Montag, 23. September 2024 - 07:00

Raumfahrt - Startvorbereitung für SpaceX Crew-9 ISS Mission -Update1

2.02.2024

Cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov included in Crew-9 mission to ISS — NASA

It will be the first space flight in Gorbunov’s career

Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov will become a member of the Crew-9 mission to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) in August, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said.

"Four crew members are preparing to launch to the International Space Station and conduct a wide-ranging set of operational and research activities," NASA said in a statement. "NASA astronauts Commander Zena Cardman, Pilot Nick Hague, and Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov, will join Expedition 71 and 72 crew members no earlier than August."

It will be the first space flight in Gorbunov’s career. Earlier, he was a backup for Alexander Grebenkin, who is to travel to the orbital station with the Crew-8 mission.

In July 15, 2022, Roscosmos announced that an agreement had been signed on joint cross flights of Russian cosmonauts and American astronauts to the ISS, involving three flights of Russians aboard US spacecraft. Looking back on 2023, Roscosmos reported that the cross flights are expected to run up to and including 2025.

Quelle: TASS

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NASA Shares Assignments for its SpaceX Crew-9 Space Station Mission

Official NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 portraits with Zena Cardman, Nick Hague, Stephanie Wilson and Aleksandr Gorbunov

NASA

As part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission, four crew members are preparing to launch to the International Space Station and conduct a wide-ranging set of operational and research activities for the benefit of all.

Launching aboard the Dragon spacecraft, NASA astronauts Commander Zena Cardman, Pilot Nick Hague, and Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov, will join Expedition 71 and 72 crew members no earlier than August. They will arrive to the space station for a short duration handover with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission.

This will be the first spaceflight for Cardman, who was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2017. The Williamsburg, Virginia, native holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a master’s in Marine Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At time of selection, she was a doctoral candidate in geosciences. Cardman’s research focused on geobiology and geochemical cycling in subsurface environments, from caves to deep sea sediments. Since completing initial training, Cardman has supported real-time station operations and development for lunar surface exploration.

With a total of 203 days in space, this will be Hague’s third launch and second mission to the orbiting laboratory. During his first launch in 2018, Hague and his crewmate, Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, experienced a rocket booster failure resulting in an in-flight launch abort. The Soyuz MS-10 spacecraft landed safely. Five months later, Hague launched aboard Soyuz MS-12 and served as a flight engineer aboard the space station during Expeditions 59 and 60. Hague and his crewmates participated in hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science, and Earth science. Hague conducted three spacewalks, to upgrade space station power systems and install a docking adapter for commercial spacecraft. As an active-duty colonel in the U.S. Space Force, Hague completed a developmental rotation at the Defense Department in Washington, where he served as the USSF director of test and evaluation from 2020 to 2022. In August 2022, Hague resumed duties at NASA working on the Boeing Starliner Program until this flight assignment.

A veteran of three spaceflights, STS-121, STS-120, and STS-131, Wilson has spent 42 days in space aboard three separate space shuttle Discovery missions. Before her selection as a NASA astronaut in 1996, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas in Austin, and worked at Martin Marietta and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. During her first mission, STS-121 in November 2004, she and her crewmates spent 13 days in orbit. Wilson served as the robotic arm operator for spacecraft inspection, for the installation of the “Leonardo” Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, and for spacewalk support. In November 2006, Wilson and her STS-120 crewmates aboard Discovery delivered the Harmony module to the station and relocated a solar array. In May 2009, Wilson and her STS-131 crewmates completed another mission to resupply the station, delivering a new ammonia tank for the station cooling system, new crew sleeping quarters, a window observation facility, and a freezer for experiments. During her nearly 30 years with NASA, Wilson served as the integration branch chief for NASA’s Astronaut Office focusing on International Space Station systems and payload operations, and on a nine-month detail, served as the acting chief of NASA’s Program and Project Integration Office at the agency’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.

This will be Gorbunov’s first trip to space and the station. Born in Zheleznogorsk, Kursk region, Russia, he studied engineering with qualifications in spacecraft and upper stages from the Moscow Aviation Institute. Gorbunov graduated from the military department with a specialty in operation and repair of aircraft, helicopters, and aircraft engines. Before being selected as a cosmonaut in 2018, he worked as an engineer for Rocket Space Corporation Energia and supported cargo spacecraft launches from the Baikonur cosmodrome.

This is the ninth rotational mission to the space station under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which works with the American aerospace industry to meet the goal of safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the orbital outpost on American-made rockets and spacecraft launching from American soil.

For more than two decades, humans have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies, making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and to expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. As commercial companies focus on providing human space transportation services and destinations as part of a robust low Earth orbit economy, NASA’s Artemis campaign is underway at the Moon where the agency is preparing for future human exploration of Mars.

Quelle: NASA

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Update: 5.04.2024

We have the watch: NASA Crew-9 visits Space Delta 4

BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- "The first time I launched, my rocket didn't go where it was supposed to go, it had an in-flight anomaly, came apart and we landed in the middle of the Kazakhstan step,” said U.S. Space Force Col. Nick Hague, NASA astronaut. “It was nice to be able to come and meet the people (Guardians) that were providing a little bit of over watch and making sure the rescue forces were going to get to where we ended up."

Hague, NASA Crew-9 pilot, along with Crew-9, Zena Cardman, mission commander, and Stephanie Wilson, mission specialist - 1, embarked on a visit to the 11th Space Warning Squadron, Overhead Persistent Infrared Battle Space Awareness Center at Buckley Space Force Base, March 28.
OBAC stands as a cornerstone of our nation's defense strategy, harnessing the data gleaned from the Space-Based Infrared System constellation. This system is instrumental in detecting ballistic missile launches, monitoring space activities, and identifying infrared signatures in real-time. Crew-9’s visit underscores the importance of understanding these operations to enhance our national security efforts.
“NASA human spaceflight doesn't happen without this mission," Hague said. “NASA depends on the entire mission set that the Space Force helps provide. These guardians are providing it every day in the OBAC, and what they do here is one of those critical missions."
When Crew-9 launches in mid-August, Hague will become the first Space Force officer to launch beyond Earth's atmosphere. Crew-9’s mission during this visit was to gain crucial insights into the operations of the Overhead Persistent Infrared Battlespace Awareness Center.
“Manned spaceflight missions are significant in the space operations community, as we prioritize the safety of all astronauts as they transit into orbit,” said U.S. Space Force 1st Lt. Darrell Miller, 11th SWS crew commander. “When our Guardians see a successful human space flight launch, it is a reminder to them that 11th SWS operates on the cutting edge of technology and innovation.”

Beyond its military implications, Crew-9’s visit to 11th SWS highlights the broader significance of space surveillance in maintaining global stability. In an era where space dominance is coveted by nations worldwide, initiatives like OBAC emphasize the imperative of international partnership, collaboration and innovation.
“Without that foundation of capabilities, we just don't explore space," Hague said. “These Guardians make it happen; they just need to know that they make human spaceflight happen.”
The meeting between these space pioneers and the guardians of the skies marks a significant milestone, heralding the endless possibilities beyond Earth's boundaries.
“If you've ever thought of riding a rocket or bounding around on the surface of the moon you need to apply,” Hague finalized.
NASA is currently accepting applications to join the astronaut corps, and the application window is open until the 16th of April.

Quelle: Buckley Space Force Base Public Affairs

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Update: 14.07.2024

NASA Shares Assignments for its SpaceX Crew-9 Space Station Mission

nasa-spacex-crew-9

From right, members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 crew Stephanie Wilson, mission specialist; Zena Cardman, commander; Nick Hague, pilot; and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, mission specialist, pose for a group photo at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, on Monday, May 6, 2024. Photo credit: SpaceX

Quelle: NASA

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Update: 19.07.2024

Experience the Launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Mission

Digital content creators are invited to register to attend the launch of the ninth SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket that will carry astronauts to the International Space Station for a science expedition mission. This mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

Launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission is targeted for no earlier than mid-August from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch will carry NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, commander; Nick Hague, pilot; and Stephanie Wilson, mission specialist; along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, mission specialist.

If your passion is to communicate and engage the world online, then this is the event for you! Seize the opportunity to see and share the #Crew9 mission launch.

A maximum of 50 social media users will be selected to attend this two-day event and will be given access similar to news media.

NASA Social participants will have the opportunity to:

View a crewed launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft
Tour NASA facilities at Kennedy Space Center
Meet and interact with Crew-9 subject matter experts
Meet fellow space enthusiasts who are active on social media

Registration for this event opens on Wednesday, July 17, and the deadline to apply is at 10 a.m. EDT on Monday, July 22. All social applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

APPLY NOW

Do I need to have a social media account to register?

Yes. This event is designed for people who:

Actively use multiple social networking platforms and tools to disseminate information to a unique audience.
Regularly produce new content that features multimedia elements.
Have the potential to reach a large number of people using digital platforms, or reach a unique audience, separate and distinctive from traditional news media and/or NASA audiences.
Must have an established history of posting content on social media platforms.
Have previous postings that are highly visible, respected and widely recognized.

Users on all social networks are encouraged to use the hashtag #NASASocial and #Crew9. Updates and information about the event will be shared on X via @NASASocial and @NASAKennedy, and via posts to Facebook and Instagram.

How do I register?

Registration for this event opens on Wednesday, July 17, and the deadline to apply is at 10 a.m. EDT on Monday, July 22. All social applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Can I register if I am not a U.S. citizen?

Because of the security deadlines, registration is limited to U.S. citizens. If you have a valid permanent resident card, you will be processed as a U.S. citizen.

When will I know if I am selected?

After registrations have been received and processed, an email with confirmation information and additional instructions will be sent to those selected. We expect to send the acceptance notifications by August 7.

What are NASA Social credentials?

All social applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Those chosen must prove through the registration process they meet specific engagement criteria.

If you do not make the registration list for this NASA Social, you still can attend the launch offsite and participate in the conversation online. Find out about ways to experience a launch here.

What are the registration requirements?

Registration indicates your intent to travel to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and attend the two-day event in person. You are responsible for your own expenses for travel, accommodations, food, and other amenities.

Some events and participants scheduled to appear at the event are subject to change without notice. NASA is not responsible for loss or damage incurred as a result of attending. NASA, moreover, is not responsible for loss or damage incurred if the event is cancelled with limited or no notice. Please plan accordingly.

Kennedy is a government facility. Those who are selected will need to complete an additional registration step to receive clearance to enter the secure areas.

IMPORTANT: To be admitted, you will need to provide two forms of unexpired government-issued identification; one must be a photo ID and match the name provided on the registration. Those without proper identification cannot be admitted.

For a complete list of acceptable forms of ID, please visit: NASA Credentialing Identification Requirements.

All registrants must be at least 18 years old.

What if the launch date changes?

Many different factors can cause a scheduled launch date to change multiple times. If the launch date changes, NASA may adjust the date of the NASA Social accordingly to coincide with the new target launch date. NASA will notify registrants of any changes by email.

If the launch is postponed, attendees will be invited to attend a later launch date. NASA cannot accommodate attendees for delays beyond 72 hours.

NASA Social attendees are responsible for any additional costs they incur related to any launch delay. We strongly encourage participants to make travel arrangements that are refundable and/or flexible.

What if I cannot come to the Kennedy Space Center?

If you cannot come to the Kennedy Space Center and attend in person, you should not register for the NASA Social. You can follow the conversation online using #NASASocial.

You can watch the launch on NASA+ or plus.nasa.gov. NASA will provide regular launch and mission updates on @NASA, @NASAKennedy, and @Commercial_Crew, as well as on NASA’s Commercial Crew Program blog.

If you cannot make this NASA Social, don’t worry; NASA is planning many other Socials in the near future at various locations!

Quelle: NASA

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NASA, SpaceX Invite Media to Watch Crew-9 Launch to Space Station

The crew of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station poses for a photo during training in Hawthorne, California.

Credit: SpaceX

Media accreditation now is open for the launch of NASA’s ninth rotational mission of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft that will carry astronauts to the International Space Station for a science expedition. This mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

Launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission is targeted for no earlier than mid-August from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, pending completion of the company’s ongoing Falcon 9 investigation. Crew safety and mission assurance are top priorities for NASA and its partners.

The launch will carry NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, commander; Nick Hague, pilot; and Stephanie Wilson, mission specialist; along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, mission specialist. This is the first spaceflight for Cardman and Gorbunov, the second mission to the orbiting laboratory for Hague, and fourth spaceflight for Wilson, who has spent 42 days in space aboard three space shuttle Discovery missions – STS-120, STS-121, and STS-131.

U.S. media, international media without U.S. citizenship, and U.S. citizens representing international media organizations must apply by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 31. All accreditation requests must be submitted online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

NASA’s media accreditation policy is online. For questions about accreditation or special logistical requests, email: ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. Requests for space for satellite trucks, tents, or electrical connections are due by Thursday, Aug. 1.

For other questions, please contact NASA Kennedy’s newsroom at: 321-867-2468.

Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en español, comuníquese con Antonia Jaramillo: 321-501-8425, o Messod Bendayan: 256-930-1371.

Quelle: NASA

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Update: 8.08.2024

SpaceX's Crew-9 astronaut launch delayed to Sept. 24 due to Boeing Starliner issues

'This adjustment allows more time for mission managers to finalize return planning for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test currently docked to the orbiting laboratory.'

SpaceX's next astronaut mission won't get off the ground this month after all.

Crew-9, SpaceX's ninth operational flight to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA, had been targeted to lift off on Aug. 18. But it has been pushed back to no earlier than Sept. 24, the agency announced today (Aug. 6).

"This adjustment allows more time for mission managers to finalize return planning for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test currently docked to the orbiting laboratory," NASA said in an update this afternoon.

Crew Flight Test (CFT) is the first-ever astronaut mission of Boeing's new Starlinercapsule. It launched June 5, carrying NASA's Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the ISS for a planned weeklong stay.

Starliner is still up there, however. The capsule experienced several issues on its way to the orbiting lab — most notably, the failure of five of its 28 reaction control system thrusters. CFT team members have been studying the problem ever since, trying to determine if and when Starliner can safely return Williams and Wilmore to Earth.

That work is still underway.

"NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate the spacecraft's readiness, and no decisions have been made regarding Starliner's return," NASA officials said in today's update.

We may get more clarity on Wednesday (Aug. 7): NASA will hold a press conference at 12:30 p.m. EDT (1630 GMT) "with agency leadership to discuss ongoing operations, including NASA's Crew-9, Crew-8, and Crew Flight Test missions."

SpaceX's Crew-8 flight is gearing up to return to Earth; it arrived at the ISS in early March, delivering four astronauts to the orbiting lab for a roughly six-month stay.

The Crew-9 astronauts are commander Zena Cardman, pilot Nick Hague, mission specialist Stephanie Wilson and mission specialist Alexsandr Gorbunov. Cardman, Hague and Wilson are NASA astronauts, whereas Gorbunov represents Russia's space agency, Roscosmos.

Quelle: SC

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From Star City to Cape Canaveral, how a cosmonaut trains for a SpaceX flight

Although US astronauts are able to launch from Florida, some American astronauts still launch aboard Soyuz. Tracy Caldwell Dyson, an American, is aboard the ISS as of this writing, arriving after a liftoff from Kazakhstan on Soyuz MS-25. NASA and Roscosmos recently reached an agreement for a ride share, allowing one open seat for astronauts on Soyuz, and in turn one seat on American commercial crew vehicles for cosmonauts.

The next crew mission to the International Space Station is set to fly aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, and in addition to three NASA astronauts that will be onboard, the fourth seat will go to cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The integration of these crews could cause for training problems.

Gorbunov spoke with NSF with the assistance of an interpreter about his upcoming flight and training and noting what it takes for a cosmonaut to train to fly with astronauts.

“I think that almost everything, from preparation, to the launch, to the final landing, all six months, everything will be new,” first-time flyer Gorbunov said. “I will be absorbing all the information around me every single second, just like a sponge.”

Born in Zheleznogorsk, Kursk region, Russia, he studied engineering with qualifications in spacecraft and upper stages from the Moscow Aviation Institute, graduating with honors.

In 2012, he worked for RSC Energia, a major rocket manufacturer, in multiple departments including assisting in cargo launches to the ISS from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Gorbunov’s official cosmonaut path began in 2015 with what Roscosmos calls a “mini exam,” checking his health and fitness.

After applying for the 2018 cosmonaut class, he was selected as a test cosmonaut, before making the corps in 2020. Just a few years later, Gorbunov learned he would be flying aboard the American-made Crew Dragon.

When it came to training for the mission, Gorbunov noted that the emphasis was mainly on what he’ll be doing aboard the ISS rather than how he will get there.

“I must say that naturally the training that I received from Roscosmos was much larger, just because I will have to be on the Russian segment performing all types of operations, servicing the Russian segment, maintenance, [and] also scientific experiments,” Gorbunov said.

However, he did note that there was still training with NASA.

“As for NASA training, I was mainly trained to perform certain actions on the U.S. segment in case of an emergency,” Gorbunov said. “We had a lot of training to see how we will be working in emergency and contingency situations. Those were all crew training events.”

The cosmonaut emphasized that while he may be from a different country, a key part of the mission’s success is becoming one crew.

“Now I know we are a single body, we are a single organism, we understand each other,” Gorbunov noted. “We trust each other, most importantly.”

In 2022, NASA and Roscosmos reached a ride share agreement despite growing tensions over what would later become a war in Ukraine. As part of the deal, no money would be exchanged, however a slot would remain open for one American to fly on Soyuz and one Russian aboard a NASA commercial crew vehicle.

The first time a Russian flew aboard a US commercial vehicle through this deal was Anna Kikina as part of the Crew-5 mission flying aboard Crew Dragon. Cosmonauts have previously flown aboard the space shuttle.

In the gap between the final shuttle launch in 2011 and the first operational commercial crew flight in late 2020, NASA purchased seats aboard Soyuz.

Frank Rubio was the first astronaut selected to receive the seat for free as part of this deal to fly from Baikonur.

Gorbunov said it’s difficult to truly compare what it’s like to be trained on both the Soyuz and Crew Dragon vehicles as a whole.

“So here it would probably be better to compare my training as the Flight Engineer 2 on Soyuz, and the mission specialist position training for Crew Dragon, and if we compare those two, then the time that we spend training and the knowledge that we receive training is… more or less the same,” Gorbunov said. “So, the main thing that the mission specialist, as well as the Flight Engineer 2, are responsible for is to make sure that they are safe during their nominal mission or during any emergency as well as helping the commander and pilot in different situations upon request and if necessary.”

Once onboard the ISS, a lot of science will be completed on the Russian segment. While we don’t hear much about experiments run on the non-American side, Gorbunov discussed some of the science he will perform including chemistry, medical experiments, and one that he’s really excited for that’s physics based.

“We have an electrovacuum furnace on board the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) and we are going to place a sample inside that furnace, and it will be melted first and then it will be crystallizing back in the environment of microgravity,” Gorbunov said with an excited voice before it was translated to English. “Scientists are specifically interested in the crystal structure of that material, how it will be crystallizing back. So that sample will be returned to the ground and then it will be studied from all different angles.

“For me, this experiment is interesting not only because of its scientific nature, but also because of the fact that the crew takes an active part in it.”

Gorbunov also mentioned an experiment called Pilot-T, which will study the human body with the help of multiple tools including an encephalogram. The hope is not only to study physical change, he said, but how the human memory changes over time.

His flight is expected to launch in August 2024 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

As of now there are no plans to end the ride share agreement between the two space agencies even with current political climates.

Quelle: NSF

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Update: 30.08.2024

NASA, SpaceX Extend US Media Deadline for Crew-9 Launch to Station

The SpaceX Dragon Endurance crew ship, carrying four Crew-5 members, approaches the International Space Station with the Earth’s horizon in the background. Credit: NASA/Kjell Lindgren

NASA is extending U.S. media accreditation for the launch of the agency’s ninth rotational mission of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft that will carry astronauts to the International Space Station. This mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

The application period for U.S. media and U.S. citizens representing international media organizations is extended until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Media members who have already applied do not need to reapply. All new accreditation requests must be submitted online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

Launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission, originally slated with four crew members, is targeted for no earlier than Tuesday, Sept. 24, from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

NASA announced astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will remain on station and return home in February 2025 aboard Dragon with two other crew members assigned to the Crew-9 mission, during a news conference on Aug. 24. The agency will share more information about the Crew-9 complement when details are finalized.

NASA and SpaceX currently are working on several items before launch, including reconfiguring seats on the Dragon and adjusting the manifest to carry additional cargo, personal effects, and Dragon-specific spacesuits for Wilmore and Williams.

NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online. For questions about accreditation or special logistical requests, email: ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. Requests for space for satellite trucks, tents, or electrical connections also are due by Sept. 3.

Quelle: NASA

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Update: 1.09.2024

NASA cuts 2 astronauts from SpaceX Crew-9 mission to make room for Boeing Starliner crew

Boeing Starliner's astronauts will not use their spacecraft to come home after all.

NASA astronaut Nick Hague (left) and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who comprise SpaceX Crew-9. (Image credit: NASA)

NASA has removed two astronauts from a forthcoming SpaceX mission to make room for two others needing a new ride home from space.

The SpaceX Crew-9 mission will now fly only NASA astronaut and U.S. Space Force commander Nick Hague, and Roscosmos astronaut and mission specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov to the International Space Station (ISS), NASA officials announced Friday (Aug. 30). This will leave two seats empty in the Crew Dragonto bring home NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who are unable to return to Earth aboard Boeing Starliner as planned.

Original Crew-9 commander Zena Cardman and mission specialist Stephanie Wilson, a space shuttle astronaut, will sit this spaceflight out. But the NASA astronauts "are eligible for reassignment on a future mission," agency officials added in the statement. Hague was originally the pilot of Crew-9, but is now the commander; Gorbunov remains as mission specialist.

Starliner is on a historic first test mission with astronauts and reached the ISS on June 6 after experiencing trouble with its propulsion system and thrusters. Following two months of tests and safety discussions, NASA eventually said the risk was unacceptable to return Wilmore and Williams home on Starliner due to uncertainties about how well the thrusters would work. (Starliner should undock uncrewed from the ISS on Sept. 6, to free up its docking port on the U.S. Harmony module for Crew-9.)

The agency considered several options for the Starliner's astronauts' return before electing to launch Crew-9's spacecraft half-empty for an expected February 2025 mission conclusion. This allows Crew-9 a normal half-year ISS rotation and will bring home the Starliner astronauts after roughly eight months in space; the Crew-9 mission was delayed from an initial Aug. 18 launch date to make the necessary changes.

Crew-9's new Sept. 24 liftoff target has more than the usual uncertainty, however. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket tasked to launch Crew Dragon is grounded following the loss of a different Falcon 9 variant that launched a SpaceX Starlink satellite mission on Wednesday (Aug. 28). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating as well as NASA and SpaceX.

Crew-9 is Gorbunov's first flight. His seat is under a NASA arrangement with Roscosmos to fly one Russian space agency astronaut with each SpaceX mission. NASA receives seats on Russian Soyuz spacecraft in return, for policy and backup reasons.

Hague, a U.S. Space Force Guardian and former test pilot, has been twice to space as a NASA astronaut with the U.S. Air Force. The first visit was brief, however. He was aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft with cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin on Oct. 11, 2018 that aborted minutes after launch due to a rocket problem. That spacecraft briefly reached space before returning to Earth with the crew unhurt.

Hague and Ovchinin successfully arrived at the ISS five months later in 2019 on their second try in Soyuz, during a 203-day-long mission. Hague transferred to the Space Force in 2021. With Crew-9, he will be the first active Guardian to launch on a space mission.

NASA spacecraft generally fly with at least one U.S. military pilot aboard. The reassigned astronauts from Crew-9, Cardman and Wilson, are a scientist and engineer by training, respectively. Crew-9 would have been Cardman's first mission and Wilson's fourth, following space shuttle missions STS-121 in 2006, STS-120 in 2007, and STS-131 in 2010.

Quelle: SC

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Update: 23.09.2024

NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 arrives at KSC to prep for launch, teaming up with Starliner astronauts

Reduced to a crew of two, NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 will launch Thursday with a pair of designated empty seats aboard their SpaceX Dragon capsule. Why? Those seats will bring Boeing Starliner astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth from the International Space Station when the Crew-9 mission wraps up next year.

The Crew-9 duo — NASA astronaut Nick Hague (commander) and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov (mission specialist) — arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Saturday afternoon, flying in from Houston aboard a white Gulfstream GV-SP business jet.

Their SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off at 2:05 p.m. EDT Thursday from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Crew-9 initially had four members, but astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson will stay home to make room so Williams and Wilmore can return home in the Dragon in five months.

"We're going to launch as a two-person crew. And then we're going to land as a four-person crew. And one of the unique challenges of that is, how do we integrate the other two crew members into the Dragon operations when they've had very minimal Dragon training before they launched?" Hague said during a press conference alongside the Gulfstream at KSC's Launch and Landing Facility.

Commander Nick Hague and Mission Specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov fly into Kennedy Space Center in preparation for next week's launch

"The teams on the ground have helped not only get us ready, but they've already started helping Butch and Suni train to understand what they're going to need to do inside of the Dragon. But that's going to be top priority when we get there," he said.

On June 5, the Starliner launched to the ISS atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on its historic maiden crewed mission — which soon went awry as five of the capsule's thrusters shut off en route to the ISS. Williams and Wilmore still remain aboard the orbiting outpost, while Starliner returned for an uncrewed Sept. 7 landing in the New Mexico desert.

Crew-9 will spend about five months on the ISS, with plans to conduct more than 200 science and research demonstrations before returning in February, NASA reported. But on the way up into low-Earth orbit, "essentially we're flying without a pilot," Hague told media Saturday.

Crew-9 will mark the first human spaceflight mission from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission is the ninth ISS crew rotation with SpaceX under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

After addressing media Saturday, Hague and Gorbunov waved to dozens of photographers and boarded a dark blue Chrysler Pacifica with U.S. government license tags to depart the LLF.

"Hague and Gorbunov will quarantine at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy. While there, they’ll conduct a dry dress rehearsal of the mission, sleep shift to align their resting and waking periods with mission requirements, rehearse flight procedures, as well as make calls to family and friends," a NASA press release said.

Quelle: Florida Today

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