This week marks a historic event as SpaceX launches NASA’s Crew-9 mission, but what was originally intended as a routine voyage to the International Space Station (ISS) has now transformed into a critical rescue mission. NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov are set to embark on this mission on Thursday, September 26. Initially, the crew also included Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson as mission experts, but a turn of events led to their removal from the voyage.
The decision to remove Wilson and Cardman from the mission was made to make way for NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who are currently stranded on the ISS without a means of transport back to Earth. The two astronauts have been in orbit for eight months and will now return home with Hague and Gorbunov when Crew-9 departs in February 2025. Williams and Wilmore were initially scheduled to spend just 10 days in space, but unforeseen circumstances have led to an extended stay aboard the ISS.
The need for a rescue mission arose after Boeing’s Starliner capsule encountered malfunctions during the Crew Flight Test (CFT) in June. Helium leaks in the spacecraft’s propulsion system, along with issues with five of its 28 reaction-control thrusters, led to concerns about the safety of the crew on board. NASA conducted extensive testing and evaluations to assess the risks associated with returning the astronauts onboard Starliner.
NASA officials expressed their concerns about the risks involved in bringing the crew back to Earth on a compromised spacecraft. Safety has always been a top priority for the space agency, with a commitment to ensuring the well-being of astronauts. This dedication to safety was underscored by the decision to return the spacecraft without its crew, leaving Wilmore and Williams stranded on the ISS until Crew-9 could retrieve them.
The challenges faced by NASA in this situation are not unprecedented. Similar scenarios have occurred in the past, such as when Frank Rubio was stranded on the ISS due to a coolant leak on his Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Rubio set a U.S. record for his extended stay in orbit until a replacement Soyuz could return him and his fellow cosmonauts safely back to Earth.
The upcoming Crew-9 mission holds significance beyond being a rescue operation. It will mark the first crewed launch from Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Additionally, Nick Hague will make history as the first active U.S. Space Force Guardian to launch since the establishment of the branch in 2019.
As preparations are underway for the Crew-9 mission, the focus remains on ensuring the successful return of Wilmore and Williams from the ISS. The collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, and Roscosmos is crucial in executing this rescue mission and bringing the stranded astronauts safely back to Earth. With meticulous planning and adherence to safety protocols, the crew of Crew-9 is determined to achieve a successful mission and pave the way for future space exploration endeavors.
