Four Astronauts Headed to International Space Station Overseeing Arrival of New Rockets in Six-Month Mission, US

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Four astronauts embarked on a six-month journey to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard SpaceX’s Falcon rocket from Kennedy Space Center. The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, alongside Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, will oversee the arrival of two new rockets during their mission. The astronauts are set to replace the current crew on the ISS, comprising members from the US, Denmark, Japan, and Russia. An initial delay due to strong winds was followed by a minor issue with the capsule seal on Sunday night, which was swiftly resolved, ensuring a safe mission. The crew’s tasks include welcoming NASA’s Starliner capsule and Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser, expected to arrive in the upcoming months. Epps, the second black woman assigned to a long station mission, expressed pride in inspiring black girls to pursue spaceflight as a career option. The crew also includes Dominick, a Navy pilot, Grebenkin, a former Russian military officer, and Barratt, a seasoned astronaut set to be the oldest crew member at 65. Despite a minor cabin leak on the Russian side of the ISS, the crew remains focused on their mission.