The crew-4 mission astronaut that leads to the International Space Station (ISS) must wait a little longer because NASA has pushed a mission with a few days. Previously scheduled for April 21, the mission will be launched no earlier than April 23, the agency informed in the mission update. “The date adjustment provides a time of the mission team to complete the final prelaianch processing for the Crew-4 mission after the launch of April 8 Mission Axiom 1 (AX-1) to the space station”, NASA statement read.
At present, the mission team continues to monitor operational schedules with ongoing space activities, including space and refund of the AX-1 crew. In addition, monitoring also includes maintaining treatment in weather forecasts for launch operations. If the mission is not launched on the new date, April 24 and April 25 has also been provided as a reserve opportunity.At present, the elevator is targeted on April 23 at 2:56 (IST) from the Kennedy Room Center in Florida. The CREW-4 team, which includes four astronauts, will ride the ‘Freedom’ Dragon Capsule on the Falcon 9 rocket provided by SpaceX.
Astronauts remain in quarantine
The KRU-4 team includes three astronauts – Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins and one European Space Agent (ESA) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. All members put in quarantine starting April 7 and should be isolated for two weeks before their flight. Quarantine before the mission is important because it ensures that astronauts remain in good health. This size is also taken to protect the astronauts that have risen iss.NASA said that it ensured additional protection since the start of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Each member will be tested twice for a virus as a precautionary measure along with those who make direct contact with the crew. The mission, Lindgren has been chosen as a mission commander while Watkins and Cristoforetti will function as a mission specialist. Hines, on the other hand, will function as a pilot mission.