New Delhi: NASA has announced that the astronauts of Crew 7, currently stationed aboard the International Space Station (ISS), are gearing up for their return to Earth following a six-month stint in space.
According to NASA, the four-member crew will make their journey back to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the ISS at 11:05 a.m. on March 11. Weather permitting, the Dragon will splash down off the coast of Florida as early as 5:35 a.m. on March 12.
The Crew 7 mission, comprising NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov, commenced on August 26 last year.
Currently, with the recent addition of four members from the Crew 8 mission, the ISS is accommodating a total of 11 astronauts from various countries including the US, Europe, Russia, and Japan.
NASA stated that Crew 7 is in the final stages of wrapping up their nearly six-month-long science mission, aiming to return time-sensitive research findings to Earth.
During their tenure on the ISS, Crew 7 conducted a variety of science experiments and technology demonstrations aimed at benefiting humanity on Earth and advancing preparations for future space missions. Some of their notable scientific endeavors include studying the effects of spaceflight on immune function, developing methods to eliminate contaminants from wastewater, and experimenting with growing food in the space environment.
Additionally, the team also deployed two CubeSats, which serve as low-cost alternatives to traditional satellites, further expanding scientific capabilities beyond the confines of the ISS.
