Two Astronauts Removed from SpaceX Flight for Starliner Crew Members

NASA has made a significant decision regarding its upcoming SpaceX Crew rotation flight to the International Space Station (ISS). Two female astronauts, including the mission’s commander, will not be participating in the flight, effectively opening two seats for astronauts from the Starliner program to ensure their safe return home in February.

The Crew 9 ranks consist of seasoned astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov as they prepare for the launch scheduled for September 24 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Unfortunately, rookie commander Zena Cardman and experienced astronaut Stephanie Wilson will remain on Earth instead of joining the mission.

In a unique approach, the Crew 9 mission will also deliver clothing, supplies, and SpaceX pressure suits intended for members of the Starliner team, namely commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore and copilot Sunita Williams. The Starliner crew is currently on an extended mission in space, which has spanned over 86 days as of Friday. By the time they are retrieved, they will have spent over 262 days in orbit.

Initially, Nick Hague was meant to serve as Cardman’s co-pilot. With the crew changes, Hague will now take on the role of mission commander, alongside Gorbunov, who retains his spot aboard the Crew Dragon as part of an international agreement that allows for a seamless partnership between NASA and Russian space agencies. Under this agreement, each mission includes one crew member from each country, maintaining a consistent human presence at the ISS in the event of a crisis.

Even though Gorbunov will be aboard the Crew Dragon for this mission, he is classified as a “mission specialist” and does not have the training to operate the Crew Dragon spacecraft. The decision to adjust the crew line-up was made by NASA’s chief astronaut Joe Acaba. Although specifics were not disclosed, Hague’s extensive spaceflight background was presumably a key factor in the decision-making process.

Acaba acknowledged the challenge of altering the crew before they embark on their mission, expressing appreciation for the hard work and dedication shown by all astronauts involved. Cardman also voiced support for her colleagues, expressing confidence in their capabilities and emphasizing the team’s ongoing commitment to the mission’s success.

The Crew 9 mission was initially slated to happen earlier, as part of the standard rotation meant to replace Crew 8, who have been on the station for six months. However, delays emerged due to concerns regarding Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which had reported issues shortly after its first piloted test flight in June. Consequently, NASA’s managers sought to ensure the safety and readiness of the Starliner for crew recovery before proceeding.

As a precaution, NASA decided to keep Wilmore and Williams aboard the ISS and opted for a controlled remote landing for the Starliner, which was the only option remaining to ensure their return home. The Starliner is anticipated to undock from the ISS on September 6, with plans for an uncrewed return to Earth at White Sands, New Mexico later that night.

The upcoming Crew 9 launch is part of a larger sequence of missions, aimed at transitioning the station’s seven crew members with newer astronauts and cosmonauts. In another part of this operational plan, Russian authorities are preparing to send two cosmonauts, Aleksey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, along with NASA astronaut Donald Pettit to the ISS on September 11.

Another crew change will occur on September 23 when astronauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, along with NASA’s Tracy Dyson, come back to Earth. Kononenko is set to make history with this landing, achieving a remarkable total of 1,111 days in space over multiple missions. Following that, the Crew 8 astronauts, including Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, are expected to return on October 1, completing the intricate crew rotation plan.