On March 2, the SpaceX Dragon, named Endeavour, headed to the International Space Station carrying onboard the Agency’s sixth commercial crew rotation mission with SpaceX : the rocket well-landed today at 1:40 a.m. EST.
“Commercial Crew Program missions like Crew-6 are essential so we can continue to maximize the important research possible only in the space station’s unique microgravity environment.” – Kathryn Lueders, Associate Administrator (NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, Washington)
Members of the international crew include NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg, along with United Arab Emirates (UAE) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The number of crew present on the space station hence increased to 11 people, until Crew-5 departs in a few days.
On its side, Crew-6 has the main objective to conduct scientific research so as to prepare human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and benefit life on Earth. Experiments will further encompass studies of how particular materials burn in microgravity, tissue chip research on heart, brain, and cartilage functions. While another investigation will aim to collect microbial samples from the outside of the space station.
“Crew-6 will be busy aboard the International Space Station, conducting over 200 experiments that will help us to prepare for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, as well as improve life here on Earth. We look forward to seeing all that they accomplish.” – Bill Nelson, Administrator (NASA)
Research conducted on the space station provides benefits for people on Earth and paves the way for future long-duration trips to the Moon and beyond through NASA’s Artemis missions.
