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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T20 WC star Samson named ICC Men's Player of the Month for March
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Dubai (PTI): India opener Sanju Samson was on Tuesday named ICC Men's Player of the Month for March, capping a stellar run that saw him play a defining role in the team's triumphant T20 World Cup campaign.
Samson did not get to play in the early part of the tournament but was the standout performer in the big games towards the end and helped India retain the title.
His latest honour also extends a unique streak, with players from different countries winning the award over the past five months including South Africa's Simon Harmer, Australia's Mitchell Starc, New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell and Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan.
"Winning the ICC Player of the Month award is an incredible feeling, especially as it comes during what has been the most unforgettable phase of my cricketing journey. Playing a part in India's triumph at the Men's T20 World Cup was truly a dream realised, and it took some time for the magnitude of that moment to fully sink in," Samson said.
"This is an exciting era for Indian cricket, with immense talent across the board. I feel grateful for the opportunities I've received, and for the trust and support from my team-mates and coaching staff that have allowed me to perform at my best."
Not a regular part of the playing XI in the initial stages of the tournament, Samson was eventually called up for India's must-win Super 8 fixtures. After starting off with 24 against Zimbabwe, he picked form and didn't look back.
The opener missed out on a century against the West Indies by just three runs, but his attacking 97 not out set up India's spot in the semifinal.
A blistering 89 against England at the Wankhede helped India to 253 for 7, and the target proved elusive for the English who missed out by seven runs on March 5.
An equally amazing 89 was churned out during India's successful title defence in Ahmedabad, securing a 96-run win.
In the three crucial T20Is he was a part of in March, Samson notched up 275 runs at an astonishing average of 137.50 and a stunning strike rate of 199.27.
This is the first time that Samson has secured an ICC Men's Player of the Month honour.
New Zealand captain Melie Kerr won the women's honour for the third time, after an outstanding series against Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Taking over the white-ball teams from Sophie Devine, Kerr's captaincy seemed to have brought out the best in her with both the ball and the bat. In the Zimbabwe ODI series, she managed to snap 16 wickets in just three matches, including her career-best figures of 7/34.
Additionally, she also contributed with the bat, being the third highest run-scorer in the ODIs, scoring 140 runs across three games with an average of 46.67 in the counting month.
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