SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts are fast approaching the end of their six-month stay aboard the International Space Station
Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn and Kayla Barron of NASA, along with Matthias Maurer of the European Space Agency (ESA), are due to begin their journey back to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft shortly after 5pm ET (14: 00 PT) on Wednesday, May 4.
“Completion of Dragon suit inspections and view of our SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance capsule,” Maurer tweeted Sunday. “It’s time to go back to Earth soon and I’m looking forward to home, but I’m also starting to grieve that it’s time to say goodbye.
Finishing Dragon Costume Boxes & Look at Our @SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance Capsule 🐉🚀 It’s time to get back to Earth & I’m looking forward to coming home, but I’m also starting to grieve that it’s time to say goodbye . # Crew3 #CosmicKiss pic.twitter.com/HTLA2J44uo
– Matthias Maurer (@astro_matthias) May 1, 2022
Crew-3 flew into space on top of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on November 11, 2021, before arriving on the ISS later that day. For all but Marshburn, it was the astronauts’ first orbital mission.
During their stay aboard the ISS, the four-person crew worked on a number of scientific experiments, conducted spacecraft maintenance and upgrades, interacted with Earthlings through a series of special events to share their experiences of living in microgravity, and also finds time to enjoy the stunning views of certainly the most exciting living quarters ever built.
Leaving Crew-3 will free up some space in the orbital outpost. Following the arrival of four Crew-4 astronauts last week, the ISS’s population has risen to 11, five more than the usual number of crew members.
The station was busy for several weeks. In addition to the arrival of Crew-4 and the upcoming departure of Crew-3, the ISS recently hosted NASA’s first crew of private astronauts. The Ax-1 mission, organized by Texas-based Axiom Space and using SpaceX transport hardware, reportedly cost each participant about $ 55 million.
As for the Crew-3 astronauts, they will soon be moving into space in their Crew Dragon capsule, entering the atmosphere at high speed before parachuting off the coast of Florida.
Asked recently what he was looking forward to when he got home, Maurer said: “I look forward to seeing my family and friends again, but also to being outside, smelling planet Earth … the richness of nature.
Asked what he least expected, Maurer replied: “Gravity”, pointing out that adapting to it can be a challenge.
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