In a mission aptly dubbed a ‘rescue,’ NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov are set to embark on a journey to the International Space Station (ISS) next week. Their arrival will mark a significant event, as they will be replacing current crew members, including Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stationed on the ISS for an extended period. The duo’s return to Earth is scheduled for February 2025, ending their long-awaited journey home.
Hague and Gorbunov will blast off from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. Once they reach the ISS, they will become members of the Expedition 72 crew. This mission represents the ninth crew rotation to the ISS facilitated by SpaceX under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
This mission highlights the ongoing partnership between NASA and SpaceX, who have successfully launched nine crewed missions into space for NASA, as well as several commercial missions. Hague, serving as commander for Crew-9, and Gorbunov, as mission specialist, will embark on a reduced two-crew member flight. Their mission will span approximately six months, during which they will join Wilmore and Williams, along with three other astronauts, in conducting vital scientific research aboard the orbiting laboratory.
As the Dragon spacecraft ascends to the ISS, it will achieve a remarkable speed of approximately 17,500 mph. Upon reaching the station, Hague and Gorbunov will be warmly greeted by the Expedition 71 crew. The arrival of Crew-9 will mark the beginning of a handover period, allowing the incoming astronauts to familiarize themselves with the station’s operations and procedures.
During their time on the ISS, Crew-9 will witness the arrival of two Dragon spacecraft, including NASA’s SpaceX’s 31st commercial resupply services mission and NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10, as well as two Roscosmos-led cargo deliveries on Progress 90 and 91. This will ensure a constant flow of essential supplies and equipment to the space station, enabling continued research and exploration.
The ‘rescue’ mission marks a crucial step in maintaining a continuous presence of astronauts on the ISS, ensuring the continuation of groundbreaking research and scientific discoveries. Hague and Gorbunov’s journey to the ISS is a testament to the ongoing collaboration between NASA and SpaceX, pushing the boundaries of space exploration and advancing our understanding of the universe.
