SpaceX crew Dragon successfully rescues stranded NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Wilmore at ISS
The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, tasked with rescuing stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, has successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS).
This docking brings relief to Williams and Wilmore, two NASA astronauts who have been stuck in orbit since June due to safety concerns with their initial spacecraft, the Boeing Starliner.
Originally scheduled for a short week-long mission, the astronauts' stay on the ISS was prolonged after the Starliner experienced thruster failures and helium leaks shortly after launch. NASA deemed it too dangerous for the astronauts to return in the Starliner, which was sent back to Earth empty earlier this month.
The Crew Dragon, launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, carried NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov. The docking occurred around 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk confirmed the event on Twitter, stating, "Dragon has reached @Space_Station."
Upon the arrival of Hague and Gorbunov, Sunita Williams, now commander of the ISS, greeted them with excitement: "I just want to say welcome to our new compadres." Their arrival increases the ISS crew to nine members, after adjustments were made due to the extended stay of Williams and Wilmore.
To ensure Williams and Wilmore can return to Earth, NASA opted to use the SpaceX Crew Dragon, removing astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson from the Crew-9 mission. This adjustment allows four astronauts, who have been aboard the ISS since March, to prepare for their return to Earth in another SpaceX capsule next week, reducing the station’s crew back to the standard seven members.
Despite their extended mission, Williams and Wilmore, experienced NASA astronauts and retired Navy captains, have adapted well. They have continued with routine maintenance and scientific research on the ISS. Their return is expected in late February, making their mission over eight months long—far beyond the originally planned eight days.
Hague, who is leading the rescue effort, acknowledged the complexities of the mission, saying, "We've got a dynamic challenge ahead of us. We know each other and we're professionals, and we step up and do what's asked of us."
Dragon has reached @Space_Station https://t.co/p0kEkJklnK
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 29, 2024
Welcome, #Crew9! After floating through the Dragon’s hatch, our new arrivals join the crew aboard the @Space_Station. They’ll spend five months conducting @ISS_Research and maintenance on the orbiting lab. pic.twitter.com/DJX7f9vxlg
— NASA (@NASA) September 29, 2024
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
