A Russian cargo ship, Progress, has delivered 2.7 tonnes of supplies and equipment to the International Space Station (ISS) amid a full slate of research by the lab’s NASA-sponsored crew and four visiting “private astronauts” carrying out their own science agenda, reports Yahoo.
The Progress cargo craft climbed away atop a Soyuz 2a.1 booster at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Ax-2 flight, chartered by Houston-based Axiom Space, carried retired astronaut Peggy Whitson, fiber optics entrepreneur John Shoffner and two Saudi astronauts —Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi— to the station for eight days of research and public outreach with school kids across the Middle East.
Boxship docks at space station
As stated by CBS News, a Russian cargo ship successfully delivered 2.7 tons of supplies and equipment to the International Space Station on Wednesday. The Progress cargo craft was launched atop a Soyuz 2a.1 booster at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and made its way to the space station in less than 48 hours.
This delivery comes amid a busy time for the lab’s crew, which includes NASA-sponsored astronauts and four visiting “private astronauts” from Axiom Space. The Ax-2 flight, which is the company’s second NASA-sanctioned private astronaut mission, increased the space station’s crew from 7 to 11. While conditions are more crowded than usual, NASA astronaut Stephen Bowen told The Associated Press that the combined crews were coping well.
“We’ve integrated them pretty well into the crew, and they’re very busy … doing a lot of work, which they brought with them,” Bowen said. “It is kind of crowded at times, we do have some passageway issues (but) it works out pretty well. Really enjoying the company, actually.”
Science agenda
The private astronauts from Axiom Space have their own science agenda and will be conducting research during their eight-day stay on the space station. The flight, which was chartered by the Houston-based company, carried retired astronaut Peggy Whitson, fiber optics entrepreneur John Shoffner, and two Saudi astronauts – Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi.
While the private astronauts are conducting their own research, the NASA-sponsored crew is also busy with their own experiments. The space station is a hub for scientific research, and the astronauts are currently working on projects related to biology, physics, and Earth sciences.
The arrival of the Progress cargo ship is essential to keep the space station stocked with supplies and equipment. The ship contains food, water, and other necessities for the crew’s daily life in space, as well as equipment for experiments and maintenance.
Progress cargo ship
The successful delivery of supplies and equipment to the space station is a testament to the collaboration and cooperation between different countries and organizations involved in space exploration. The space station is a symbol of international partnership, with astronauts from different countries working together towards scientific discoveries and advancements in space technology.
As the space station continues to be a hub for scientific research and exploration, the delivery of supplies and equipment will remain a crucial aspect of its operation. With the successful delivery of the Progress cargo ship, the crew can continue their important work in space.
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Source: Yahoo
