The mission to rescue NASA astronaut Sunita Williams from the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed due to adverse weather conditions caused by Tropical Storm Helene. The SpaceX Crew-9 launch, originally set for September 26, is now rescheduled for September 28.
NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will lead the mission aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. The crew will embark on the ninth rotation mission to the ISS under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, where they will undertake research and maintenance tasks over a five-month stay.
Nick Hague: Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2013, Hague is a U.S. Air Force colonel and flight test engineer. He has previously served on Expedition 59 and survived an aborted Soyuz mission in 2018.
Aleksandr Gorbunov: A seasoned cosmonaut with over 20 years of experience, Gorbunov has accumulated more than 360 days in space across two major missions, contributing significantly to Russian space endeavors.
The rescheduled mission will launch from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Despite the delay, the crew remains prepared to continue vital operations on the ISS, ensuring the success of the mission and the safety of astronaut Sunita Williams.
