Four astronauts arrived at the International Space Station on Thursday, completing an eight-hour transit that established a new United States speed record. The mission also achieved a significant historical milestone, as it was the first crewed orbital flight commanded by a Black woman.
SpaceX launched the crew for NASA with commander Jessica Watkins at the helm. The mission followed a three-week delay while technicians repaired a fuel leak in the Dragon capsule. Although thick clouds loomed over Cape Canaveral throughout the morning and raised concerns about a potential launch abort, conditions improved sufficiently to permit a safe liftoff at 11:10 am local time (15:10 GMT).
Upon arrival at the station, the crew was welcomed by colleagues onboard. Describing the rapid journey, one crew member remarked, “An amazing ride,” highlighting the efficiency of the express flight compared to previous multi-day transits.
Wait, did they launch despite those thick clouds? I worried about the abort, but glad it worked out.
Eight hours? That is lightning fast compared to the days it used to take. Tech is amazing.
What an incredible milestone for NASA and Jessica Watkins! So proud to see this historic achievement.