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Pradeep Kumar

24/04/21 10:20 AM IST

Source: The Hindu

SpaceX rocketship

In news

SPaceX launched four astronauts into orbit using a recycled roacket anc capsule.

Highlights
  • The astronauts will reach the International Space Station after 23 hours of launch and will spend six months at the orbiting lab.
  • It was the first time SpaceX reused a capsule and rocket to launch astronauts for NASA, after years of proving the capability on station supply runs.
  • The rocket was used last November on the company’s second astronaut flight.
  • It's been 20 years since JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and ESA (European Space Agency), and NASA and Russian astronauts have been together in space
About the mission
  • The mission is also a major milestone for Europe, which has named it "Alpha" after the star system Alpha Centauri.
  • The Crew-2 team has around 100 experiments in the diary during their six-month mission.
  • These include research into what are known as "tissue chips" -- small models of human organs that are made up of different types of cells and used to study things like aging in the immune system, kidney function and muscle loss.
  • In terms of the environment, by the time Crew-2 returns in fall, it will have taken 1.5 million images of the Earth, documenting phenomena like artificial lighting at night, algal blooms, and the breakup of Antarctic ice shelves.
  • Important element of the mission is upgrading the station's solar power system by installing new compact panels that roll open like a huge yoga mat.
Source: The Hindu

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