NASA has confirmed plans to bring back astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the upcoming SpaceX Crew-9 mission, set for launch no earlier than September 24, 2024. Williams and Wilmore, who have been on the ISS since June, will return to Earth alongside NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov in February 2025.
The SpaceX Crew-9 mission will be led by Nick Hague, a veteran NASA astronaut with two prior missions and over 200 days in space. Hague will be joined by Aleksandr Gorbunov, a Roscosmos cosmonaut making his first spaceflight. Unlike previous missions, Crew-9 will carry only two astronauts to prioritize the safe return of Williams and Wilmore, following technical challenges with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft that prevented it from safely bringing the astronauts back.
- Nick Hague: Commanding the mission, Hague brings a wealth of experience, including a dramatic Soyuz in-flight abort in 2018 and extensive time on the ISS during Expeditions 59 and 60. His role will be crucial in leading the mission and ensuring the successful return of Williams and Wilmore.
- Aleksandr Gorbunov: As mission specialist, Gorbunov will support the technical operations aboard the ISS, leveraging his engineering background from Rocket Space Corp. Energia.
NASA’s decision to fly only two crew members was made to accommodate the return of Williams and Wilmore, allowing them to complete their extended mission and return safely to Earth. Originally, Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson were scheduled for the Crew-9 mission but have been reassigned to future missions.
Once aboard the ISS, Hague and Gorbunov will join the Expedition 72 crew and continue ongoing scientific research and maintenance activities. The mission is a critical component of NASA’s efforts to ensure the safe return of its astronauts while maintaining ISS operations.
