NASA Astronaut Nick Hague Named First Space Force Guardian to Launch to International Space Station
In a groundbreaking announcement, NASA astronaut Nick Hague has been selected as the first Space Force Guardian to launch to the International Space Station (ISS). Hague, who has previously flown twice to space with the U.S. Air Force and NASA, will embark on the SpaceX Crew-9 mission in August.
The collaboration between NASA and the Department of Defense dates back to the early days of the space program. In fact, the first U.S. astronauts in 1959 were recruited from the military for the Mercury program. Even today, approximately two-thirds of NASA astronauts have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, highlighting the strong ties between the two organizations.
Established in 2019 as the sixth U.S. military branch, Space Force has been actively involved in shaping the future of space exploration. Following his previous journey to the ISS, Hague took on a leadership role at the Pentagon with Space Force in 2019 as its director of test and evaluation. In 2021, he made the transition from the Air Force to Space Force while still serving in this capacity.
Hague’s spacefaring experience is not limited to his upcoming mission. Although his first attempt to reach the ISS was cut short due to a deformed sensor on his Russian Soyuz rocket, Hague remained undeterred. “This is not the first in-flight emergency that I’ve been a part of,” he stated confidently. Drawing upon his time as a test pilot and combat experience in the U.S. Air Force, Hague demonstrated resilience and determination.
The root cause of the rocket failure was promptly addressed by Russian engineers, leading to a successful launch five months later. Accompanied by NASA astronaut Christina Koch, Hague finally reached the orbiting lab on March 15, 2019. With a total of 203 days already spent in space, Hague is well-versed in the challenges and wonders of life beyond Earth.
Joining Hague on the Crew-9 mission are cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov from Roscosmos, as well as two other NASA astronauts: Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson. While Cardman and Gorbunov will be embarking on their first spaceflight, Wilson brings a wealth of experience, having spent 42 days in space across three orbital missions, including the space shuttle Discovery mission STS-131 in April 2010.
Crew-9 marks the ninth operational mission for SpaceX under NASA’s commercial crew program. The team is expected to spend approximately six months in space, conducting vital research and contributing to the ongoing exploration of the ISS. As the next ISS flight with SpaceX, Crew-8, is slated for launch on February 22, the momentum of space exploration continues to build.
Nick Hague’s selection as the first Space Force Guardian to journey to the International Space Station is a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. With his extensive background in the U.S. Air Force and previous space missions, Hague is well-equipped to contribute to the success of Crew-9. As we eagerly await their launch in August, we can only imagine the discoveries and achievements that lie ahead for this remarkable team.
