Latest SpaceX launch is first Nasa crew comprised equally of men and women
- The rocket’s capsules are fully automated and designed to accommodate a wide range of body sizes; Nasa and ESA have been pushing for more female astronauts
- After an express flight comparable to travelling from New York to Singapore, the crew of 4 will move in for a 5-month stay
SpaceX launched four astronauts to the International Space Station for Nasa on Wednesday, less than two days after completing a flight chartered by millionaires.
It’s the first Nasa crew comprised equally of men and women, including the first black woman making a long-term spaceflight, Jessica Watkins. “This is one of the most diversified, I think, crews that we’ve had in a really, really long time,” said Nasa’s space operations mission chief Kathy Lueders.
The astronauts were due to arrive at the space station on Wednesday night, 16 hours after a predawn liftoff from Kennedy Space Centre that thrilled spectators.
“Anyone who saw it realised what a beautiful launch it was,” Lueders told reporters. After an express flight comparable to travelling from New York to Singapore, the crew will move in for a five-month stay.
SpaceX has now launched five crews for Nasa and two private trips in just under two years. Elon Musk’s company is having an especially busy few weeks: It just finished taking three businessmen to and from the space station as Nasa’s first private guests.