NASA and SpaceX are gearing up for the imminent launch of the Crew-9 astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, September 25. Interestingly, this time, SpaceX’s 13th manned voyage to the ISS, commencing in 2020, will feature two vacant seats on the Crew Dragon spacecraft, and there’s a fascinating reason behind it.
In recent times, media outlets have been abuzz with stories of NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, being “marooned” on the ISS after their Boeing-manufactured Starliner spacecraft encountered difficulties on its maiden manned orbit in June. Despite the challenges, the capsule successfully reached the ISS, delivering the duo to the space station.
Following numerous attempts to rectify the issues with the Starliner, NASA opted for a safer approach, returning the problematic space vehicle to earth without any passengers, a mission that was successfully executed last weekend.
The choice to return the Starliner without Williams and Wilmore transformed their short 10-day mission into an extended eight-month stay on the orbital station. Their journey back to Earth will now be aboard the Crew Dragon, set to arrive the following week.
Crew-9 was initially assigned four astronauts, but two of them, Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, were informed they would have to forfeit their seats. Taking their places inside the capsule will be NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos astronaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
At the conclusion of their half-year mission, Hague and Gorbunov will return to Earth with Williams and Wilmore on board the Crew Dragon, marking the end of one of the most unique and unforeseen missions in the history of the ISS.
For those with a keen interest or looking to invest in space exploration, this development underscores the dynamic nature of space missions and the need for contingency plans. However, it’s essential to remember that the primary focus of these missions is advancing scientific knowledge and exploration.
