Space X launches its fifth manned mission for NASA to the ISS

Oct. 5 () –

SpaceX launched this Wednesday a Falcon 9 rocket with its Dragon crew capsule for NASA with four astronauts bound for the International Space Station (ISS).

crew 5 mission, which is done with the Dragon Enduranceincludes two NASA astronauts: Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann, first Native American in space: a member of one of the Round Valley Indian tribes in California. The Americans are joined by Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata and Russian Anna Kikina.

The takeoff took place at 16:00 UTC on October 5 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, after a series of delays that have postponed the launch for several weeks, first due to problems with the rocket and then due to Hurricane Ian. After a 22-hour flight, the new crew members of the orbital complex will spend six months in orbit, reports NASA.

We’re on our way to space!#Crew5 lifted off from @NASAKennedy at noon ET (1600 UTC) and is headed to the @Space_Station for six months of scientific discovery. pic.twitter.com/p2AvbIzo9V

— NASA (@NASA) October 5, 2022

Kikina’s presence marks the first time a Russian cosmonaut has traveled aboard a Dragon spacecraft, and the first from the United States in 20 years. Since SpaceX began sending crews to the ISS, NASA and Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos have been working together on a crew swap deal. That has continued despite the deterioration in relations in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Crew 4 mission astronauts are scheduled to return to Earth later this month in their own Dragon capsule, which has been connected to the space station since its arrival.

Since 2020, Space X has contracted astronauts for NASA to the International Space Station.