NASA astronauts put together for Sunita Williams’ rescue mission aboard SpaceX Spacecraft; test particulars |

NASA has introduced that astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 spacecraft, following the willpower that Boeing’s Starliner shouldn’t be secure for re-entry. SpaceX Crew-9 mission commander Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who will accompany the astronauts, are at the moment in quarantine to keep away from any sickness earlier than their departure to the Worldwide Area Station.
Hague and Gorbunov are anticipated to reach at NASA’s Kennedy Area Heart in Florida on September 20, the place they are going to be quarantined on the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Constructing till the launch.

Crew 9 launch rescheduling and mission particulars

The Crew-9 mission has been rescheduled to no sooner than September 25 to finish pre launch preparations. The launch is now focused for 11:58 p.m. IST from Area Launch Complicated-40 at Cape Canaveral Area Power Station, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. Further launch home windows can be found on September 26, 27, and 28. The crew will spend about 5 months on the ISS, performing spacewalks, analysis, and experiments earlier than returning in February 2025 with Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.

Sunita Williams embraces prolonged mission with enthusiasm

In a press convention, Sunita Williams shared that, regardless of the sudden extension of their mission from 8 days to eight months, she stays enthusiastic. “There’s been a [SpaceX] Dragon spacecraft right here [ISS] the entire time with the Crew-8 mission. We have had an opportunity to familiarise ourselves with it, making ready it as our emergency escape car if wanted. We’re additionally coaching on the Crew-9 car. We’re enthusiastic about flying in two totally different spacecraft. As testers, that is what we do. It’s a novel alternative. Whereas we initially wished to finish the Starliner mission and return to Earth in it, typically it’s a must to pivot and embrace the following alternative.”
Sunita Williams additionally talked about her optimistic outlook on the prolonged mission, saying, “My husband and my mother have each mentioned this earlier than—house is my glad place. I like being up right here. It’s simply enjoyable. Even if you’re working, you are able to do it the other way up or sideways, which provides an entire new perspective.”
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