New Delhi:
The International Space Station has returned to full power with the arrival of four new astronauts, replacing colleagues who left early due to health concerns. SpaceX delivered American, French and Russian astronauts on Saturday, a day after they launched from Cape Canaveral.
NASA’s first medical evacuation in decades
Last month’s medical evacuation was NASA’s first in 65 years of human spaceflight. One of the four astronauts launched by SpaceX last summer encountered what officials described as a serious health problem, prompting an early return to Earth.
The unexpected departure left only three crew members aboard the space station — one American and two Russians — prompting NASA to temporarily halt spacewalks and scale back research activities.
New crew members arrive on a long-term mission
The new team, which is scheduled to spend between eight and nine months aboard the International Space Station, includes NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, the Frenchman Sophie Adino, and the Russian Andrey Fedyev.
Jessica Meir, a marine biologist, and Andrey Fedyev, a former military pilot, previously lived and worked at the station. During her first mission in 2019, Meir participated in the first all-female spacewalk.
Sophie Adino, a military helicopter pilot, became the second French woman to travel in space. Jack Hathaway serves as a captain in the US Navy.
“Good morning!” Adinot called out after the capsule docked with the space station, which was orbiting 277 miles (446 kilometers) above Earth.
A few hours later, the doors opened, and the seven astronauts hugged and exchanged greetings. “Let’s get moving,” Meir said.
NASA maintains medical protocols
NASA declined to reveal the identity of the astronaut who fell ill in orbit on January 7 or provide further details, citing medical privacy. The injured astronaut and three others returned to Earth more than a month ahead of schedule and spent their first night in the hospital before returning to Houston.
The space agency confirmed that it had not modified the pre-flight medical examination procedures for the replacement crew.
With the arrival of the new astronauts, the International Space Station resumes full operations, restoring research activities and mission continuity in low Earth orbit.
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