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Richland astronaut 601st to reach space

By Annette Cary, Tri-City Herald
Published: November 14, 2021, 6:01am

KENNEWICK — NASA astronaut Kayla Barron of Richland is on the International Space Station.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped with the Crew Dragon Endurance blasted off Wednesday.

“Enjoy your holiday among the stars. We will be waving as you fly by,” was the message a few minutes later from the ground crew.

The launch had been delayed multiple times since it was originally scheduled early Halloween morning, first by weather, then by a minor medical issue in a crew member and then to bring four of the astronauts ending their mission back to Earth first.

But when the launch finally happened it appeared to go off flawlessly.

Barron and the three other astronauts of the SpaceX Crew-3 arrived at the International Space Station Thursday afternoon.

There the crew met the American and two Russian astronauts already aboard.

Barron, a graduate of Richland High, is a mission specialist on the flight.

The SpaceX Crew-3 also includes NASA mission commander Raja Chari, NASA pilot Tom Marshburn and mission specialist Matthias Maurer of Germany with the European Space Agency.

Although they left Earth and arrived at the space station together, each astronaut is given a number. Maurer was assigned 600, for the 600th person to reach space, and Barron was given 601.

They will spend six months at the space station doing research.

Barron said she was looking forward to seeing the view of Earth from space and going on a space walk.

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