On Sunday, the NASA-SpaceX spacecraft, carrying Crew-9 members NASA astronaut Nick Hague (commander) and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov (mission specialist), embarked on its journey to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission has a key objective of returning Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams to Earth in February next year. The spacecraft safely reached orbit following its successful launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This mission marks a significant milestone as it is the first human spaceflight to launch from Space Launch Complex 40.
Five-Month Science Mission
NASA announced on X (formerly Twitter), "SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station (ISS). The new crew arrives at the orbiting lab Sunday, Sept. 29, for a five-month science mission." The spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the ISS at approximately 5:30 p.m. Sunday (3:30 a.m. Monday, IST), according to NASA.
The official welcome!
The Expedition 72 crew welcomed #Crew9, @NASAAstronauts Nick Hague, the Crew 9 commander and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, the crew 9 mission specialist, after their flight aboard the @SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. pic.twitter.com/pOa8sTQWDo— NASA's Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) September 29, 2024
Seats Reserved for Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore
The Crew-9 mission includes two vacant seats for NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who will be returning to Earth on the spacecraft next year. Initially, Crew-9 was set to launch on Thursday, but unfavorable weather caused by Hurricane Helene, which impacted Florida’s Gulf Coast, forced a postponement.
Williams and Wilmore had traveled to the ISS aboard Boeing's Starliner for an eight-day mission. However, after the Starliner was deemed unfit for human travel by NASA, the spacecraft returned safely to Earth, leaving the two astronauts stranded in space. The upcoming mission will bring them back after months of waiting in the orbiting lab.
This mission is notable as SpaceX launched astronauts to the ISS on its Dragon spacecraft for the first time since the May 2020 test flight. To accommodate Williams and Wilmore on their return, NASA made adjustments by pulling out two other Crew-9 members Commander Zena Cardman and three-time shuttle flier Stephanie Wilson from the mission.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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