Latest news with #SpacexDragonCapsule
Yahoo
01-04-2025
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NASA astronauts speak about return to Earth after Starliner flight flop left them stuck on space station
HOUSTON – More than nine months after launching on Starliner's first crewed mission to the International Space Station, two Nasa astronauts are back on Earth. Monday, they talked about their stay in space and how they came home on a different spacecraft. NASA astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague splashed down off the west coast of Florida on March 18 in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The Earth arrival should have happened nine months ago for Williams and Wilmore, who launched in June 2024 on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, but a 10-day test flight turned into a nine-month stay after a series of issues with Starliner. NASA decided to bring Starliner home without its astronauts, making Williams and Wilmore part of the long-duration crew until the International Space Station schedule lined up to return them home on a SpaceX Dragon. "We had a plan, right? The plan went way off what we had planned, but because we're in human spaceflight, we prepare for any number of contingencies because this is a curvy road; you never know where it's going to go," Wilmore said. Boeing Starliner Returns Home To Earth Without Astronauts, Marking End Of Tumultuous Mission During their stay, the pair were subject to numerous international headlines about being "stranded in space" and requiring rescue. Even President Donald Trump jumped into the fray and asked Elon Musk's SpaceX to step in and bring them home. The plan to bring Williams and Wilmore home via SpaceX was in place prior to the president's statements. Hague said politics don't make it more than 200 miles above Earth. "When we're up there operating in space, you don't feel the politics. You don't feel any of that," Hague said. "We are working as a part of an international team that spans the globe and works with, you know, half a dozen mission control centers spread around the globe talking in multiple languages." "We just figure out how to make it happen," Hague continued. "That's the magic of human spaceflight, is that we can focus on something so positive that pulls people together. And we've been doing that for a long time." Interest in the Starliner astronauts was apparent Monday when more than 60 news outlets packed NASA's Johnson Space Center auditorium in Houston to speak to them for the first time since their return. However, both veteran astronauts said that while the mission did not go as planned, they were happy to be there working on the space station. The Starliner-turned-Crew-9 mission marked Wilmore's and William's third spaceflight and could be the last of their careers with NASA. Dolphins Welcome Astronauts Back To Earth After 9 Months, Swimming Around Spacex Dragon Capsule The astronauts told reporters that they were unaware of some of the media reports about their extended mission. The astronauts said they were focused on conducting research and being part of the ISS crew. "We were just really focused on what we were doing and trying to be part of the team," Williams said. Meanwhile, Boeing and NASA continue to work to certify Starliner to launch astronaut missions to the ISS. Both astronauts said they would be willing to fly on Starliner again. "We really have to get it right, and because of our mission, I think that highlighted some areas where maybe we need to work on and get it right for our fellow astronauts," Williams said. Wilmore said NASA and Boeing share "the blame" for the problematic mission, and he accepted some responsibility as well. "There were questions that, as the commander of the spacecraft that I should have asked, and I did not at the time," Wilmore said. "The answers to those questions could have turned the tide." This comes as the end of the space station is approaching. After 25 years, the orbiting laboratory is expected to be de-orbited by a SpaceX spacecraft after article source: NASA astronauts speak about return to Earth after Starliner flight flop left them stuck on space station
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Rescued NASA astronauts: We'd go up in Boeing's Starliner again if needed
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams indicated they'd be willing to travel on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft again in the future. Wilmore, one of the two NASA astronauts that wound up spending over nine months in space instead of an originally planned week or so, said he would "get on in a heartbeat." "Yes, because we're going to rectify all the issues that we encountered," he told reporters during a Monday press conference held about two weeks after their homecoming. "We're gonna fix them. We're gonna make it work. Boeing's completely committed. NASA is completely committed. And with that, I'd get on in a heartbeat." Boeing's Starliner spacecraft brought Wilmore and Williams to the International Space Station (ISS) orbiting some 250 miles above Earth in early June of last year and was supposed to bring them back home after roughly a week. Spacex Dragon Capsule Sticks Splashdown Landing As Nasa Astronauts Return Home After Months Stuck In Space The spacecraft experienced some issues as it got close to the ISS, with NASA and Boeing choosing to make the spacecraft perform an unmanned return to Earth in early September and to add them to Crew-9. Read On The Fox Business App Williams on Monday was of the same opinion as Wilmore when it came to Starliner. "I would agree," she said in response to the question about if they'd be willing to travel in the spacecraft again in the future if presented the chance to do so. "The spacecraft is really capable," Williams added. "There were a couple things that need to be fixed like Butch mentioned, and folks are actively working on that. But it's a great spacecraft, and it has a lot of capability that other spacecraft don't have, and to see that thing successful and to be part of that program is an honor." In August 2024, when NASA announced Starliner would come back to Earth without the two astronauts onboard, the space agency said the spacecraft had faced "helium leaks" and "issues with the spacecraft reaction control thrusters." Nasa Astronauts Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams Give First Interview Since Return To Earth In Fox News Exclusive A Dragon spacecraft from SpaceX was used to bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth earlier this month with fellow Crew-9 members Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov. Williams and Wilmore clocked 286 days in space. NASA said last week that it and Boeing were "making progress toward crew certification of the company's CST-100 Starliner system." Joint teams from the space agency and Boeing are "working to resolve Starliner's in-flight anomalies and preparing for propulsion system testing in the months ahead," according to NASA. Rescued Astronauts: How Much Will They Get Paid For Their Ordeal? The two organizations are planning testing of "key Starliner thrusters" in New Mexico, the agency said. New helium system seal options have also been being put through testing. "Once we get through these planned test campaigns, we will have a better idea of when we can go fly the next Boeing flight," NASA's Steve Sitch said in a statement. "We'll continue to work through certification toward the end of the year and then go figure out where Starliner fits best in the schedule for the International Space Station and its crew and cargo missions."Original article source: Rescued NASA astronauts: We'd go up in Boeing's Starliner again if needed
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Fram2 astronauts gear up for SpaceX launch
Fram2's astronauts were busy over the weekend with preparations for their upcoming SpaceX launch for their mission to orbit Earth's north and south poles. SpaceX said Sunday in an X post that Fram2's four astronauts "completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of liftoff on Monday." Photos shared by the Elon Musk-run aerospace company showed Fram2's private astronauts — Chun Wang, Jannicke Mikkelsen, Rabea Rogge and Eric Philips — donning space suits and sitting in the Dragon spacecraft that they will ride into orbit on Monday evening. Fram2 is seeking to achieve a "90-degree circularized orbit" over Earth's polar regions after it launches from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket," according to a recent Fram2 press release. Spacex Rocket To Send Intuitive Machine's Second Lunar Lander To Moon The targeted time for the Fram2 mission launch is 9:46 p.m. ET on Monday night, with "three additional launch opportunities within the approximate 4.5-hour window," SpaceX said. Read On The Fox Business App The mission is poised to be the "first human polar-orbit spaceflight," with Fram2 saying the Earth's poles "have not been fully visible to other astronauts in orbit" apart from the Apollo lunar missions. Chun detailed their "busy day" of pre-launch preparations on Sunday in an X post, talking about the "dry dress rehearsal," briefings and other activities he participated in. The four Fram2 astronauts will "conduct 22 research studies designed to help advance humanity's capabilities for long-duration space exploration and understanding of human health in space" while in orbit around Earth, according to SpaceX's website. Their orbit around Earth is supposed to last several days, Fram2 said. "After extensive training and dedication from our entire crew, we are honored to continue to legacy of the Fram name in an exciting era of commercial space exploration," Chun said in a press release. "We are thankful for this opportunity, and we are grateful to SpaceX for making this mission a reality – we are excited to be the first crew to view and capture the Earth's polar regions from low-Earth orbit and support important research to help advance humanity's capabilities for long-duration space exploration." SpaceX brought the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft designated for the approaching Fram2 mission out to the launchpad on Saturday, according to an X post. Spacex Dragon Capsule Sticks Splashdown Landing As Nasa Astronauts Return Home After Months Stuck In Space The Fram2 astronauts spent over eight months training for the mission. Their training included numerous simulations and emergency preparedness, among other activities, according to article source: Fram2 astronauts gear up for SpaceX launch
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Science
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Spectacular blue spiral light brightens up night sky, likely from Space X rocket
A mysterious spiraling blue light illuminated the night skies over Europe on Monday. The cosmic whirlpool was captured in stunning video and appears to have been created by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster falling back toward Earth, according to experts. Time-lapse video taken from Croatia at around 4 p.m. EST, or 9 p.m. local time, shows the glowing light spinning across the sky in what many social media commentators likened to a spiral galaxy. The full video at normal speed lasts for about six minutes. Elon Musk Congratulates Spacex, Nasa For 'Excellent Work' Rescuing Stranded Astronauts The Met Office in the U.K. said it had received many reports of an "illuminated swirl in the sky" and said it was likely caused by the Space X rocket which launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida at around 1:50 p.m. EST as part of the government's classified NROL-69 mission. The Elon Musk-owned SpaceX was launching a payload on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the government's intelligence and surveillance agency. "This is likely to be caused by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, launched earlier today," the Met Office wrote on X. "The rocket's frozen exhaust plume appears to be spinning in the atmosphere and reflecting the sunlight, causing it to appear as a spiral in the sky." Read On The Fox News App The glowing light is an example of what some people call a "SpaceX spiral," according to Spacex Dragon Capsule Sticks Splashdown Landing As Nasa Astronauts Return Home After Months Stuck In Space SpaceX spirals develop after the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket separates from its first-stage booster. As the upper stage continues towards space, the lower stage falls, spiraling back to Earth, dumping what remains of its fuel. The fuel then freezes instantly due to its high altitude and light then reflects on it, creating the strange-looking glow in the sky, per the outlet. Fox News Digital reached out to SpaceX for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Monday's cosmic display came just days after a SpaceX team working with NASA returned two stranded astronauts from article source: Spectacular blue spiral light brightens up night sky, likely from Space X rocket
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Science
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Rescued astronauts: How much will they get paid for their ordeal?
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived back on Earth on Tuesday after living in space for a longer-than-expected nine months. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying Wilmore, Williams, fellow NASA astronaut Nick Hauge and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov — known as Crew-9 — landed in the Gulf of America near Tallahassee, Florida, with SpaceX crew quickly recovering them and the capsule safe and sound. Crew-9's homecoming had been ushered in by NASA and SpaceX sending a new four-person crew to replace them to the International Space Station (ISS) over the weekend. Spacex Dragon Capsule Sticks Splashdown Landing As Nasa Astronauts Return Home After Months Stuck In Space Wilmore and Williams both notched 286 days in space, significantly longer than the roughly one week they were originally supposed to spend on the ISS when they arrived via Boeing's Starliner in June of last year. Meanwhile, Hague and Gorbunov's time in space amounted to 171 days. With Crew-9 back on Earth and new astronauts manning the ISS, questions about how much money NASA astronauts earn while onboard the orbiting research station have arisen — and whether Wilmore and Williams could have any extra pay coming their way, given their extended stint in space. Read On The Fox Business App "When NASA astronauts are aboard the International Space Station, they receive regular, 40-hour work-week salaries. They do not receive overtime or holiday/weekend pay," a NASA spokesperson told FOX Business. NASA astronaut salaries were over $152,000 last year, a NASA webpage indicated. The NASA spokesperson said transportation, lodging and meals are provided for NASA astronauts as they are "on official travel orders as federal employees" while in space. "They are also on long-term TDY (Temporary Duty), and receive the incidentals amount for each day they are in space," the spokesperson also told FOX Business. "Incidental expenses for travel to any location is currently $5 per day." That incidentals rate would presumably equate to $1,430 for Wilmore and Williams. The pair's lengthy stay at the ISS came after NASA and Boeing ended up deciding that the Starliner that brought the pair to space would make an unmanned return to Earth in early September so that they could "continue gathering testing data" on the spacecraft while it traveled back "while also not accepting more risk than necessary for its crew," according to NASA. Starliner had experienced "helium leaks" and "issues with the spacecraft reaction control thrusters" as it got close to the ISS during its June 2024 journey, the space agency said at the time. Wilmore, Williams and Hague put in more than 900 hours of research while at the research station that orbits some 250 miles above Earth. "We are thrilled to have Suni, Butch, Nick, and Aleksandr home after their months-long mission conducting vital science, technology demonstrations, and maintenance aboard the International Space Station," NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro said in a Tuesday press release. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk reacted to Crew-9's homecoming during an interview with Sean Hannity. "I'm actually usually a little nervous about these returns because there's always some risk that something could go wrong, but thanks to the excellent work of the SpaceX team working with NASA, the astronauts are now safely home," he said. The billionaire offered his congratulations to the SpaceX and NASA teams on their "excellent work" and gave a "huge note of appreciation to President Trump for prioritizing and expediting their return." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday said that President Donald Trump "looks forward to welcoming Butch and Suni to the Oval Office when they are recovered" from their time in space. Experts Reveal How Long It Will Take Nasa Astronauts To Recover After Nine Months Stranded In Space Trump previously told "The Ingraham Angle" host Laura Ingraham that he wanted to meet with the astronauts after their homecoming after they had time to recuperate. "They have to get better. It's going to be a little bit tough for them. It's not easy, you know they were up there for a long time, and when they do, they'll come to the Oval Office," he told article source: Rescued astronauts: How much will they get paid for their ordeal?
