Despite witnessing three failed space rocket launches in the past few months, American astronaut Kjell Lindgren is still determined to push through with his scheduled spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS) on July 22.
Lindgren, who graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and earned his degree in medicine from the University of Colorado, told reporters during an interview on Tuesday that he is looking forward to experiencing weightlessness and seeing the planet Earth from a distance.
When asked about his thoughts on the Russian-made Soyuz spacecraft that would take him to the space station, Lindgren said he is confident in the space rocket that they are set to fly on.
With Lindgren's journey to the ISS just a couple of weeks away, officials at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have yet to green light the space mission as they continue to work with their counterparts at the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) in identifying the cause of two previous failed spaceflights.
NASA officials said they need to be certain that any potential issues have been resolved before they could allow Lindgren to proceed with his spaceflight.
Last month, SpaceX's cargo rocket, the Falcon 9, blew up over the Atlantic moments after its launch. While it was initially reported to be caused by overpressure in the spacecraft's liquid oxygen tank, investigators now say the cause of the explosion has yet to be established.
In April, a Russian Progress spacecraft slated to deliver cargo to the ISS suddenly spun out of control before it could even reach orbit. The cargo ship eventually crashed back to Earth in pieces.
An Antares rocket made by the Orbital Science Corp. also experienced a mishap last year as the vehicle exploded and crashed after lift-off from NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility.
All three previous launches involved unmanned spacecraft and were only carrying supplies and equipment. The scheduled space mission later this month, however, will have to transport people to the International Space Station.
Lindgren will be accompanied on his spaceflight by fellow astronauts Kimiya Yui of Japan and Sergey Volkov of Russia. They will join the three-man crew already on board the ISS, including NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who is spending a whole year on the space station.
