Crew-9 mission to return Sunita Williams from space launched

This flight features only two crew members instead of the usual four, as the remaining seats are reserved for Williams and Wilmore's return journey.

In Short

• Williams and Wilmore's extended stay aboard the ISS was necessitated by technical issues
• Starliner capsule experienced multiple helium leaks and thruster failures
• Nasa deemed it too risky to return the astronauts on the Starliner

Nasa launched its Crew-9 mission today, September 28, 2024, at 10:46 pm IST from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

This mission aims to rescue astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June 6, 2024, due to complications with their original spacecraft, Boeing's Starliner.

WATCH SPACEX LAUNCHES CREW-9 MISSION TO RESCUE SUNITA WILLIAMS

The Crew-9 mission will transport Nasa astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov to the ISS.

Uniquely, this flight features only two crew members instead of the usual four, as the remaining seats are reserved for Williams and Wilmore's return journey. The Crew Dragon spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS on September 29.

Williams and Wilmore's extended stay aboard the ISS was necessitated by technical issues with their Starliner capsule, which experienced multiple helium leaks and thruster failures during its docking process.

After careful evaluation, Nasa deemed it too risky to return the astronauts on the Starliner and opted for an uncrewed return of that spacecraft on September 6.

Nasa's Commercial Crew Program has been pivotal in facilitating crew rotations to the ISS. The Crew-9 mission marks the ninth operational flight for SpaceX under this program since its inception in 2020.

Following their return to Earth, Williams and Wilmore are expected to reunite with Hague and Gorbunov for a five-month science mission aboard the ISS.

In case of an emergency before Crew-9's arrival, there is a contingency plan in place allowing Williams and Wilmore to utilize the Crew-8 Dragon capsule currently docked at the ISS for a swift evacuation.

Ken Bowersox, Nasa's Associate Administrator for Space Operations, acknowledged the challenges faced by the astronauts during this extended mission but expressed confidence in their ability to adapt and thrive in space.