SpaceX launched its Crew-12 mission on Friday, February 13th, sending four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, according to NPR News. The launch, which utilized a Falcon 9 rocket, included astronauts from NASA, the European Space Agency, and Russia, marking a significant step in ongoing international collaboration in space exploration.
The mission, originally scheduled after NASA's Artemis II moon mission, was moved up due to delays with the moon mission's rocket and then delayed again due to weather conditions, according to CBS News. The crew, comprised of NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, and European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, will replace a crew that returned early due to a medical issue, as reported by CBS News and NPR News.
The launch occurred amidst a reduced ISS crew and followed the first-ever medical evacuation from the orbiting lab, highlighting the complexities of international cooperation in space exploration, according to NPR News. The mission underscores ongoing global efforts in space, with implications for scientific research and international cooperation, as stated by NPR News.
While the Crew-12 mission was underway, other developments were also making headlines. Helion, a fusion energy startup, achieved a significant milestone by heating plasma in its Polaris reactor to 150 million degrees Celsius using deuterium-tritium fuel, according to TechCrunch. This advancement positions Helion as a frontrunner in the race to deliver fusion power, aiming for grid connection by 2028, fueled by substantial investment in the burgeoning fusion industry, as reported by TechCrunch.
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