SpaceX, the non-public area exploration firm led by billionaire Elon Musk, efficiently launched a mission right this moment to convey again NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who’ve been stranded on the Worldwide Area Station (ISS) for months.
The mission, which lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, left two seats empty to accommodate the returning astronauts.
The Falcon 9 utilized a brand new launch pad, marking its first use for a crewed mission. On board have been NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov.
NASA chief Invoice Nelson praised the profitable launch on X (previously Twitter), saying, “Congrats to @NASA and @SpaceX on a profitable launch. We stay in an thrilling interval of exploration and innovation within the stars.”
Crew-9 is on their option to the @Space_Station!
Congrats to @NASA and @SpaceX on a profitable launch. We stay in an thrilling interval of exploration and innovation within the stars.
Trying ahead to all of the discoveries #Crew9 will make aboard the Station. pic.twitter.com/XQ7lqnUIe6
— Invoice Nelson (@SenBillNelson) September 28, 2024
Williams and Wilmore have been initially transported to the ISS in June aboard Boeing’s newly developed Starliner spacecraft for what was speculated to be an eight-day mission.
Nonetheless, issues with the Starliner’s propulsion system prolonged their keep on the ISS. The astronauts are anticipated to return to Earth in February, marking the top of their extended mission.
