SpaceX crew-9 launch delayed as hurricane Helene approaches

NASA reported that the launch of the SpaceX Crew-9 spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS), which was planned for Saturday, has been postponed due to the impending Hurricane Helene. Two astronauts are on board.

According to meteorologists' forecasts, Hurricane Helene is expected to pass through the Gulf of Mexico and hit the northwestern part of Florida, including Cape Canaveral, from where the spacecraft was to launch. Strong winds and heavy rainfall are expected in the area.

The first launch date for the Crew-9 mission was set for August 18. However, it was postponed by a month due to a problem with Boeing's Starliner capsule, which was then docked at the ISS. The capsule returned to Earth on September 6th local time. According to the Polish Press Agency, the SpaceX spacecraft launch is scheduled for Saturday at 1:17 PM local time from Space Launch Complex-40. This will be the first crewed space mission launched from this location. The expected docking time is Sunday at 5:30 PM local time.

The SpaceX spacecraft will carry NASA astronaut Nick Hague, who will be the commander, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov to the ISS, where they will conduct a five-month scientific mission.

After its completion, they will return to Earth along with American astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams, who arrived at the ISS in June aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. They were supposed to return to Earth after seven days, but due to technical issues with the capsule, NASA decided that their mission would be extended until February 2025.

Due to the situation, NASA has reduced the crew—Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, originally assigned to the mission, have been excluded but are expected to be assigned to the next flight to the ISS.