NASA and SpaceX Launch Successful Crew-9 Mission to Rescue Astronauts from ISS

A Team-9 mission was successfully launched early this Saturday afternoon atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. As expected, the launch took place at NASA’s Space Launch Complex-40, in Cape Canaveral, Florida (USA), at 2:17 pm (Brazilian time).

One of the promises is bringing home NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been on the International Space Station 100 days longer than expected. The two traveled in June aboard the Star for what was supposed to be a week-long test flight.

However, there are problems with the Boeing spacecraft (which returned without a team) change the schedule. Now, the duo’s return should only happen in February 2025.

How the Crew-9 mission was launched

• After the smooth launch of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft (nicknamed “Freedom”), the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket separated from the second after about 2 and a half minutes;
• Then the second stage fired its own engine to propel the Crew Dragon capsule to more than 27 thousand kilometers per hour (22 times faster than sound);
• The first stage of the rocket guided itself back to land on a pad in Florida so that SpaceX could reuse the vehicle for other missions.
• Once the Crew Dragon capsule reached orbital speeds, the spacecraft separated from the Falcon 9’s second stage and began moving in orbit on its own, using onboard thrusters to adjust its position until it attached to the International Space Station;
• It is expected to arrive at the ISS on Sunday (29) at 6:30 pm (Brasilia time), after a 28-hour journey.

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The Crew-9 mission

The Crew-9 mission was originally designed to bring four crew members to the Crew Dragon capsule ISSbut it was changed to save the Starliner astronauts. So, he only brought NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov on board.

Williams and Wilmore will occupy the seats of American astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, who would also participate in the mission, in five months when they return from the mission.

Until then, Hague and Gorbunov will conduct research in orbit and spaceways. Crew-9 astronauts will replace the crew from Team-8who has been on the ISS since March.

The mission was scheduled to take off on August 18, but was canceled due to strong tropical storm Helene.