Sat Sep 28 18:58:52 UTC 2024: ## NASA and SpaceX Set to Launch Crew-9 Mission Tonight, Bringing Home Astronauts Stranded on ISS
**Cape Canaveral, Florida (September 28, 2024):** NASA and SpaceX are poised to launch the Crew-9 mission tonight at 10:47 PM IST from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking a crucial step in bringing home veteran astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS).
The launch, initially scheduled for September 26, was delayed due to Hurricane Helene impacting the Florida coast. However, NASA’s Flight Readiness Review confirmed all systems are go for the launch, with the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft ready to embark on this critical mission.
This mission will see NASA astronaut Nick Hague commanding the crew, with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov serving as mission specialist. The duo will spend five months on the ISS, conducting over 200 scientific experiments and technology demonstrations.
Crew-9 holds historical significance as it marks the first crewed launch from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex-40. The mission also aims to bring home Williams and Wilmore, who have been stranded on the ISS since June due to technical issues with their initial transport vehicle, Boeing’s Starliner. After the Starliner capsule faced thruster issues and was returned uncrewed on September 7, Crew-9 became the lifeline for the stranded astronauts.
Following launch, the Crew-9 spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS around 5:30 PM EDT, concluding a vital mission to ensure a safe return for Williams and Wilmore after their extended stay aboard the ISS.
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