SpaceX Crew-9 dropped 2 NASA astronauts from ISS mission, but they were prepared (video)


Even before NASA removed two astronauts from the SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the ISS, the crew knew that no spaceflight is guaranteed.

Crew-9, the ninth operational SpaceX astronaut launch to the International Space Station (ISS), is set to launch on Sept. 28 for a half-year mission. But they will fly with only two astronauts instead of four; the other two seats needed to be reserved for two NASA astronauts on the ISS right now who were unable to use Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft to fly home, as planned.

The Crew-9 roster now includes commander Nick Hague, who is with NASA and the U.S. Space Force, and Roscosmos mission specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov. Two other NASA astronauts were assigned to Crew-9, but will instead wait for another flight: rookie Zena Cardman and three-time space shuttle astronaut Stephanie Wilson.

The SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts for the International Space Station. From left, mission specialist Alexsandr Gorbunov (Roscosmos), pilot Nick Hague (NASA), commander Zena Cardman (NASA) and mission specialist Stephanie Wilson (NASA). (Image credit: NASA)

Related: SpaceX’s Crew-9 astronaut flight for NASA launches this week. Here’s how it turned into a rescue mission



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