New Delhi: NASA and SpaceX have postponed their highly anticipated Crew-9 mission due to adverse weather conditions caused by Hurricane Helen in the Gulf of Mexico. Initially scheduled to launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the mission is now set to lift off on 28th September. The hurricane’s potential impact on Florida, including strong winds and heavy rainfall, has led to the delay.
The Crew-9 mission, which will see NASA scientist Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov sent to the International Space Station (ISS), is NASA and SpaceX’s ninth crew rotation mission. In a significant development, this mission will also bring back veteran astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been aboard the ISS for around four months. Originally, Williams and Wilmore were scheduled to return earlier via Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, but a series of technical issues delayed their return.
The mission will use SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, with Williams and Wilmore expected to carry out maintenance and research work on the ISS for the next five months. Their return to Earth is now slated for February 2025, extending their stay in space far beyond their original mission plan.
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore first arrived at the ISS on 5th June 2023, as part of a test flight on Boeing’s Starliner. However, due to a helium leak and thruster malfunctions in Starliner, their scheduled return on 13th June was postponed. Following multiple flight tests and data reviews, NASA determined that returning via Starliner posed unnecessary risks to the astronauts. Although Boeing maintains that Starliner is capable of safely returning astronauts, NASA has decided to bring Williams and Wilmore back through the Crew-9 mission.
On 7th September, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft successfully returned to Earth, landing in New Mexico’s White Sand Space Harbor without a crew. This cleared the way for NASA to prepare the astronauts’ return via SpaceX’s Dragon. During their extended stay, NASA entrusted Sunita Williams with the command of the ISS, making her the space station’s commander for the second time in her career, following her earlier leadership role in 2012.
NASA’s Chief Astronaut Joe Acaba reassured the public, stating that Williams and Wilmore are not stranded in space but are highly skilled astronauts equipped to handle such extended missions. During a media briefing, Acaba highlighted that both astronauts were well aware of the risks involved in a crew test flight, and their extensive experience in space missions made them more than capable of managing the situation.
Sunita Williams has spent a total of 322 days in space across various missions, while Butch Wilmore has logged 178 days in space. Their expertise and training ensure that despite the extended duration of their mission, they remain in control of the situation and ready to return safely when the time comes.
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