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SpaceX Launches Rescue Mission, But Falling Debris Raises Concerns
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew Dragon Endurance capsule launched on a mission to retrieve two NASA astronauts stranded on the International Space Station. The Crew-10 mission lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday evening after a two-day delay due to a hydraulics issue. The crew, comprised of NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain, Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, and JAXA astronaut Takuya Onish, are not docking at the ISS.
However, the launch was not without incident. Observers on social media expressed concern after noticing a piece of sheet metal falling away from the rocket during ascent. While some speculated that the debris might be a crucial component, others suggested it was likely a fairing panel, designed to detach and fall back to Earth with parachutes.
The two astronauts awaiting rescue, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, have been on the ISS for an unexpectedly long eight months. Their original eight-day mission, which began in June, was significantly extended due to technical problems with their Boeing Starliner capsule, including leaks and thruster malfunctions.
While contingency plans were discussed to potentially bring them back on a SpaceX Crew-9 mission, Boeing maintained confidence in the Starliner’s safety, citing recent thruster tests. The Crew-10 mission is now tasked with bringing Wilmore and Williams home, marking a crucial step in resolving this extended space stay.