Maine Astronaut Jessica Meir Just Launched Into Space For A ‘Long-duration Science Expedition’

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Maine astronaut Jessica Meir blasted into space at 5:15 this morning, from Cape Canaveral, along with a handful of other scientists and astronauts bound for the International Space Station.

According to NASA, Meir and her crew are heading to space for what will be quite a while. She’ll be serving as the spacecraft commander for the SpaceX Crew-12 mission on what they’re calling a ‘long-duration’ science expedition.

She’s joined by American astronaut Jack Hathaway, European astronaut Sophie Adenot and Andrey Fedyaev, from Russia’s cosmonaut core.

“The spacecraft will take about 34 hours to autonomously dock with the space station’s Harmony module at 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, while traveling 17,000 mph in Earth orbit. ”

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SpaceX says the scientists will be at the space station in support of ongoing research into human space exploration could benefit mankind.

“The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously flew the Crew-4, Ax-2, Ax-3, and Crew-9 missions to and from the space station. This was the second flight for the first stage supporting this mission, which previously launched a Starlink mission….

During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct new research to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit humanity on Earth. ”

Meir is not stranger to the International Space Station, as she recently took part in a landmark first ever all-female spacewalk as part of Expedition 61 and 62, as a flight engineer.

Originally born in Caribou, Meir is not only an astronaut, but a proud mom, as she and her husband welcomed their first child, a daughter, in March of 2023.