Sat Sep 28 20:59:02 UTC 2024: ## SpaceX Launches Crew-9 Mission to ISS, Bringing Home Stranded Astronauts

**Cape Canaveral, Florida:** A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched on Saturday, carrying two astronauts on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) and bringing back two astronauts stranded there for months. NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were originally slated for a short mission on Boeing’s Starliner, found themselves stranded on the ISS after the spacecraft was deemed unsafe for return due to technical issues.

The Crew-9 mission, led by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, will deliver supplies and conduct over 200 scientific experiments. While Hague and Gorbunov will spend five months on the ISS, Wilmore and Williams will complete their eight-month mission, marking a much longer stay than originally planned.

This mission is a crucial step in the ongoing ISS crew rotation, as NASA works to ensure continuous operations on the space station. The SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying Crew-9 is scheduled to dock with the ISS on Sunday around 21:30 GMT (3:00am IST).

The launch of Crew-9 was initially delayed from mid-August to late September to allow for a thorough assessment of Boeing’s Starliner, which was deemed unreliable due to thruster and helium leak issues. Further delays were caused by Hurricane Helene, which struck Florida last week.

The return of Crew-8 is planned for another SpaceX mission, after a handover period with the new crew. This mission marks another successful step for SpaceX, which has been consistently delivering astronauts to the ISS and ensuring the continued operation of the space station.

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