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This week, a historic event is set to take place as SpaceX launches NASA’s Crew-9 crew voyage. However, what was originally planned as a routine mission has now turned into a dramatic rescue operation to the International Space Station (ISS).
The crew members scheduled for this mission include NASA astronaut Nick Hague, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, and mission experts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson. However, a last-minute change was made to the crew lineup, with Wilson and Cardman being replaced by NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.
The reason for this sudden change was due to the fact that Wilmore and Williams are currently stranded on the ISS with no means of transportation back to Earth. Following their eight-month stay in orbit, they are now counting on Crew-9 to bring them back home when the mission departs in February 2025.
The series of events leading up to this rescue mission began on June 5 when Boeing’s Starliner capsule malfunctioned during the Crew Flight Test (CFT), the first astronaut mission for the spacecraft. Helium leaks in the propulsion system and failed thrusters were discovered, prompting NASA to investigate the issues.
Extensive testing was carried out at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, in addition to thruster tests conducted by Wilmore and Williams while docked to the ISS. These tests were crucial in determining the safety of the spacecraft for the astronauts’ return trip.
NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate assistant administrator Ken Bowersox expressed concerns about ensuring a successful deorbit burn and the proper functioning of the propellant system. It was decided that the Starliner would return uncrewed, with Williams and Wilmore left on the ISS until Crew-9’s arrival.
The incident with Starliner was not the first setback for the spacecraft, as it had previously faced software glitches during its first uncrewed test flight in 2019. A second uncrewed orbital flight test in 2022 was successful, but the recent issues raised doubts about the spacecraft’s reliability for crewed missions.
Despite assurances from NASA officials that the crew would have been safe on a manned Starliner landing, the decision was made to prioritize safety and keep Williams and Wilmore on the ISS until a crewed mission could retrieve them.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of safety in the decision-making process, drawing parallels to past tragedies like the Challenger and Columbia disasters. The agency’s commitment to fostering a culture of open communication and prioritizing crew safety was evident in the handling of the situation.
The upcoming Crew-9 mission is not just about bringing back stranded astronauts; it also marks significant milestones in space exploration. It will be the first crewed launch from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, as well as the first launch for Nick Hague as an active U.S. Space Force Guardian.
In reflecting on past incidents, NASA recalled a similar situation with astronaut Frank Rubio, who was stranded on the ISS due to a coolant leak in his Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Rubio set a U.S. record for the longest time spent in orbit before finally returning to Earth.
As Crew-9 prepares for liftoff, the focus remains on ensuring a safe and successful mission to bring back the stranded astronauts and continue the legacy of human space exploration. This rescue operation serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks involved in space travel, while also highlighting the dedication and ingenuity of the teams involved in making it possible.
