SpaceX Launches Astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary to the ISS!
Hey space fans! 🚀 Something super exciting just happened! SpaceX has launched its brand-new Crew Dragon capsule named “Grace” to the International Space Station (ISS). But what’s even cooler is that aboard this spacecraft are astronauts from India, Poland, Hungary, and the United States! 🌍
On Wednesday, “Grace” blasted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, riding atop a powerful Falcon 9 rocket. The mission, called Axiom Mission 4 or Ax-4, is taking these brave explorers to live and work on the ISS for up to 14 days. How awesome is that?
Meet the Astronauts! 👩🚀👨🚀
- Peggy Whitson (USA) – Commander: A former NASA astronaut and record-holder for the most cumulative days in space by an American astronaut. She now works with Axiom Space.
- Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – Pilot: The first Indian astronaut to go to space since 1984! He is making history for his country.
- Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland) – Mission Specialist: Flying to space for Poland for the first time in decades!
- Tibor Kapu (Hungary) – Mission Specialist: Representing Hungary, he’s also part of this incredible mission.
This is the first time in many years that astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary are going to space. In fact, the last time was before these astronauts were even born! 🌟 Back then, they flew with the Soviet space program and were called “cosmonauts.”
What’s the ISS? 🛰️
The International Space Station is a giant spacecraft orbiting Earth where astronauts live and work. They do lots of experiments to learn more about space, science, and how to live beyond our planet!
A New Dragon Joins the Fleet 🐉
“Grace” is the fifth and final Crew Dragon spacecraft built by SpaceX. It joins its siblings Endeavour, Resilience, Endurance, and Freedom. Each Dragon capsule is designed to carry astronauts safely to and from space.
This mission was supposed to launch in early June but was delayed due to some technical issues. But now, everything is “go for launch,” and the team couldn’t be more excited!
Why Is This Important? 🤔
This mission shows how countries can work together to explore space. It’s inspiring for kids and teens all over the world who dream of becoming astronauts one day. Maybe that’s you! 🚀
So keep looking up at the stars because who knows? Maybe someday you’ll be the one exploring the final frontier! ✨
Reference(s):
SpaceX's brand-new Crew Dragon capsule takes astronauts to the ISS
cgtn.com
