These 2 NASA astronauts will fly on SpaceX’s Crew-4 mission to the Worldwide House Station in 2022
Kjell Lindgren — a possible moonbound astronaut for the Artemis program who spoke with “The Martian” stars from orbit in 2015 — will return to area for his second mission. Becoming a member of him will likely be Bob Hines, a analysis take a look at pilot (very like the famed moonwalker Neil Armstrong) who simply graduated to full astronaut standing final yr after his choice in 2017.
Associated: SpaceX, NASA goal April 20 for subsequent Crew Dragon launch to ISS
Each astronauts usually put up their coaching on social media, so you may watch as they prepare for the massive flight. The astronauts have already talked about their assignments on Twitter. “So Blessed to get to be part of this crew,” Hines tweeted. Lindgren stated he was excited to affix Hines in area and to share the journey to launch, including, “Let’s go fly!” You’ll be able to observe Lindgren on Twitter and Instagram, or Hines on Twitter and Instagram.
Extra crewmembers will be part of Hines and Lindgren on Crew Dragon — which holds 4 folks at most — after project from worldwide companies, NASA stated in a press release. (The most certainly companies to affix them could be from main area station companions Russia, Europe or Japan, as minority companion Canada’s subsequent astronaut project is predicted in 2023.)
Lindgren, the primary Taiwanese-born astronaut in area, spent 141 days in area throughout Expeditions 44 and 45, performing dozens of experiments together with public engagement alternatives comparable to celebrating Thanksgiving in orbit and being one of many first folks to eat crops grown in area. Lindgren’s mission additionally coincided with the one-year mission by NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, which continues to generate useful analysis about how lengthy stays in area have an effect on the human physique.
Lindgren, who was a flight surgeon for area shuttle and area station missions earlier than he was chosen for astronaut coaching in 2009, has a bachelor’s diploma in biology from the U.S. Air Power Academy, a grasp’s diploma in cardiovascular physiology from Colorado State College, and a medical diploma from the College of Colorado, NASA stated.
Hines is a lieutenant colonel within the U.S. Air Power and is a graduate of the distinguished Air Power Take a look at Pilot college, based on his NASA biography. Earlier than NASA swooped him into astronaut college in 2017, he supported navy deployments in a number of nations, served as a take a look at pilot within the Federal Aviation Administration, and flew as a NASA analysis pilot. His bachelor’s diploma is in aerospace engineering from the College of Alabama.
Hines posts ceaselessly about flight on Twitter, and was one of many astronauts mourning the lack of Chuck Yeager — the pilot who broke the pace of sound — in December, at age 97. “An American legend, a conflict hero, and nice story-teller. He is … why I joined the Air Power,” Hines tweeted. “I had the respect to fulfill & discuss with him a number of occasions. I will always remember his tales concerning the Air Corps’ ‘flesh peddlers!’ We are going to by no means see one other like him. Godspeed Basic Yeager!”
SpaceX is the primary firm to ship a industrial crew car into area, and put its first two crewed flights into orbit in 2020. Boeing, one other firm tasked with taxiing astronauts to orbit, is dealing with continued delays with its Starliner CST-100 spacecraft — however hopes to do a second uncrewed take a look at flight no sooner than April.
Comply with Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Comply with us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Fb.