SpaceX capsule brings Crew-10 astronauts home after five months on ISS
After nearly five months on the International Space Station, the five astronauts from the United States, Japan and Russia began their return to Earth on Friday onboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule. At 2215 GMT, the spacecraft separated from the orbiting station. It is scheduled to splash down off the coast of California at 1533 GMT on Saturday, following a 17-hour descent.
The returning crew includes US astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, will conclude NASA’s 10th Commercial Crew rotation mission. The space mission was a program designed to maintain regular ISS staffing through partnerships with private space companies.
The capsule’s high-speed re-entry will be slowed first by atmospheric drag, then by large parachutes to ensure a safe landing. A SpaceX recovery vessel will retrieve the spacecraft from the Pacific Ocean before the astronauts disembark and breathe fresh air for the first time since their March launch.
During their stay, Crew-10 conducted a range of experiments, including research into plant growth and the effects of gravity on human cells. Their mission also followed the unexpected extended stay of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who had been stranded on the ISS for nine months after a propulsion failure rendered Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft unfit for return. Wilmore has since announced his retirement after 25 years with NASA.
The crew is departing after a new crew with US astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, arrived at the ISS for a six-month mission.
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French President Macron concludes Mumbai visit
Mumbai (PTI): French President Emmanuel Macron, along with First Lady Brigitte Macron, left Mumbai for New Delhi on Wednesday after concluding his engagements here, including bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
They were seen off at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.
On Tuesday, Macron held discussions with Modi as part of efforts to further strengthen India-France strategic ties.
During the Mumbai visit, the French president and his wife also met some of India's top filmmakers and actors, and had an animated exchange with them about cinema, culture and collaboration.
President Macron is on an official visit to India from February 17 to 19 at the invitation of PM Modi to participate in the AI Impact Summit hosted by India in the national capital Delhi, besides the bilateral summit in Mumbai.
PM Modi will inaugurate the summit on February 19. As many as 20 heads of states, including French President Macron, will be present at the inaugural session, Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan said.
