A SpaceX mission launched on Saturday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying two crew members and leaving two seats vacant to facilitate the return of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. The astronauts have been stuck on the International Space Station for several months.
NASA rotates crews on the space station every six months, meaning the newly launched flight won’t return until late February.
LIVE: Our @SpaceX #Crew9 mission launches to the @Space_Station. Liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 1:17pm ET (1717 UTC). Questions? Use #AskNASA https://t.co/ShUyD36syY
— NASA (@NASA) September 28, 2024
By that time, they will have spent more than eight months in space, although they had anticipated being away for just a week when they signed up for Boeing’s inaugural astronaut flight in June.
NASA determined that Boeing’s Starliner posed too much risk due to issues with thrusters and helium leaks. As a result, two astronauts were removed from the SpaceX mission to make room for Wilmore and Williams on the return journey.
This story is still developing. Please check back for updates.
