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International crew blast off to join space station Nicole Mann: Astronaut becomes first Native American woman in space
(about 1 hour later)
Watch: SpaceX crew blast off to join International Space StationWatch: SpaceX crew blast off to join International Space Station
Watch: SpaceX crew blast off to join International Space StationWatch: SpaceX crew blast off to join International Space Station
A new crew of astronauts has left Earth, bound for the International Space Station (ISS). A US astronaut has become the first Native American woman in space following a Nasa launch on Wednesday,
The quartet - Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada, Koichi Wakata, and Anna Kikina - departed Florida's Kennedy Space Centre at exactly midday, local time. Marine Colonel Nicole Mann, 45, is one of four astronauts who blasted off from Florida at midday bound for the International Space Station (ISS).
Their SpaceX Falcon rocket has put them on a path to catch the orbiting outpost in about 29 hours' time. The SpaceX Falcon rocket put them on a path to catch the orbiting outpost in about 29 hours' time.
Nicole Mann is making a piece of history by becoming the first Native American woman to go to space. Col Mann told the BBC that she hoped the mission would inspire future generations of Native Americans.
Cosmonaut Kikina's participation continues the ride share agreement between Russia and the US. "[I hope it] will inspire young Native American children to follow their dreams and realise that some of those barriers that are there or used to be there are being broken down," she said.
The two countries have promised to keep carrying each other's spacefarers to orbit even though they are at odds over matters in Ukraine. "Anytime we are able to do something that is a first, or wasn't done in the past, it's so important," she added. "They have these opportunities."
A registered member of the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, Col Mann has extensive experience flying a variety of aircraft for the US Marine Corps. She has been awarded six medals for her service and has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tribes have long reported societal discrimination resulting in economic hardship and underfunding of their schools. In 2017, only 27% of Native Americans attained an associate degree or higher compared to 54% of white students, according to the US National Centre for Education Statistics.
L-R: Anna Kikina, Josh Cassada, Nicole Mann, and Koichi WakataL-R: Anna Kikina, Josh Cassada, Nicole Mann, and Koichi Wakata
"Crew 5", as Wednesday's launch quartet are known in Nasa/SpaceX nomenclature, will temporarily boost the number of people living above the planet to 14. Col Mann has had to wait to make her debut in space, having completed her astronaut training in 2015.
This total is made up of the 11 who will shortly be occupying the ISS (Crew 5 will join seven individuals already aboard) and the three Chinese "taikonauts" currently inhabiting the Asian nation's Tiangong space station. She'd previously been assigned to a mission in Boeing's Starliner capsule, but the vehicle is so late getting into service that Nasa decided to pull her across to "Crew 5", as the quartet is known in Nasa/SpaceX parlance.
Crew 5 is a mixture of first-timers and one hugely experienced flier. Once aboard the ISS, Col Mann said that the team has about 250 scientific investigations that are planned. These include helping 3D print human cells to growing tomatoes and potentially conducting space walks.
In the distance: The Endurance capsule moves off to meet up with the space station Despite only being allowed to bring a limited amount of personal items - such as her wedding ring and photographs - Col Mann told the BBC that that she planned on bringinh a reminder of her family's Native American roots.
Mann, Cassada and Kikina have never been to space before. But Japan's Koichi Wakata has been to orbit four times already. "I also have a special dreamcatcher that my mother gave me which will be another little piece of my family to carry with me," she said, referring to a traditional Native American decoration.
Having previously gone up in three space shuttles and a Russian Soyuz capsule, he now joins a select group of spacefarers who've occupied seats on three different crew vehicles. Crew 5 will temporarily boost the number of people living on the ISS to 14.
The latest one - SpaceX's Endurance capsule - is commanded by Nicole Mann. The remaining members of the crew include another American, John Cassada, as well as Japan's Koichi Wakta and Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina.
The participation of Ms Kikina - the only woman currently in the Russian space agency's cosmonaut corps - continues the existing ride share agreement between Russia and the US.
The two countries have promised to keep carrying each other's spacefarers to orbit, despite tensions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Nicole Mann has accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours in 25 types of aircraftNicole Mann has accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours in 25 types of aircraft
She's had to wait an overly long time to make her debut, having completed her astronaut training back in 2015. While Col Man, Mr Cassada and Ms Kikina have never been to space before, Japan's Mr Wakata is a hugely experienced flyer, having been to orbit four times already.
She had been assigned to a mission in Boeing's Starliner capsule, but this vehicle is so late getting into service that Nasa decided to pull her across to Crew 5 to give her the overdue in-flight experience. Having previously gone up in three space shuttles and a Russian Soyuz capsule, he now joins a select group of spacefarers who've occupied seats on three different crew vehicles.
Mann has the distinction of being the first Native American woman from Nasa to go to space. She is registered with the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes. The foursome are set to spend six months on the ISS.
Mann is a colonel in the Marine Corps of the US military, and has experience flying various fighter aircraft. She has been awarded six medals for her service to the US military - including two deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
She spoke to the BBC during her training last month and said: "I really hope this mission will inspire young Native American children to follow their dreams and realise that some of those barriers that are there or used to be there are being broken down."
Tribes have long reported societal discrimination resulting in economic hardship and underfunding of their schools. In 2017, only 27% of Native Americans attained an associate degree or higher, compared to 54% of white students, according to the US National Centre for Education Statistics.
First Native American woman to travel to space
The space station flies around the Earth at an altitude of just over 400km
Josh Cassada is designated as Crew 5's pilot. As with Mann, he too had to be transferred across from a delayed Boeing Starliner mission.
Anna Kikina is currently the only woman in the Russian space agency's cosmonaut corps. Her launch makes her the fifth professional female Russian cosmonaut to go to orbit.
Wednesday's foursome are set to spend six months on the ISS.
Their first week will be spent getting a hand-over from Crew 4, who will then depart for Earth on 12 October.Their first week will be spent getting a hand-over from Crew 4, who will then depart for Earth on 12 October.
The returning astronauts include Samantha Cristoforetti, Europe's first female commander of the International Space Station.The returning astronauts include Samantha Cristoforetti, Europe's first female commander of the International Space Station.
Samantha Cristoforetti has become Europe's first female commander of the space station during her time in orbit