NASA Announces Astronauts Set to Launch Crew-9 Mission to Bring Williams and Wilmore Back

NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov are set to launch no earlier than September 24 on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission will bring NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth, who launched aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft in June. The return journey is scheduled for February 2025, according to a NASA press release.

Updated Crew Details

The Crew-9 mission marks a shift as NASA decided to launch with two unoccupied seats. Initially, astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson were announced as part of the crew but are now eligible for reassignment on a future mission. Nick Hague will serve as the mission’s commander, and Gorbunov will be the mission specialist. This decision was made by NASA’s chief astronaut Joe Acaba at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Decision Rationale

Acaba explained the necessity of flying a NASA crew member with previous spaceflight experience, especially to ensure a smooth mission with an integrated Roscosmos cosmonaut who can operate critical systems aboard the station. “Downsizing crew for this flight was another tough decision,” Acaba said. Despite the changes, he expressed confidence in the entire team, including Cardman and Wilson, who will continue supporting the mission ahead of the launch.

Astronauts’ Responses

Zena Cardman expressed her pride in the crew, emphasizing her confidence in Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov. Stephanie Wilson added, “I know Nick and Alex will do a great job with their work aboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 72.”

Background of the Crew Members

Nick Hague, who has logged 203 days in space, is preparing for his third launch and second mission to the ISS. His first launch in 2018 resulted in an in-flight rocket booster failure, but he safely returned with his crewmate Alexey Ovchinin. Later, Hague successfully launched aboard Soyuz MS-12, conducting three spacewalks and serving as a flight engineer during Expeditions 59 and 60. Hague, an active-duty colonel in the US Space Force, has worked on the Boeing Starliner Program since resuming his duties at NASA in 2022.

This mission will be Aleksandr Gorbunov’s first journey to space. Born in Zheleznogorsk, Russia, he graduated from the Moscow Aviation Institute with qualifications in spacecraft and upper stages engineering. Before being selected as a cosmonaut in 2018, Gorbunov worked as an engineer for Rocket Space Corp. Energia, supporting cargo spacecraft launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Mission Objectives

Hague and Gorbunov will become part of the Expedition 72 crew aboard the ISS. They will join Butch Wilmore, Sunita Williams, NASA astronaut Don Pettit, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner to conduct scientific research and maintenance activities, contributing to the ISS’s 24th year of continuous human presence.