Crew-7 Group Led By Iranian-Born Reaches The Intl. Space Station

NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli gestures as she departs for the launch pad before their mission to the International Space Station as Crew-7 on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft at Cape Canaveral, Florida, August 26, 2023.
NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli gestures as she departs for the launch pad before their mission to the International Space Station as Crew-7 on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft at Cape Canaveral, Florida, August 26, 2023.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was launched to the ISS with a diverse crew of four astronauts, including Iranian-American Commander Yasmin Moghbeli.

The launch marks the initiation of the Crew-7 mission, anticipated to extend beyond six months.

The multinational crew, hailing from distinct space agencies across the globe, was seated aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance capsule.

The capsule gracefully soared atop the Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday.

Comprising the mission team are NASA's Jasmin Moghbeli, who assumes the role of mission commander; Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen, representing the European Space Agency; Satoshi Furukawa from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA); and Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov of Roscosmos.

Following a successful launch, Commander Jasmin Moghbeli communicated her admiration for the team's performance, addressing SpaceX mission control from within the Crew Dragon capsule. "Space travel is difficult, but you make it look easy," she conveyed, acknowledging the collaborative spirit of the crew. "We're a united team with a common mission," she continued. "Go Crew-7. Awesome ride."

Celebrating the diversity inherent in the Crew-7 team, Commander Moghbeli highlighted the symbolic significance of their diverse nationalities. "We are extremely proud — and I know I personally am humbled — to be a member of this incredible crew, where if you look at our four patches you’ll see a different nation’s flag on each one," she emphasized.

Other projects involve analyzing the variations in sleeping patterns in microgravity, investigating the formation of biofilms in wastewater for enhanced water recycling methods, and contributing to the ongoing understanding of living and working in the unique environment of space.