – Both are former airline pilots.
The International Space Station (ISS)
The International Space Station (ISS) is a large space station that was assembled and is maintained in low Earth orbit by a collaboration of five space agencies and their contractors: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada).
Do India Have Any Such Station in Space?
Bharatiya Antariksha Station is India’s planned modular space station that will work under the aegis of ISRO. Weighting around 52 tonnes, it would be stationed at a distance of 400 km above Earth. . Launch of the inaugural component aboard an LVM3 launch vehicle is planned for 2028, followed by launching the remaining components by 2035 on the Next Generation Launch Vehicle, Soorya.
- Launching Rocket
- LVM3, LVM3, Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV)
Wilmore & Williams’ Unexpected Extended Stay
- Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, test pilots for Boeing’s Starliner capsule, were originally scheduled for a week-long mission but have been in space for nine months due to technical issues.
- Their return plan
- They will brief the replacement crew on ISS operations.
- They will depart next week, escorted by a SpaceX team that arrived last September.
- They will land off the Florida coast, weather permitting.
Boeing’s Starliner Capsule Issues
- Their extended mission was caused by helium leaks and thruster failures in Boeing’s Starliner capsule, leading to months of investigations by NASA and Boeing.
- The incident has raised concerns about the Starliner program, which was intended to be a competitor to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
