The SpaceX capsule arrives at the International Space Station and brings a Russian cosmonaut on board

The SpaceX capsule has arrived safely at the Earth-orbiting International Space Station. The Crew Dragon capsule of the American space company brought two American astronauts aboard the station, as well as a Japanese and a “cosmonaut”, as the cosmonauts of Russia are called.

This is the first time in 20 years that a Russian has flown in a capsule from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Earlier this year, cooperation between Russian and American space agencies appeared to be ending, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Western support for the latter country. But in the summer, NASA and Roscosmos agreed that they could continue to send astronauts on their respective flights. They also agreed that at least one Russian and one American should be on the plane.

The capsule’s arrival can be monitored live at NASA. This is what it looks like:

As part of this renewed collaboration, US astronaut Frank Rubio arrived at the International Space Station two weeks ago. He flew in a Russian Soyuz capsule that took off from Kazakhstan.

The four new residents of the International Space Station will conduct scientific research on the space station over the next five months. They include the Russian cosmonaut, Anna Kikina, but also Nicole Mann, the first Native American astronaut to go into space.

He is now occupied on the International Space Station, and there are now eleven occupants on the station. Four more will be leaving next week, again with a SpaceX capsule, after a six-month stay.