Title: SpaceX Successfully Launches Diverse International Crew on Mission to the International Space Station
Date: August 26, 2023
Cape Canaveral, Fla. – In the early hours of this morning, SpaceX successfully launched a diverse international crew of astronauts on the Crew-7 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The four astronauts lifted off aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and will travel on the Crew Dragon capsule named Endurance for a journey that will take approximately 30 hours. Once they reach the ISS, the astronauts will embark on a six-month mission involving scientific investigations and station maintenance.
Commander Jasmin Moghbeli, speaking to SpaceX launch control, expressed gratitude to SpaceX for the remarkable ride. She highlighted the unity of the team, consisting of crew members from Denmark, Japan, Russia, and the United States, all united by their common mission.
The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage successfully separated from the upper stage, and following a boost-back engine burn, it made a triumphant return and touched down at SpaceX’s Landing Zone-1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This particular booster has previously flown for the first time. The Crew Dragon capsule, Endurance, has also flown on previous SpaceX missions to the ISS.
Despite a minor issue with a potential nitrogen tetroxide leak detected during the countdown, SpaceX engineers resolved the problem just minutes before liftoff. Benji Reed, SpaceX’s senior director of human spaceflight, assured reporters that the issue was well within acceptable limits.
The international crew onboard Endurance represents four different space agencies. Commander Jasmin Moghbeli, from NASA, is making her first spaceflight, becoming the second Iranian-American to venture into space. European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Andreas Mogensen, from Denmark, serves as the pilot, becoming the first ESA astronaut to hold that position as part of a Dragon crew. Joining them are Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and Konstantin Borisov from the Russian space agency Roscosmos, both fulfilling the role of mission specialists. Borisov’s participation marks his inaugural space mission.
During the launch, the crew showcased a small plush three-toed sloth as their mascot and zero-gravity indicator, selected by Mogensen’s family to symbolize his usual leisurely pace when leaving the house.
Crew-7 marks SpaceX’s eighth astronaut mission for NASA and the company’s 11th crewed mission overall. Furthermore, it represents SpaceX’s most international crew to date. This mission holds particular significance as it allows NASA’s partner space agencies to gain crew time on the ISS based on their contributions, as outlined in the integrated crew agreement between NASA and Roscosmos.
The Crew-7 mission is set to arrive at the ISS on Sunday morning, where Crew Dragon Endurance will join another Crew Dragon, Endeavour. Joel Montalbano, manager of NASA’s ISS Program, highlighted the importance of a smooth transition between the two crews during a press conference, emphasizing the widespread collaboration and continuous human presence on the ISS.
With the successful launch of Crew-7, SpaceX and its international crew take another significant step forward in advancing space exploration and international cooperation.