SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission successfully arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on September 29, 2024. NASA astronaut Colonel Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov boarded the Crew Dragon capsule, named Freedom. After launching from the Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida on September 28, the crew completed a one-day orbital journey before docking at 5:30 pm EDT (3:00 am IST). Hague is the first active member of the US Space Force to reach space, which further emphasizes the significance of this mission.

The first human flight into space from the Space Launch Complex-40

The launch of Crew-9 marked a historic moment as it was the first human spaceflight to take off from Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40). With the arrival of Nick Hague and Aleksandar Gorbunov, the total number of astronauts on the ISS increased to eleven. However, this mission is also notable for NASA’s decision to reduce Crew-9’s original four-person roster. Instead, the mission was modified to carry only two astronauts to make room for the two astronauts already on the ISS who needed a return trip to Earth.

Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who arrived at the ISS in June on the first manned flight of the Boeing Starliner, were originally supposed to stay for only ten days. However, technical problems with the Starliner’s thrusters extended their stay on the station.

Preparations for departure of the crew-8

The arrival of Crew-9 also marks the impending departure of Crew-8 astronauts, including NASA’s Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, Jeanette Epps and cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin. The four, who arrived at the station in March, are scheduled to return to Earth shortly after the Crew-9 docking process is complete. If all goes according to plan, Crew-9 will remain on the ISS until February 2025, further supporting ongoing space exploration and operations on the station.