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SpaceX Launches Crew-9 Mission to Rescue NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore Stuck at ISS

Sep 28, 2024, 05:39 PM

SpaceX has launched the Crew-9 mission to rescue two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who are currently stuck at the International Space Station (ISS) and are expected to remain there until next year. The mission, which commenced on September 28, 2024, involves sending a downsized crew to the ISS, with two seats left empty to bring back the stranded astronauts. The SpaceX Dragon vehicle, launched from Florida on a Falcon 9 rocket, is expected to return the astronauts to Earth in February 2025. The mission is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program and marks the 15th crewed orbital flight of a Crew Dragon. The astronauts have been at the ISS since June 2024, and the rescue mission aims to ensure their safe return. The Crew-9 mission is commanded by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.