SpaceX launches rescue mission to save two stranded astronauts on ISS | Science & Tech News
SpaceX has begun its mission to rescue the two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS).
Pilot Sunita “Suni” Williams and Commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore were on a test flight to the ISS using Boeing’s newest spacecraft on 5 June.
Originally planned for an eight-day mission, issues with the Starliner’s propulsion system left them stranded in space for several months.
NASA announced in August that the two would not return to Earth until 2025, with SpaceX taking charge of the rescue mission using a Crew Dragon flight.
The US’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Alexander Gorbunov are on board the capsule that launched on Saturday evening.
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Mr Hague and Mr Gorbunov will not return with Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore, who will take the two empty seats on Crew Dragon, until February next year.
By then, the stranded astronauts will have spent eight months in space.
Prior to liftoff, Mr Hague mentioned, “There’s always something changing in spaceflight.”
“Perhaps this time it’s been more noticeable to the public.”
Upon arriving in Cape Canaveral, he added, “We have a dynamic challenge ahead of us.”
“We are professionals who know each other well and will rise to the occasion when needed,” he said.
Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov (left) and NASA astronaut Nick Hague are on the Crew Dragon flight. Pic: AP
NASA deputy program manager Dina Contella mentioned that the two astronauts watched the SpaceX launch from the ISS, with Ms Williams cheering “go Dragon!”
Boeing’s Starliner undocked from the ISS and returned to Earth in September without the crew. The spacecraft encountered multiple thruster failures and helium leaks in its propulsion system during its journey to the station.
In a news conference from space in the same month, Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore mentioned that the space station had become their “happy place”.
“That’s just how it goes in this line of work,” she said, emphasizing the need to move forward and seize new opportunities.
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Mr Wilmore added, “We’ve experienced quite an evolution over the last three months, being involved from the beginning in assessing our spacecraft.”
“It was a challenging journey at times, with tough moments throughout,” he continued.
Crew Dragon is expected to dock with the ISS by 10.30pm on Sunday. A live stream of the event will be available on NASA’s website.
