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Crew-9 Astronauts Arrive at ISS Amid SpaceX Rocket Anomaly

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The SpaceX Crew-9 mission successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, despite SpaceX reporting an anomaly with the Falcon 9 rocket. NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov arrived safely, joining the current ISS crew after launching from Cape Canaveral the previous day. The capsule’s hatch was opened at 7:04 p.m. ET, marking the official arrival of the Crew-9 team.

The mission’s arrival at the ISS came after SpaceX disclosed that the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket experienced an off-nominal deorbit burn, resulting in its disposal in the ocean, though it missed the targeted area. SpaceX has paused future Falcon 9 flights pending further investigation into the root cause of the issue.

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who had been on the ISS since June after issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, will return to Earth with Crew-9 next year. Due to technical issues with the Starliner, NASA decided to extend their stay and use SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for their return. The Starliner returned to Earth unmanned in September following complications with helium leaks and thruster malfunctions.

Williams and Wilmore had originally planned for a short stay on the ISS, but NASA adjusted its plans, extending their mission. They will now fulfill duties alongside the Crew-9 team until their scheduled return in early 2024. NASA cited vehicle availability and ISS operational needs as key reasons for keeping the astronauts in space for a full crew rotation.

The full ISS crew now consists of NASA’s Don Pettit, Russian cosmonauts Aleksey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, Williams, Wilmore, Hague, and Gorbunov. NASA and Russia’s Roscosmos have continued their collaborative seat-swapping program, which brought Pettit and Gorbunov to the station on spacecraft from each other’s countries.

SpaceX’s next mission, Crew-10, is slated for February 2024 and will involve a newly developed Crew Dragon capsule. Until then, Williams and Wilmore will remain in space, having adapted to the extended mission duration.

 

SpaceX Readies Polaris Dawn Crew for Daring Spacewalk Mission Amid Uncertain Weather Conditions

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SpaceX is preparing for another attempt to launch Polaris Dawn, a high-risk mission sending four civilians into space for a historic spacewalk within Earth’s radiation belts. The mission, initially delayed by technical and weather issues in August, is now slated to launch from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, as early as 3:38 a.m. ET on Tuesday. Should weather conditions prevent the launch, other windows are available at 5:23 a.m. ET and 7:09 a.m. ET the same day, with further opportunities on Wednesday morning.

Forecasts remain uncertain, with a 60% chance of unfavorable conditions, while mission controllers are also monitoring splashdown site weather for the crew’s planned return after their five-day space journey. Despite the risk, mission commander Jared Isaacman expressed optimism, noting improved conditions compared to previous weeks.

Isaacman, who is funding the mission, is joined by Scott Poteet, a former US Air Force pilot, and SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. This flight marks the first time a civilian crew will conduct extravehicular activities, scheduled for the third day of the mission.

Polaris Dawn will venture into the Van Allen radiation belts, making it the first human mission to reach that far into space since the Apollo program ended in 1972. Given the reliance on oxygen supplies for the spacewalk, timing is crucial to ensure the mission’s on-time return.

In addition to Polaris Dawn, SpaceX is also preparing for NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, set for an October launch to explore Jupiter’s icy moon.