Nasa has announced significant changes to its upcoming SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The mission, now scheduled for September 24, 2024 launch, will see a reduced crew of two astronauts instead of the originally planned four.
Nasa astronaut Nick Hague will command the mission, joined by Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov as mission specialist. This adjustment comes as Nasa decided to return the Boeing Crew Flight Test uncrewed, leaving two seats on Crew-9 unoccupied.
The most notable change affects astronaut Sunita Williams, who launched to the ISS in June aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Instead of returning with Crew-9 as initially planned, Williams will now remain on the station until February 2025, when she will return to Earth with Hague and Gorbunov.
Nasa Chief Astronaut Joe Acaba made the difficult decision to modify the crew, balancing the need for an experienced commander with maintaining an integrated crew capable of operating critical Russian systems on the ISS. This change ensures continued safe operations of the station.
The decision to downsize the crew was not taken lightly, as Acaba acknowledged, "While we've changed crew before for a variety of reasons, downsizing crew for this flight was another tough decision to adjust to given that the crew has trained as a crew of four."
Previously announced crew members Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson will not fly on this mission but remain eligible for future assignments. Both astronauts expressed their support for their colleagues and commitment to the mission's success.
This mission will mark Hague's third launch and second trip to the ISS, bringing his total time in space to over 200 days. For Gorbunov, it will be his first spaceflight.
As the space agency adapts to these changes, the focus remains on maintaining the ISS's continuous human presence, now in its 24th year, and conducting vital scientific research and maintenance activities in Earth's orbit.
