A test aircraft for the US crew manned spacecraft "Crew Dragon" returned from the International Space Station (ISS) off the coast of Florida with two astronauts on the morning of 3rd Japan time (2nd afternoon eastern time). The two are safe. For the first time in nine years since the abolition of the space shuttle in 2011, the United States has resumed manned ship round trips and has ended its dependence on Russia. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) says that next month, four people including Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi (55) will board the first fully operational aircraft.
The test aircraft left the ISS at an altitude of about 400 km at 8:35 am on the 2nd. Gradually descend and enter the atmosphere. I opened the parachute and landed on the Gulf of Mexico off Pensacola, Florida, USA at 3:48 am on the 3rd. After the aircraft was lifted to the recovery vessel, US astronauts Robert Benken (50) and Douglas Hurley (53) safely disembarked. This is the first time a US manned ship has returned to and from a space station. It was the first time in 45 years that a manned ship in the United States returned after landing, after conducting a joint experiment with the former Soviet Union using the Apollo spacecraft in 1975.
After the abolition of the shuttle, the United States has put astronauts on the Russian spacecraft "Soyuz" in the form of paying a fare. Crew Dragon was developed by the space development company "Space X," which contracted with NASA, based on the unmanned supply tank "Dragon". NASA Secretary Jim Breidenstein blessed, "Welcome back. I want to celebrate the NASA and Space X teams who have done an incredible job. We worked together to do what was once impossible." ..
The test machine was launched on May 31, and arrived at the ISS on the same day. The two were engaged in physical experiments and extravehicular activities for 62 days.
After verifying this flight result, NASA and Space X will launch the first full-scale operation in late September. Following the return of the test aircraft, Mr. Noguchi, who will board the first aircraft, met with three Americans on board. “I'm very honored. I have experience in boarding shuttles and Soyuz, but Space X is a rookie (learner) who has learned a lot. It is a great activity to show diversity with colleagues who have different perspectives and experiences. It will be," he said.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced on July 28 that Akihiko Hoshide (51), following Noguchi, will fly with the second fully operational crew dragon around spring next year. Mr. Hoshide's third flight, serving as the second Japanese ISS captain.
