Key Takeaways:
- SpaceX Crew-9 mission launch delayed due to Tropical Storm Helene.
- NASA addresses “unusual problem” with Dragon spacecraft.
- Sunita Williams to return home after extended ISS stay.
- Crew-9 mission undergoes changes, downsizing from four to two crew members.
- Launch scheduled for September 28, with 55% favorable weather conditions.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shared an update on the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which was postponed from September 26 to September 28 due to Tropical Storm Helene. The mission, initially scheduled to launch with four crew members, has undergone significant changes.
During a press conference on Friday, Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, revealed a “very unusual problem” encountered with the Dragon spacecraft. The Merlin engines produced soot, which was blown back onto the spacecraft by strong winds, prompting the team to roll back the vehicle for cleaning and repainting.
Weather officers with @SLDelta45 predict a 55% of favorable weather conditions for launch, scheduled for 1:17pm ET Sept. 28. The cumulus cloud rule, flight through precipitation, and surface electric fields rule are primary weather concerns.
More: https://t.co/NyIm2OOreg pic.twitter.com/zTrHBv2Nw0
— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) September 27, 2024
“We had a kind of unique situation where the winds were pretty much out of the east and blew some soot back on the Dragon vehicle,” Stich explained. SpaceX officials confirmed that the issue has been resolved, ensuring the spacecraft’s radiators function properly.
The Crew-9 mission has undergone significant changes, with NASA downsizing the crew from four to two. Astronauts Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will launch aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket on September 28, accompanied by Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been extended their stay on the International Space Station (ISS) since September 7.
Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete. Targeting Saturday, September 28 for launch of Crew-9 to the @space_station → https://t.co/3NmG8U1Cx9
Teams will lower and roll Falcon 9 and Dragon back to the hangar at pad 40 tonight due to Tropical Storm Helene’s unfavorable impact on…
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 25, 2024
The spacecraft is scheduled to dock at the ISS on September 29. Weather conditions are predicted to be 55% favorable for launch, with primary concerns surrounding cumulus clouds, flight through precipitation, and surface electric fields.
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, along with Butch Wilmore, will return home in February 2025 as part of the Crew-9 mission. Astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson relinquished their seats to accommodate Williams and Wilmore.
The successful static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket on September 24 paved the way for the mission’s launch. With the “unusual problem” resolved, NASA and SpaceX are moving forward with launch operations.
Stay tuned for further updates on the SpaceX Crew-9 mission.
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