Space Capsule Set To Bring Home Stranded Astronauts Arrives at Space Station

The SpaceX Crew Dragon space capsule arrived at the International Space Station this week, and the capsule is set to bring home two stranded astronauts next year.

At a Glance

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission launched on September 28, 2024, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The Crew Dragon capsule, named Freedom, docked with the ISS at 5:30 p.m. EDT on September 29.
Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov will spend five months aboard the ISS as part of Expedition 72.
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will return to Earth in February 2025 due to Starliner thruster issues.

Mission Launch and Objectives

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission was successfully launched on September 28, 2024, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the Dragon spacecraft carried this mission’s crew to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch occurred precisely at 1:17 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40. This marked the ninth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the ISS.

The spacecraft, named Freedom, docked autonomously to the ISS’s Harmony module at 5:30 p.m. EDT (2130 GMT) on September 29, 2024. Hatches between the spacecraft were expected to open around 7:15 p.m. EDT (2315 GMT), followed by welcoming remarks from ISS astronauts. NASA provided live coverage of the rendezvous, docking, and hatch opening, underscoring the mission’s significance.

Crew Dragon carried NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, both of whom joined Expedition 72 for a five-month stay aboard the ISS. This brings a temporary increase in the ISS crew to 11 members. Crew-8 members will depart the ISS in early October, and Hague and Gorbunov will return to Earth in February 2025 along with NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore.

Go #Crew9! A @SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is on its way to the @Space_Station following today's launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The new crew arrives at the orbiting lab Sunday, Sept. 29, for a five-month science mission: https://t.co/MGfQEm00Fd pic.twitter.com/sHtbOBEjlE

— NASA (@NASA) September 28, 2024

Stranded Astronauts’ Return

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been aboard the ISS since June, arriving via Boeing’s Starliner capsule. The Crew Dragon mission is notably different for having only two astronauts instead of the usual four, making room for Wilmore and Williams, who need a ride back to Earth due to Starliner thruster problems that delay its service.

“This mission required a lot of operational and planning flexibility. I congratulate the entire team on a successful launch today, and godspeed to Nick and Aleksandr as they make their way to the space station,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

NASA and SpaceX will monitor Freedom’s spacecraft maneuvers from their respective mission control centers. SpaceX will handle duties from Hawthorne, California. NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston will oversee ongoing operations aboard the ISS. Crew-9’s mission encompasses over 200 scientific investigations, including studies on blood clotting, plant moisture effects, and vision changes in astronauts, demonstrating NASA’s ongoing efforts to utilize the ISS for scientific research and technology testing.

Implications for Future Missions

This mission supports NASA’s broader goals of utilizing the ISS for critical scientific research and technology testing geared toward aiding future missions to the Moon and beyond. Noteworthy, Nick Hague has also made history as the first active member of the U.S. Space Force to reach space, emphasizing the importance and scope of this mission.

SpaceX had previously suspended Falcon 9 launches to investigate an upper stage misfire that caused an off-target re-entry over the Pacific Ocean. However, the successful docking of Dragon underscores SpaceX’s resilience and commitment to understanding root causes and mitigating risks in future missions. Despite earlier setbacks, this mission has proven to be a significant step forward in space exploration and international cooperation.