The launch took place after the date was postponed several times, most recently due to Hurricane Helen. Crew-9 is expected to dock with the International Space Station on Sunday at 12:00 GMT and 23:30 Polish time.
Return to Earth next year
Once they arrive at the International Space Station, Hague and Gorbunov will undertake a five-month science mission. When it ends in February, they will return to Earth with American astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who arrived at the International Space Station in June aboard a Boeing Starliner.
Willmore and Williams were scheduled to return to Earth after seven days, but due to technical problems with the capsule, NASA decided that they would remain in space until February 2025.
Because of this situation, NASA restricted the crew composition of Crew-9—and Zina Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, originally assigned to the mission, were excluded from it. They will be selected for the next flight to the International Space Station.
