A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a crew of two launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday, September 28, 2024. AP Photo
On Saturday, SpaceX launched a rescue mission to bring home two astronauts currently stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS). However, the rescue will not take place until next year. The astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were originally part of Boeing’s first astronaut mission, which launched in June. They were scheduled to stay in space for just a week, but complications with their return spacecraft have extended their stay to over eight months.
The two astronauts had planned to return to Earth aboard Boeing's Starliner, but due to safety concerns—including thruster issues and helium leaks—the spacecraft was deemed too risky by NASA. As a result, the Starliner was sent back to Earth earlier this month without any crew, leaving Wilmore and Williams without a ride home.
In response, NASA arranged for SpaceX to bring them back, cutting two astronauts from SpaceX's latest mission to make room for Wilmore and Williams on the return flight. The SpaceX capsule, which launched with a downsized crew, won’t bring the astronauts home until late February, since NASA’s crew rotations occur every six months, and it wasn’t possible to alter the existing mission schedule.
The astronauts still on the ISS welcomed the launch, watching it live via a video link. Suni Williams even cheered, "Go Dragon!" as the SpaceX capsule lifted off. Williams has been promoted to commander of the ISS in the meantime. The ISS crew will soon return to its full capacity of seven astronauts once SpaceX astronauts Nick Hague and Russia’s Alexander Gorbunov arrive. This will allow four astronauts who have been on the station since March to return home in their own SpaceX capsule. Their return had been delayed by Starliner’s issues.
NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov departed the Operations and Checkout building on Saturday, September 28, for their journey to Launch Pad 40 at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AP Photo
Before the launch, Nick Hague, a veteran of space missions, spoke about the ever-changing nature of space exploration. “There’s always something that is changing. Maybe this time it’s been a little more visible to the public,” he noted.
Hague's experience made him the ideal choice to lead this rescue mission. He previously survived a launch failure in 2018 when a Russian rocket malfunctioned, forcing him and a cosmonaut to abort the mission safely.
NASA astronaut Zena Cardman and seasoned space flier Stephanie Wilson were originally slated to be on this SpaceX flight but were pulled due to NASA’s decision to prioritize the return of Wilmore and Williams. Both astronauts were present at the Kennedy Space Center to witness the launch, with Cardman becoming emotional during the liftoff, saying, “It was hard not to watch that rocket lift off without thinking, ‘That’s my rocket and that’s my crew.’”
In this photo shared by NASA, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are seen making pizza in the galley of the International Space Station's Unity module on September 9, 2024. Due to the microgravity environment, items in the galley are secured with tape and Velcro to prevent them from floating away. AP Photo
Once in orbit, Hague described the launch as a “sweet ride,” expressing gratitude to all those who contributed to the mission’s success. His focus now turns to the upcoming months of working aboard the ISS and preparing for the eventual return of his colleagues.
SpaceX has solidified its position as a leader in NASA’s commercial crew program, having successfully flown astronauts to the ISS since 2020. In contrast, Boeing has faced numerous setbacks with its Starliner spacecraft, including multiple test flight failures. Wilmore and Williams’ delayed return highlights Boeing’s ongoing struggles to compete with SpaceX in the race to provide reliable space transportation.
Saturday’s launch also marked a milestone for SpaceX, as it was the first crewed mission to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex 40. SpaceX has used this launch pad for satellite and cargo missions but is now expanding its operations to allow for more flexibility as its Falcon rockets become more frequent.
