A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch the Crew Dragon spacecraft on Saturday at 1:17 p.m., carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov to the International Space Station. The spacecraft will eventually return with two astronauts who have been stranded on the station since June, after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft experienced mechanical issues and was forced to return to Earth without them.
The Starliner spacecraft was originally intended to carry four crew members to the ISS, but the mission was cut short due to technical problems. The two stranded astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, will now return to Earth in February, joining Hague and Gorbunov on the Crew Dragon.
The CREW-9 launch has been delayed multiple times, with weather conditions being a major factor. Hurricane Helene, which recently affected Florida and other Southern states, caused the most recent postponement.
NASA officials received a weather briefing earlier this week, indicating a 55% chance of favorable conditions for the launch. The agency is closely monitoring the situation to ensure a safe and successful launch.
Meanwhile, Boeing, the manufacturer of the Starliner spacecraft, is facing intense scrutiny over the production-quality issues that led to the astronauts’ stranding. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has emphasized its commitment to holding Boeing accountable and ensuring the company addresses its systemic production-quality issues.
The FAA has noted that Boeing prioritized speed over quality in its production processes, which contributed to the mechanical issues that stranded the astronauts. Administrator Mike Whitaker has made it clear that the agency will maintain aggressive oversight to ensure Boeing makes necessary changes.
