NASA has made a significant change to its upcoming SpaceX Crew-9 mission, reducing the number of astronauts launching to the International Space Station (ISS) from four to two. This decision was made to accommodate the two astronauts currently on the ISS, Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, who arrived on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
The two astronauts will launch on the SpaceX Crew-9 mission no earlier than September 24th, aboard a four-seat SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. They will be joined on their return journey to Earth in February 2025 by Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are currently aboard the ISS.
The original Crew-9 mission was set to include Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, who have now been reassigned to a future mission. NASA Chief Astronaut Joe Acaba explained that while crew changes are not uncommon, downsizing for this specific flight presented a challenging adjustment, as the team had trained as a group of four.
This shift in mission composition is a direct consequence of the technical issues encountered by Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Williams and Wilmore launched on the Starliner on June 5th, with an intended return after eight days. However, technical difficulties during docking delayed their return, ultimately leading to the decision to scrap the Starliner return altogether.
The Starliner is now scheduled to undock from the ISS as early as September 6th, returning to Earth without a crew. This event highlights the complex nature of space exploration and the need for meticulous planning and adaptability in the face of unexpected challenges.
