Crew-9 Successfully Launched, Now En Route to ISS

Written by Copernical Team Sunday, 29 September 2024 02:39

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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 29, 2024

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched on time Saturday at 1:17 pm (1717 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov. The mission, Crew-9, is now in a nominal orbit and on course to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday at around 2130 GMT. This mission marks the first crewed launch from SpaceX's

Crew-9 Successfully Launched, Now En Route to ISS
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 29, 2024

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched on time Saturday at 1:17 pm (1717 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov. The mission, Crew-9, is now in a nominal orbit and on course to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday at around 2130 GMT.

This mission marks the first crewed launch from SpaceX's new launch pad, and it is notable for the empty seats aboard the Dragon spacecraft, intended for two American astronauts currently stranded on the ISS-Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

The pair had been on the ISS since June after a propulsion system issue with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft extended their stay. Initially scheduled for an eight-day mission, they have now spent eight months in orbit. NASA made the decision to return the Starliner to Earth without its crew after extensive tests on its reliability.

NASA associate administrator Jim Free commented, "We know that this launch is a bit unique in moving from the plan for crew members to two. I do want to thank SpaceX for their support and flexibility."

The Crew-9 mission was delayed from mid-August to late September as NASA evaluated the Starliner issues. It faced further postponement due to the impact of Hurricane Helene, which struck Florida's opposite coast.

Hague and Gorbunov will remain on the ISS for five months, conducting around 200 scientific experiments. Following their stay, they will return with Wilmore and Williams in February. The mission continues SpaceX's regular crew rotation for the ISS, which occurs every six months.