NASA's SpaceX Crew-5 launches to the International Space Station

Tags: Science and Technology

SpaceX successfully launched four astronauts on NASA's Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on October 5.

Important facts

• This is the first time that the Elon Musk-led company has sent Russian astronauts into space from its launching vehicle.

• The Crew-5 mission consists of two American, one Japanese and one Russian astronaut.

• These include NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, who will serve as mission commanders and pilots.

• Astronaut Koichi Wakata of Japan Airspace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Cosmonaut Anna Kikina of Rokosmos will serve as mission specialists.

• With the help of the Falcon-9 rocket, Crew Dragon Endurance will reach the International Space Station at a speed of 17,500 mph.

• By reaching space, Crew-5 will do more than 200 science experiments.

• This launch has been done under an exchange deal between NASA and the Russian space agency Rokosmos.

• The top Dragon spacecraft of the Falcon-9 rocket has been launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

About SpaceX

• It is a private spaceflight company that sends satellites and people to space, including NASA crews to the International Space Station (ISS).

• The company sent its first two astronauts to the ISS on May 30, 2020, aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon, and several more on behalf of NASA and other organizations.

• As of mid-2022, it is the only commercial spaceflight company capable of sending astronauts into space.

• SpaceX was founded by Alan Musk, a South African-born businessman and entrepreneur. 

About International Space Station (ISS) 

• It is a multi-nation construction project that is the largest single structure humans ever put into space.

• Its main construction was completed between 1998 and 2011.

• It is not owned by a single nation and according to the European Space Agency (ESA) is a "co-operative program" between Europe, the United States, Russia, Canada and Japan.

• As of May 2022, 258 individuals from 20 countries have visited the International Space Station.

• The top participating countries include the United States (158 people) and Russia (54 people).