NASA has announced that astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 spacecraft, following the determination that Boeing’s Starliner is not safe for re-entry. SpaceX Crew-9 mission commander Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who will accompany the astronauts, are currently in quarantine to avoid any illness before their departure to the International Space Station.
Hague and Gorbunov are expected to arrive at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on September 20, where they will be quarantined at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building until the launch.

Crew 9 launch rescheduling and mission details

The Crew-9 mission has been rescheduled to no earlier than September 25 to complete pre launch preparations. The launch is now targeted for 11:58 p.m. IST from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. Additional launch windows are available on September 26, 27, and 28. The crew will spend about five months on the ISS, performing spacewalks, research, and experiments before returning in February 2025 with Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.

Sunita Williams embraces extended mission with enthusiasm

In a press conference, Sunita Williams shared that, despite the unexpected extension of their mission from 8 days to 8 months, she remains enthusiastic. “There’s been a [SpaceX] Dragon spacecraft here [ISS] the whole time with the Crew-8 mission. We’ve had a chance to familiarise ourselves with it, preparing it as our emergency escape vehicle if needed. We’re also training on the Crew-9 vehicle. We’re excited about flying in two different spacecraft. As testers, that’s what we do. It’s a unique opportunity. While we initially wanted to complete the Starliner mission and return to Earth in it, sometimes you have to pivot and embrace the next opportunity.”
Sunita Williams also mentioned her positive outlook on the extended mission, saying, “My husband and my mom have both said this before—space is my happy place. I love being up here. It’s just fun. Even when you’re working, you can do it upside down or sideways, which adds a whole new perspective.”
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