NASA’s Nick Hague and Roscosmos’ Aleksandr Gorbunov to Launch on SpaceX Crew-9 Mission
NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov are set to launch on September 24 as part of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission follows NASA’s decision to return the Boeing Crew Flight Test uncrewed and launch Crew-9 with two unoccupied seats.
Hague and Gorbunov will serve as commander and mission specialist, respectively. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who launched aboard the Starliner spacecraft in June, will return with Hague and Gorbunov in February 2025. NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, initially part of the crew, may be reassigned to future missions.
NASA chief astronaut Joe Acaba made the decision to fly Hague, balancing the need for experienced crew members and maintaining an integrated team with a Roscosmos cosmonaut. Acaba expressed confidence in the crew’s training and professionalism.
Hague, an active-duty colonel in the US Space Force, has logged 203 days in space and conducted three spacewalks. This will be his third launch and second mission to the ISS. Gorbunov, making his first trip to space, has a background in engineering and has supported cargo spacecraft launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Hague and Gorbunov will join the Expedition 72 crew aboard the ISS, working alongside Wilmore, Williams, NASA astronaut Don Pettit, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. They will conduct scientific research and maintenance activities as the ISS marks its 24th year of continuous human presence.
Doubts Revealed
NASA -: NASA is the space agency of the United States. They send astronauts to space and do a lot of space research.
Nick Hague -: Nick Hague is an astronaut from NASA. He goes to space to do important work and experiments.
Roscosmos -: Roscosmos is the space agency of Russia. They also send astronauts, called cosmonauts, to space.
Aleksandr Gorbunov -: Aleksandr Gorbunov is a cosmonaut from Roscosmos. He will be going to space with Nick Hague.
SpaceX -: SpaceX is a company that builds rockets and spacecraft. They help NASA and other space agencies send people and things to space.
Crew-9 Mission -: The Crew-9 Mission is a space mission where astronauts and cosmonauts will go to the International Space Station (ISS).
International Space Station (ISS) -: The ISS is a big space station that orbits Earth. Astronauts from different countries live and work there.
Commander -: The commander is the leader of the space mission. Nick Hague will be the commander for this mission.
Mission Specialist -: A mission specialist is an astronaut who has special tasks to do in space. Aleksandr Gorbunov will be the mission specialist.
Butch Wilmore -: Butch Wilmore is another NASA astronaut. He will come back to Earth with Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov in 2025.
Suni Williams -: Suni Williams is a NASA astronaut too. She will also return to Earth with the Crew-9 team in 2025.
Zena Cardman -: Zena Cardman is a NASA astronaut who might go on future space missions.
Stephanie Wilson -: Stephanie Wilson is another NASA astronaut who might be part of future space missions.
Expedition 72 -: Expedition 72 is the name of the team of astronauts who will be living and working on the ISS during this mission.
