SpaceX launches rescue mission to return stranded astronauts

A SpaceX rocket soared into the sky Saturday with two passengers on board, leaving two seats empty to return American astronauts who’ve been stranded for months on the Worldwide Area Station, NASA stated.

The Falcon 9 rocket took off at 1:17 pm (1717 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It used a brand new launch pad, the pad’s first use for a crewed mission.

“Congrats to @NASA and @SpaceX on a profitable launch,” NASA chief Invoice Nelson stated in a submit on X. “We dwell in an thrilling interval of exploration and innovation within the stars.”

On board have been NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov.

After they return from the area station in February, they are going to carry again two area veterans—Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams—whose keep on the ISS was extended for months by issues with their Boeing-designed Starliner spacecraft.

The newly developed Starliner was making its first crewed flight when it delivered Wilmore and Williams to the ISS in June.

They have been presupposed to be there for less than an eight-day keep, however after issues with the Starliner’s propulsion system emerged in the course of the flight there, NASA was pressured to weigh a radical change in plans.

‘A bit distinctive’

After weeks of intensive exams on the Starliner’s reliability, the area company lastly determined to return it to Earth with out its crew, and to carry the 2 stranded astronauts again residence on the SpaceX mission Crew-9.

“We all know that this launch is a bit distinctive in shifting from the plan for crew members to 2,” NASA affiliate administrator Jim Free advised reporters.

“I do wish to thank SpaceX for his or her assist and suppleness.”

SpaceX, the non-public firm based by billionaire Elon Musk, has been flying common missions each six months to permit the rotation of ISS crews.

However the launch of Crew-9 was delayed from mid-August to late September to offer NASA consultants extra time to guage the reliability of the Starliner and determine how one can proceed.

It was then delayed just a few extra days by the damaging passage of Hurricane Helene, a strong storm that roared into the other coast of Florida on Thursday.

SpaceX’s Dragon vessel is about to dock with the ISS on Sunday round 2130 GMT.

After permitting a handover of duties, the 4 members of Crew-8 will return to Earth on one other SpaceX craft.

In complete, Hague and Gorbunov will spend some 5 months on the ISS; Wilmore and Williams, eight months.

In all, Crew-9 will conduct some 200 scientific experiments.

© 2024 AFP