NASA astronaut Tweets out incredible image from International Space Station.
Christina Koch posted the photo to Twitter on Wednesday, the same day the rocket launched from a base in Kazakhstan and arrived at the space station six hours later.
She wrote: “When your best friend achieves her lifelong dream to go to space. Caught the second stage in progress! We can’t wait to welcome you onboard, crew of Soyuz 61!”
The rocket was carrying Meir, as well as a Russian astronaut and the first-ever space traveler from the United Arab Emirates, according to a NASA press release. She’ll spend six months at the station, along with Koch and an international team of four other astronauts, conducting some 250 science investigations in areas including biology, earth science and human research.
What it looks like from @Space_Station when your best friend achieves her lifelong dream to go to space. Caught the second stage in progress! We can’t wait to welcome you onboard, crew of Soyuz 61! pic.twitter.com/Ws7tInY58P
— Christina H Koch (@Astro_Christina) September 25, 2019
Meir will also be helping Koch make history. Koch is slated to spend a total of 328 days on ISS, which would be a record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman.