Two astronauts on a SpaceX mission docked successfully with the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday and were greeted enthusiastically by the crew, including Commander Sunita Williams. The video captures NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov being greeted with embraces and grins by their space station colleagues.
This mission is unique since Hague and Gorbunov will eventually transport Williams and colleague astronaut Butch Wilmore down to Earth. Wilmore and Williams have been detained on the ISS for months due to problems with the Boeing spacecraft that was supposed to transport them back.
Wilmore and Williams have been stuck on the ISS for months owing to issues with the Boeing spacecraft that was scheduled to carry them home. Wilmore and Williams were scheduled to spend a little more than a week on the ISS after landing in June aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, the Starliner experienced technical difficulties, including issues with its propulsion system, making it risky for the astronauts to return on board. The spacecraft returned to Earth without its crew in September, leaving the two astronauts stranded in space.
NASA judged that the safest option was to wait for SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission to send them home. The Crew-9 trip was postponed many times, initially to allow NASA more time to test the Starliner, and then due to Hurricane Helene reaching Florida.
A happy arrival.
Hague and Gorbunov landed on the ISS on Sunday and boarded shortly thereafter. They were greeted with embraces by the entire crew, including Commander Williams, who was pleased to see them.
This was a happy occasion for the team, particularly Williams and Wilmore, who had been looking for a fresh method to get home. Williams has taken on additional tasks during her extended tenure on the ISS.
Hague and Gorbunov will spend five months aboard the ISS, participating in over 200 scientific experiments. Wilmore and Williams, whose brief assignment extended into an eight-month stay, will return to Earth alongside Hague and Gorbunov in February 2024.
Following the successful docking, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy described it as “a fabulous day” in a news conference. She commended the collaboration and devotion that made the mission possible.
Boeing’s Starliner spaceship experienced serious technical issues on its maiden crewed voyage, prompting NASA to cancel its return journey with the astronauts. This placed SpaceX in command of the rescue effort. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been frequently sending humans to the International Space Station for NASA. Crew-9 is SpaceX’s 10th mission since 2020.