SpaceX‘s Crew-9 mission efficiently reached the Worldwide Area Station (ISS) on September 29, 2024. The NASA astronaut Colonel Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov boarded the Crew Dragon capsule, named Freedom. After launching from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Area Drive Station on September twenty eighth, the crew accomplished a one-day orbital journey earlier than docking at 5:30 PM EDT (3:00 AM IST). Hague is the primary energetic U.S. Area Drive member to succeed in area, additional highlighting the importance of this mission.
First Human Spaceflight from Area Launch Complicated-40
Crew-9’s launch marked a historic second because it was the primary human spaceflight to carry off from Area Launch Complicated-40 (SLC-40). Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov’s arrival brings the overall variety of astronauts aboard the ISS to eleven. Nonetheless, this mission can also be distinctive as a consequence of NASA’s choice to scale back Crew-9’s unique four-person roster. As a substitute, the mission was modified to hold solely two astronauts to make room for 2 astronauts already aboard the ISS who require a return journey to Earth.
Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who arrived on the ISS in June on the primary crewed Boeing Starliner flight, had been initially scheduled to remain for simply ten days. Nonetheless, technical points with Starliner’s thrusters prolonged their keep on the station.
Getting ready for Crew-8’s Departure
Crew-9’s arrival additionally marks the upcoming departure of the Crew-8 astronauts, together with NASA’s Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, Jeanette Epps, and cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin. The 4, who arrived on the station in March, are scheduled to return to Earth quickly after Crew-9’s docking course of is accomplished. If every thing proceeds as deliberate, Crew-9 will stay on the ISS till February 2025, additional supporting ongoing area analysis and operations aboard the station.
