Elon Musk and SpaceX Work to Bring Astronauts Back to Earth
DOGE leader Elon Musk recently discussed his efforts in space during an appearance on "Kudlow." Musk and SpaceX are working to safely return American astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth after their extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Originally, NASA planned for Wilmore and Williams’ mission to last only about a week. However, the astronauts have spent over nine months on the ISS since their arrival on June 6, 2023. Musk revealed on Tech Word News that his company aims to bring them back "in a few weeks."
SpaceX, in collaboration with NASA, is set to launch the Crew-10 mission on Wednesday evening from the Kennedy Space Center. The mission will use the Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to transport four astronauts to the ISS, which orbits approximately 250 miles above Earth. This mission will facilitate the long-awaited return of Wilmore and Williams.
SpaceX’s Historic Efforts
SpaceX recently achieved a milestone by successfully testing its "Mechazilla Arms" technology. Meanwhile, Wilmore and Williams have been conducting extensive research aboard the ISS, logging over 900 hours of scientific work during their stay.
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft initially transported the astronauts to the ISS but returned to Earth without them in September due to technical issues. NASA announced in August that the Starliner would remain unmanned for future flights to minimize risks.
Crew-10 Mission Details
The SpaceX Crew-10 mission is set to dock at the ISS the morning after its launch. According to NASA, the crew will conduct research, technology demonstrations, and maintenance activities during their stay.
NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who arrived at the ISS in late September, will also return to Earth alongside Wilmore and Williams. The return trip is expected to occur on Sunday via a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
SpaceX’s Milestone Mission
The Crew-10 launch marks SpaceX’s tenth operational human spaceflight mission. Weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center are highly favorable for the launch, with a 95% chance of suitable conditions.
The Dragon spacecraft, standing nearly 27 meters tall, is designed to accommodate up to seven passengers and represents a critical component of SpaceX’s efforts in advancing space travel.
NASA emphasized that once Crew-10 arrives, the current ISS crew will hand over responsibilities and prepare for their return, concluding a successful long-term mission in space.
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