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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission will launch in late September 2024 to bring back astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS).
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The mission will be led by experienced NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who will travel with only two crew members instead of the originally planned four.
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The reduced crew size allows for the safe return of Williams and Wilmore, who will complete their extended mission on the ISS before traveling back to Earth in February 2025.
NASA has announced the final crew for the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which will launch in late September 2024. The mission aims to bring back astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June. Led by seasoned NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, the crew will travel with only two members instead of the originally planned four.
This change comes after NASA decided to return Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft to Earth uncrewed due to technical issues. Hague and Gorbunov will join the Expedition 72 crew on the ISS, conducting scientific research and maintenance activities. After completing their extended mission, Williams and Wilmore will travel back to Earth with Hague and Gorbunov in February 2025.
With Hague’s extensive experience and Gorbunov’s engineering expertise, NASA is confident in the success of this mission. The focus remains on the safe and successful return of Williams and Wilmore after nearly eight months in space.
