NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson blasts off for a historic six-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Follow her journey and the exciting science she'll conduct in space!
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| Witness the return of astronauts and a spaceflight participant from the International Space Station! See their dramatic parachute landing in Kazakhstan. Image: NASA |
Washington, USA:
In a triumphant morning launch, NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson embarked on a six-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) alongside two crewmates. Liftoff aboard the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft occurred at 8:36 AM EDT (1:36 PM Bangladesh Standard Time) from the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Dyson is joined on this expedition by Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, a veteran of three previous space missions, and Marina Vasilevskaya, a spaceflight participant from Belarus making her first trip to space. Following a two-day journey, the trio is scheduled to dock with the Prichal module of the ISS at 11:09 AM EDT on March 25th.
Thrilling docking maneuvers and the warm welcome ceremony aboard the station will be broadcasted live by NASA on various platforms – NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency's website. Eager viewers can also witness the crew settling into their temporary home in space as NASA+ airs coverage starting at 1:15 PM EDT.
Upon arrival, Dyson will assume the role of flight engineer for Expeditions 70 and 71, dedicating the next six months to conducting critical scientific research aboard the orbiting laboratory. Her extended stay contrasts with the shorter journeys planned for her crewmates. Novitskiy and Vasilevskaya will spend a mere 12 days on the station before departing alongside NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, who is currently part of the ISS crew. Their return trip is scheduled for Saturday, April 6th, culminating in a traditional parachute-assisted landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan.
Dyson's upcoming mission marks a significant milestone in her career. This will be her third venture into space, further solidifying her position as a leading figure in the American space program. For Novitskiy, this venture represents his fourth spaceflight, further enriching his extensive experience. Vasilevskaya, on the other hand, will be experiencing the wonders of space for the very first time, a testament to the expanding international collaboration on the ISS.
The arrival of the new crew will bring the total number of inhabitants on the ISS to ten. Dyson will be welcomed by her fellow NASA astronauts Loral O'Hara, Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt, and Jeanette Epps. Joining them will be Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, and Alexander Grebenkin, who are already conducting research and maintaining the station.
Dyson's extended stay will allow her to participate in a multitude of scientific endeavors. The specific details of these experiments haven't been publicly disclosed yet, but they are likely to encompass a wide range of disciplines – from studying the effects of microgravity on the human body to conducting cutting-edge research in physics, biology, and materials science. The knowledge gleaned from these experiments will not only benefit future space missions but also contribute to advancements here on Earth.
While Dyson focuses on her research, the shorter stay of Novitskiy and Vasilevskaya presents a unique opportunity for international collaboration. Their presence on the ISS serves as a powerful symbol of the ongoing cooperation between space agencies around the world, united in the pursuit of scientific discovery and exploration.
The successful launch of the Soyuz MS-25 marks a thrilling chapter in space exploration. The coming months will see Dyson, Novitskiy, and Vasilevskaya make invaluable contributions to scientific research while living and working in the most extraordinary environment imaginable – the International Space Station, a beacon of human ingenuity orbiting our planet.