SpaceX Launches Crew-6 to International Space Station
On March 2, 2023, SpaceX launched its 14th mission of the year, sending four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).[0] The Crew-6 mission, consisting of NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren “Woody” Hoburg, United Arab Emirates astronaut Sultan Al-Neyadi, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.[1]
The mission was delayed one day due to a technical issue that was traced to a clogged filter in the ground systems that support the rocket up until the moment of launch.[0] The filter was replaced by SpaceX and the countdown was reset.[0]
Crew-5 Commander Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada, Japanese Astronaut Koichi Wakata, and Cosmonaut Anna Kikina, the first Russian to launch on a Crew Dragon, will be welcoming Bowen and Company aboard the Space Station.[2] The Crew-6 mission will focus on scientific research, technology development, and testing, as well as maintenance and upgrades to the ISS.[3] More than 200 experiments and technology demonstrations will be undertaken by the crew, such as research into how materials act in microgravity and the obtaining of microbial samples from the exterior of the space station.[4]
Sitting in the pilot seat is Warren “Woody” Hoburg,[5] Selected in 2017, he became a member of the 22nd astronaut group.[5] Hoburg, hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, acquired his bachelor's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Subsequently, he obtained his doctorate in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California, Berkeley.[4] The Crew Dragon Endeavour had its fourth flight on this mission.[5] The vehicle designated C206 was the first to provide support for the Demo-2 mission in 2020, which was the first crewed mission involving the Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS).[5] In 2021, it supported Crew-2 and in 2022 it will support Axiom-[5]
The quartet will take the place of the four astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-5 mission, who will come back to Earth approximately five days following the arrival of Crew-6 to the space station.[6] The 45th Weather Squadron of the Space Force expects the weather to be favorable for the launch, with a 95% likelihood.[7] In the event of a rescheduling, SpaceX may attempt the launch again on Friday at 12:11 a.m.[8] [7]
0. “After flying four astronauts into orbit, SpaceX makes its 101st straight landing” Ars Technica, 2 Mar. 2023, https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/03/on-its-second-attempt-the-crew-6-mission-soared-into-orbit-early-thursday/
1. “SpaceX Rocket Launches Astronauts From U.S., Russia And UAE To International Space Station” Forbes, 2 Mar. 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/03/02/spacex-rocket-launches-crew-of-four-to-international-space-station/
2. “SpaceX launches two NASA astronauts, a cosmonaut and an Emerati on flight to space station” CBS News, 2 Mar. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-launches-two-nasa-astronauts-a-cosmonaut-and-an-emerati-on-flight-to-space-station/
3. “What you need to know about NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 mission” WESH 2 Orlando, 1 Mar. 2023, https://www.wesh.com/article/crew-6-launch-livestream/43144282
4. “SpaceX launches to International Space Station with Cohasset astronaut commanding crew” Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News, 2 Mar. 2023, https://whdh.com/news/spacex-launches-to-international-space-station-with-cohasset-astronaut-commanding-crew
5. “SpaceX, NASA launch Crew-6 to the ISS – NASASpaceFlight.com” NASASpaceflight.com, 1 Mar. 2023, https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/03/crew-6-launch/
6. “Crew-6 launches to space station” SpaceNews, 2 Mar. 2023, https://spacenews.com/crew-6-launches-to-space-station
7. “Watch Live as SpaceX Tries Once Again to Launch a New Crew to the ISS” Gizmodo, 1 Mar. 2023, https://gizmodo.com/livestream-spacex-launch-iss-crew-6-nasa-1850174171
8. “SpaceX delays launch of astronaut crew set for International Space Station” The Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/02/26/spacex-launch-space-station/
