Push Admin

Article (news)

SpaceX

Agence France-Presse

<div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3069963"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div><p>WASHINGTON -- A SpaceX rocket soared into the sky Saturday with two passengers on board, leaving two seats empty to return American astronauts who have been stranded for months on the International Space Station, NASA said.</p><p>The Falcon 9 rocket took off at 1:17 pm (1717 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It used a new launch pad, the pad&#x27;s first use for a crewed mission.</p><p>&quot;Congrats to @NASA and @SpaceX on a successful launch,&quot; NASA chief Bill Nelson said in a post on X. &quot;We live in an exciting period of exploration and innovation in the stars.&quot;</p><p>On board were NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov.</p><p>When they return from the space station in February, they will bring back two space veterans -- Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams -- whose stay on the ISS was prolonged for months by problems with their Boeing-designed Starliner spacecraft.</p><p>The newly developed Starliner was making its first crewed flight when it delivered Wilmore and Williams to the ISS in June.</p><p>They were supposed to be there for only an eight-day stay, but after problems with the Starliner&#x27;s propulsion system emerged during the flight there, NASA was forced to weigh a radical change in plans.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/7/boeings-beleaguered-starliner-back-home-empty-1321">READ: Boeing&#x27;s beleaguered Starliner back home empty</a></div><div><strong>- &#x27;A bit unique&#x27; -</strong></div><p>After weeks of intensive tests on the Starliner&#x27;s reliability, the space agency finally decided to return it to Earth without its crew, and to bring the two stranded astronauts back home on the SpaceX mission Crew-9.</p><p>&quot;We know that this launch is a bit unique in moving from the plan for crew members to two,&quot; NASA associate administrator Jim Free told reporters.</p><p>&quot;I do want to thank SpaceX for their support and flexibility.&quot;</p><p>SpaceX, the private company founded by billionaire Elon Musk, has been flying regular missions every six months to allow the rotation of ISS crews.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/9/15/historic-private-astronaut-mission-splashes-down-off-florida-2127">READ: Historic private astronaut mission splashes down off Florida</a></div><p>But the launch of Crew-9 was delayed from mid-August to late September to give NASA experts more time to evaluate the reliability of the Starliner and decide how to proceed.</p><p>It was then delayed a few more days by the destructive passage of Hurricane Helene, a powerful storm that roared into the opposite coast of Florida on Thursday.</p><p>SpaceX&#x27;s Dragon vessel is set to dock with the ISS on Sunday around 2130 GMT.</p><p>After allowing a handover of duties, the four members of Crew-8 will return to Earth on another SpaceX craft.</p><p>In total, Hague and Gorbunov will spend some five months on the ISS; Wilmore and Williams, eight months.</p><p>In all, Crew-9 will conduct some 200 scientific experiments.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong></strong><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fn6nzaDyE5A?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div>

<p>A SpaceX rocket soared into the sky Saturday with two passengers on board, leaving two seats empty to return American astronauts who have been stranded for months on the International Space Station, NASA said.</p>

A SpaceX rocket soared into the sky Saturday with two passengers on board, leaving two seats empty to return American astronauts who have been stranded for months on the International Space Station, NASA said.

SpaceX launches mission to return stranded astronauts

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

World

SpaceX launches mission to return stranded astronauts

Agence France-Presse

Published Sep 30, 2024 01:20 AM PHT

Read More:

absnews

SpaceX

International Space Station

ISS

NASA

Falcon 9

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.