NASA cuts crew for next mission to return astronauts stuck at space station
NASA cut two astronauts for the next SpaceX mission in order to return two astronauts who are stuck at the International Space Station, the agency announced Friday.
The space agency said in a news release that astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos astronaut and mission specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov will head into space as a part of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission in late September.
NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, who were set to accompany them on the mission, will not be on the spaceflight. NASA said they are still “eligible for reassignment on a future mission.”
The adjustment will leave two empty seats so the pair can bring back NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been unable to return to Earth from the space station due to safety issues plaguing their Boeing Starliner capsule.
Williams and Wilmore launched into space on June 5, following multiple delays caused by helium leaks and thruster failures. The mission, which was intended to last for less than two weeks, turned into a months-long expedition with the pair now docked at the space station.
NASA said last week that Williams and Wilmore will return to Earth in February, but the Starliner capsule, which was Boeing’s first crewed mission to space, will come back to Earth unmanned in September.
“While we’ve changed crew before for a variety of reasons, downsizing crew for this flight was another tough decision to adjust to given that the crew has trained as a crew of four,” NASA chief astronaut Joe Acaba said in a statement. “I have the utmost confidence in all our crew, who have been excellent throughout training for the mission.”
“Zena and Stephanie will continue to assist their crewmates ahead of launch, and they exemplify what it means to be a professional astronaut,” Acaba said.
This will be Gorbunov's first flight. Hague, a former test pilot, has been in space twice.
Date: | |
Tag: | NASA |
Topics
-
BBC News - Top stories
SpaceX crew returns to Earth after historic mission
The Polaris Dawn crew is back following a mission featuring the world's first commercial spacewalk.3 hours ago - SpaceX -
The New York Times - Top stories
SpaceX Capsule Returns to Earth With 4 Astronauts on Board
The SpaceX capsule, whose crew was led by the billionaire Jared Isaacman, splashed down near the Gulf of Mexico early Sunday.5 hours ago - SpaceX -
CBS News - Top stories
Polaris Dawn crew splashes down to end record-setting commercial mission
Splashdown northwest of Key West, Florida, closed out a mission highlighted by the first non-government civilian spacewalk.3 hours ago -
The Guardian - World
‘Mission complete’: billionaire returns to Earth after spacewalk
Jared Isaacman splashes down in SpaceX capsule in the Gulf of Mexico after first ever private spacewalk. A billionaire spacewalker returned to Earth with his crew on Sunday, ending a five-day trip ...4 hours ago -
MarketWatch - Business
The Fed is likely to cut interest rates until next summer as the threat of inflation fades
The Federal Reserve is poised to reduce high U.S. interest rates next week in response to waning inflation. But it will be just the first in a series of rapid-fire cuts that could boost the economy ...23 minutes ago - Federal Reserve -
NBC News - Top stories
Starliner crew speaks out on their new eight-month reality
Starliner astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore spoke in their first press conference since learning their eight-day mission to the International Space Station would last more than eight ...13 hours ago -
NBC News - Top stories
SpaceX capsule splashes down after history-making Polaris Dawn mission
A SpaceX capsule carrying four private citizens splashed down off the coast of Florida before dawn 3:36 a.m. ET on Sunday morning, ending a historic mission that included the world’s first ...5 hours ago -
The Wall Street Journal - World
Wall Street Turns Skittish on Eve of Rate Cuts
Bond investors are suddenly bracing for a downturn, while equity investors appear more sanguine.8 hours ago -
Financial Times - World
Is the Bank of England ready to cut interest rates?
Market Questions is the FT’s guide to the week ahead1 hour ago
More from The Hill
-
The Hill - Politics
Most Americans support these 3 initiatives to prevent school shootings
K-12 school shootings occur far more frequently in the U.S. than in any other country.54 minutes ago -
The Hill - Politics
Houthi missile hits open area in central Israel
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired a missile from Yemen that appeared to hit an open area of central Israel, and Israel signaled it would respond to the attack, The Associated Press reported, ...1 hour ago - Israel -
The Hill - Politics
Bolton says Harris’s foreign policy would be ‘like four more years of Biden’
Former national security adviser John Bolton said he thinks Vice President Harris’s foreign policy if she is elected would be “like four more years” of President Biden’s policies. Bolton joined ...1 hour ago - Joe Biden -
The Hill - Politics
How Georgia’s election could deliver a major blow to Putin — or the US
The country of Georgia is headed to a pivotal election at the end of October, a contest the U.S. and pro-democracy forces see as the last chance to stand up to aspiring autocrats inspired by ...2 hours ago -
The Hill - Politics
Joint organizations release resource promoting election integrity
A group of five organizations said in a press release Sunday that they are releasing “a resource with specific steps government leaders and democracy advocates can take to help strengthen democracy ...2 hours ago