NASA has made the decision to bump two female astronauts, including the commander, from the next SpaceX crew rotation flight to the International Space Station in order to free up two seats for Starliner astronauts needing a ride home in February. This decision will leave Rookie Crew 9 commander Zena Cardman and veteran Stephanie Wilson behind when the Crew Dragon ferry ship leaves for its mission with crewmates Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov. Hague, a Space Force colonel and former F-16 test pilot, originally assigned as Cardman’s co-pilot, will now take on the role of mission commander along with Gorbunov.
The decision on who would fly aboard the Crew 9 mission and who would stay behind was made by NASA chief astronaut Joe Acaba. The decision was likely influenced by Hague’s extensive spaceflight experience, having logged 203 days in space on an earlier mission. Gorbunov, on the other hand, is not trained to serve as a Crew Dragon pilot and will retain his original “mission specialist” designation. NASA managers initially debated whether Boeing’s Starliner capsule could safely bring its two crew members home, prompting the decision to keep the Crew 9 flight on hold. The Crew 9 launch has been delayed while NASA figures out the best course of action to ensure a smooth rotation of crew members and flights to the space station.
The Crew 9 launch will be the first step in a series of flights to replace the station’s long-duration crew members with a fresh set of astronauts and cosmonauts. The Russians plan to launch two cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut to the lab complex, while Cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, along with NASA’s Tracy Dyson, will return to Earth before the Crew 9 takes off. Kononenko and Chub are wrapping up a full year in orbit and will have logged 374 days aloft at touchdown. The Crew 8 fliers are expected to head home in October to complete the crew rotation sequence, with the mission continuing despite the complexities of coordinating multiple flights and rotations.
While the decision to bump Cardman and Wilson from the Crew 9 mission may have been a tough one, it ultimately prioritizes the safe and successful completion of the rotation process. Hague’s experience as a former test pilot and spaceflight veteran will be crucial in ensuring the mission’s success, along with the continued involvement of Gorbunov in a different capacity. The logistics of crew rotations, flights, and missions to the space station are complex and require careful consideration and planning. NASA is working to effectively manage these complexities while ensuring the safety and well-being of all crew members and astronauts involved in the missions.
The Crew 9 mission has faced delays and changes, but NASA is working diligently to address these challenges and move forward with the rotation sequence. The involvement of SpaceX, Boeing, and other agencies in the planning and execution of these missions highlights the collaboration and cooperation necessary for successful space exploration. As astronauts continue to push the boundaries of human spaceflight, the dedication and expertise of those involved in these missions are essential for achieving NASA’s exploration goals and advancing scientific research in space. The crew rotation process is just one aspect of the broader efforts to expand our knowledge of space and the universe.
