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The Return of Space Crew
Early this morning, a historic moment unfolded as the first female Belarusian in space, Marina Vasilevskaya, along with NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, returned to Earth. The Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying the trio landed near Karaganda, Kazakhstan at 3:17 a.m. EDT, bringing an end to their mission that began with their departure from the International Space Station (ISS) at 11:54 p.m. EDT the previous day.
Space Journey Details
Loral O’Hara, chosen by NASA in 2017, and Marina Vasilevskaya embarked on their maiden space voyages, while Oleg Novitskiy, a seasoned astronaut, had already completed three long-duration missions aboard the ISS. The trio lifted off from Kazakhstan on March 23, overcoming a rare Soyuz rocket abort just days before due to a battery issue.
Marina Vasilevskaya, a 33-year-old flight attendant, secured her seat through a rigorous selection process by the Belarus Academy of Sciences and Belarus Space Agency, beating out thousands of applicants. Her selection marked a significant moment for Belarus, as she became the first citizen of the Republic to venture into space.
Post-Landing Reactions
After the successful reentry, each crew member was greeted with gifts, including Matryoshka dolls bearing their likeness. Vasilevskaya, visibly emotional, expressed gratitude for the experience and encouraged people to appreciate the blessings on Earth. Despite the desire to prolong their stay on the ISS, the crew embraced the return to familiar ground.
Belarus’ collaboration with Russia in the ISS mission underscored the enduring ties between the two countries, particularly amidst geopolitical tensions. Vasilevskaya’s triumphant return symbolized a joint achievement for Belarus and Russia in the realm of space exploration.
Continuing Endeavors in Space
The Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft, which facilitated the return of Vasilevskaya, O’Hara, and Novitskiy, remains docked at the ISS. Future missions are already in the works, with plans for the spacecraft to return in the fall with additional crew members completing their year-long mission.
Meanwhile, the ISS is currently home to the SpaceX Crew-8 Dragon spacecraft, hosting astronauts from various nations for an ongoing expedition. The spirit of collaboration and shared exploration continues to thrive in the vast expanse of outer space.
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