The Crew-4 mission took off from Kennedy Space Center at 3:52 a.m. local time (4:52 a.m. GMT), accompanied by Americans Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins, as well as Italian Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency. , riding.
Take flight! The past few days at Kennedy Space Center have been inspiring and busy, with the return of the Axiom crew and now the successful launch of Crew-4 astronauts to the International Space Station. At the station, Kjell, Bob, Jessica and Samantha investigate which will help NASA to prepare for a longer stay on the Moon and eventually on Mars”, said the administrator of NASABill Nelson.
Crew-4 is expected to conduct hundreds of scientific experiments, including ongoing research to grow soilless plants in space. Another experiment would be to develop an artificial human retina, which would take advantage of the ISS’s microgravity environment to help form thin protein films, layer by layer.
The technology could “ultimately be used to replace damaged photoreceptor cells in the eye and potentially restore meaningful vision to millions of people suffering from retinal degenerative diseases,” said the scientist. NASA Heidi Paris.
The astronauts will spend the day flying freely through orbit and are expected to dock with the ISS at around 9 p.m. ET.
Crew-4 astronauts, left to right: Jessica Watson, Bob Hines, Kjell Lindgren and Samantha Cristoforetti – Photo: SpaceX
