By Burton Dicht
NSS Managing Director of Membership

The chartered Gulfstream jet touched down at the Kennedy Space Center’s Space Shuttle Landing Facility on Saturday, September 21, around 1:30 p.m. EDT. Onboard were NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, the two-person team of Crew-9, preparing for their rotation flight to the International Space Station (ISS).

Crew-9 is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Thursday, September 26, at 2:05 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission has been significantly altered due to a major shift in crew dynamics following the return of the Boeing Starliner capsule.

Originally, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who launched to the ISS on the Starliner in June, were expected to remain in orbit for just 8 days. However, technical issues with the spacecraft led Boeing and NASA to extend their stay. Finally, safety concerns guided the decision to return the Starliner without its crew with Wilmore and Williams remaining on the ISS. The Starliner spacecraft made a successful landing at White Sands Space Harbor on September 6. As a result, Wilmore and Williams needed a way to return home, which will now be facilitated by Crew-9 in February 2025 on the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

This change left Crew-9 with a unique challenge: Hague and Gorbunov will launch as a two-person crew, rather than the usual four, as astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, who were originally slated to join them, will remain on Earth and will be scheduled for other missions.

The transition from a larger crew to just two presented training challenges, which Hague and Gorbunov discussed with the press shortly after their arrival. Hague, an active-duty colonel in the U.S. Space Force, will serve as the Crew-9 commander and Gorbunov, a former engineer for Rocket Space Corp. Energia, will be the mission specialist. Both astronauts praised the SpaceX-NASA collaboration, crediting the team for ensuring their mission readiness despite the changes. They also acknowledged the vital contributions of Cardman and Wilson, whose involvement in the mission preparation was described as “instrumental.”

A significant part of Crew-9’s mission includes ensuring Wilmore and Williams are well-prepared for their return aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft. Hague and Gorbunov will be carrying additional supplies, including SpaceX pressure suits and clothing for the returning astronauts, along with other essentials.

In the days leading up to the launch, Hague and Gorbunov will finalize preparations and practice emergency egress procedures at SLC-40. The launch pad, originally built for uncrewed rockets, was recently modified to support crewed missions, further expanding SpaceX and NASA’s capabilities for human spaceflight.

When asked how their education and experience prepared them for the mission, Hague and Gorbunov confidently shared that their extensive background in rocket launches and mission readiness has them fully prepared. Now, all that remains is for the weather to cooperate for a flawless liftoff.

Gulfstream carrying Crew 9 arrives at Kennedy Space Center.

Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Kelvin Manning welcomes Crew-9.

Top photo: Crew 9 – Nick Hague (commander) and Alexander Gorbunov (mission specialist).

Photo credits: Burt Dicht