NASA could bring in Thomas Baskett and three astronauts this weekend

NASA announced on Thursday, November 4 that French astronaut Thomas Baskett and three astronauts could leave the International Space Station on Sunday, but the schedule remains very uncertain, especially due to the weather.

Four astronauts on a mission called Crew-2 are set to return to Earth this month after spending about six months on the ISS. They usually have four astronauts, three Americans and a German from Crew 3 waiting to arrive at the station.

Most Their rocket launch, which was postponed several times, was rescheduled this weekend and canceled again. Due to bad weather, “NASA said in a statement.

The “first possible opportunity” to bring the Crew-2 capsule back to Earth, including the French, is Sunday at 1:05 pm Florida time (6:05 pm GMT, 7:05 pm in France). NASA has said that the possibility of a withdrawal on Monday is possible without providing a specific schedule.

Once separated from the ISS, the capsule will travel several hours, varying greatly in duration, and then landing in Florida. With regard to the departure of Crew-3, it is likely to launch at 9:51 pm local time on Monday (02:51 GMT Tuesday), but only if NASA does not return Crew-2 on Sunday or Monday.

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Crew-3 is scheduled to take off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, where the astronauts have been isolated for several days. “Based on the likelihood of favorable conditions, the teams will make the final decision on whether to prioritize Crow-3 launch in the coming days or prioritize Crew-2 return,” NASA explained.

Both of these missions are being carried out by NASA in conjunction with SpaceX, which now provides regular missions from US soil to the ISS. “These are complex decisions that change from day to day,” said Steve Stitch, in charge of NASA’s business program. “The weather in November will be particularly harsh.”

During an exchange with President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday morning, Thomas Baskett spoke of the uncertainty surrounding his return. “The last days were a little special,” he said. “We still have work to do, but our full to-do list, we’re done with it, and we’re ready to come back.” Somehow it’s almost a blessing, “he added. , Before returning to Earth it was like a plane. “