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NASA astronaut Jessica Meir began her first space voyage today (25 September) to begin a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Meir left Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft at 09:57 EDT (13:57 GMT) alongside fellow astronauts, Hazza al-Mansouri, the first United Arab Emirates astronaut, and Oleg Skripochka, a Russian cosmonaut.
The spacecraft was successfully moored at the space station at 3:42 am EDT (1942 GMT) this afternoon. Meir is ready to start his mission with Expedition 61/62, where she will work on various scientific investigations and will carry out maintenance work on the ship alongside eight other astronauts at the station.
"I'm incredibly excited, it's something I've been dreaming about and thinking about all my life, almost since the age of 5, so, still a little surreal now." Imagine that it finally becomes a reality, "said Meir Space.com in the video above.
Related, connected, related: Soyuz spacecraft crewed from Russia explained (infographic)
Video: To be fired! Soyouz Rocket launches the new crew of the space station
NASA astronaut Jessica Meir greets the camera before heading to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz MS-15 space shuttle on September 25, 2019.
(Image credit: YouTube / NASA)
Launch of Soyuz MS-15 for the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, September 25, 2019.
(Image credit: Bill Ingalls / NASA)
Members of the Soyuz MS-15 crew, Oleg Skripochka, Hazzaa AlMansoori and Jessica Meir, leave the base of their Soyuz-FG rocket before boarding the vehicle at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday 25 September 2019. .
(Image credit: Bill Ingalls / NASA)
The arms of a mobile gantry close around the Soyuz rocket that will send three members of the Expedition 61 team to the International Space Station shortly after its erection on the platform of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. On Wednesday, September 25, this rocket will launch the Soyuz MS-15 space shuttle with NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and Hazza Ali Almansouri, the first United Arab Emirates astronaut.
(Image credit: Bill Ingalls / NASA)
United Arab Emirates astronauts Hazza Al Mansouri (left) and Oleg Skripochka (center) from Expedition 61 (center) and Jessica Meir from NASA pose for a crew portrait with their Soyuz spacecraft MS-15 before the launch of September 25, 2019.
(Image credit: NASA / Victor Zelentsov)
"As a scientist, I think what I'm most excited about is to better understand all the effects of microgravity in the space flight environment and to participate in both as a & # 39; "Operator and subject for a wide variety of investigations," she added. "I'm also really looking forward to going out into space, because that's really what I imagined I would do all my life."
Space Station astronauts perform a wide variety of experiments. "We were doing all kinds of science up until then, from physiology experiments to combustion experiments to protein crystal growth, really any kind of science – you name it," he said. Meir. She said the many experiments she will be working on will include an investigation into the effects of spaceflight on human arteries.
This research "will be crucial for our long-term missions in the future, when we return to the moon and when we go to Mars," said Meir.
NASA astronaut Christina Koch, who is aboard the space station, expressed her enthusiasm over the fact that the Soyuz crew went to the station, accompanied by a superb photo of the trip seen from the space. on Twitter. "What does it give @Space_Station when your best friend realizes her dream of going into space.You have captured the second stage in progress! We are looking forward to welcoming you on board, crew of Soyuz 61! " she said.
What does @Space_Station look like when your best friend realizes her dream of always going into space. Took the second step in progress! We are looking forward to welcoming you on board, Soyuz 61 crew! pic.twitter.com/Ws7tInY58PSeptember 25, 2019
When asked about NASA's Artemis program and what she would think of being the first woman on the moon, Meir answered definitively: "I'm not sure what's going on." would absolutely like to be the first woman on the moon, it would be my ideal mission, it's time to return to the moon, and I think we can do it in the near future and I'd like to be the only one to fill this mission, "she said.
Meir has a varied and accomplished history. Prior to this assignment, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology, a Master's degree in Space Studies and a PhD in Marine Biology. She has worked in human physiology research at the Lockheed Martin Human Research Center and has participated in reduced gravity research flights with NASA. Meir also bar headed geese studied, and worked as an aquanaut at NASA's NEEMO (Extreme Environment Mission Operations) analog mission.
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