SpaceX Launches Crew-9 to Rescue Stranded Astronauts

On September 29, SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 1:17 p.m. EDT, carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov to the International Space Station (ISS), Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

The Crew-9 mission aims to retrieve two American astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded on the ISS for months due to issues with their Boeing-designed Starliner spacecraft.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson congratulated the teams on the launch, emphasizing the exciting era of space exploration. Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, Wilmore and Williams had their return delayed due to propulsion problems. After extensive evaluations, the launch was postponed from mid-August to late September, further impacted by Hurricane Helene.

The SpaceX Dragon vessel is set to dock with the ISS on September 30, 2024, at approximately 9:30 p.m. GMT, facilitating a handover before the astronauts’ return. Crew-9 will also conduct 200 scientific experiments during their five-month stay.