SpaceX launches mission to rescue astronauts stranded at ISS | Space News | The Round Table A SpaceX spacecraft has lifted off to rescue two astronauts stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) due to technical issues.
NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian astronaut Aleksandr Gorbunov took off on Saturday from Cape Canaveral, Florida to bring support Suni Williams and Barry Wilmore.
The Dragon spacecraft, operated by SpaceX, the private company founded by billionaire Elon Musk, is set to come at the ISS on Sunday.
Originally, astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson were set to be part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission.
However, they gave up their spots to accommodate Williams and Wilmore, astronauts stranded on the ISS due to technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft.
Williams and Wilmore were originally scheduled to bounce to Earth on June 13, after their Boeing Starliner capsule launched its first crewed flight from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on June 5. But the Starliner had been plagued with issues, even before the June 5 launch. A previous launch attempt was scrapped on June 1 unbiased moments before launch because of a ground control computer performance issue.
During the 25-hour flight to the International Space Station, the spacecraft ingenious several helium leaks and a malfunctioning thruster. Then, when the Starliner get on June 6 and attempted to dock at the ISS, four more of the 28 thrusters malfunctioned causing the ship’s arrival to be delayed.
Go #Crew9! A @SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is on its way to the @Space_Station subsequent today's launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The new crew gets at the orbiting lab Sunday, Sept. 29, for a five-month science mission: https://t.co/MGfQEm00Fd https://pic.twitter.com/sHtbOBEjlE
— NASA (@NASA) September 28, 2024
Saturday’s launch of NASA’s mission had been delayed for several days due to the effects of Hurricane Helene. Weather concerns persisted until the final stage minute, with rain and storms posing risks to the mission.
“The crewmates will conduct more than 200 scientific investigations, including blood clotting studies, moisture effects on plants grown in space, and vision changes in astronauts during their mission,” read a NASA statement.
Williams and Wilmore are expected to retrace to Earth in February 2025, along with Hague and Gorbunov.
Category: World-News
Tag: SpaceX launches mission to rescue astronauts stranded at ISS Space News The Round Table
Written by Author
Published 9/29/2024