NASA has announced new details regarding its upcoming SpaceX Crew-9 mission, set to launch no earlier than 24 September 2024, following updates shared on social media platform X. The mission will send two crew members to the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Hague will command the mission, while Gorbunov will serve as mission specialist.
Originally, NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson were set to join the Crew-9 mission. However, they have now been reassigned to a future flight as part of NASA’s updated strategy. The decision aligns with NASA’s intention to return Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft uncrewed to Earth on 6 September 2024. This reshuffling will leave two unoccupied seats aboard Crew-9, which NASA plans to keep vacant until February 2025, when astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams—who launched aboard the Starliner in June—return to Earth with Hague and Gorbunov.
NASA’s chief astronaut, Joe Acaba, emphasized the importance of having an experienced NASA crew member command the flight, while also integrating a Roscosmos cosmonaut capable of operating critical systems aboard the ISS for continued safety.
However, NASA’s focus has been partially diverted due to mysterious sounds reported aboard the docked Boeing Starliner. Astronauts aboard the ISS, including Butch Wilmore, have detected strange, sonar-like noises coming from the Starliner. The eerie pinging sounds, recorded by Wilmore, have perplexed both the astronauts and Mission Control in Houston.
“There’s a strange noise coming through the speaker, and I didn’t know if you could connect into the Starliner and hear,” Wilmore told Mission Control, offering a recording of the distinct pulsing noise.
🚨BOEING’S STARLINER CREW REPORTS MYSTERIOUS “SONAR-LIKE NOISES” IN SPACECRAFT
Crews aboard the International Space Station are investigating mysterious "sonar-like noises" coming from Boeing's Starliner, reported by the crew to Mission Control.
The Starliner, which has faced… pic.twitter.com/mhJyzS5zxk
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 1, 2024
Mission Control described the sound as a “sonar ping,” and investigations are underway to determine its cause. The Starliner, which has faced multiple technical issues, will soon return to Earth autonomously without its crew, raising further questions about the unusual sounds. NASA and Boeing engineers are investigating whether the noises could hint at deeper issues or have a simpler explanation.
As NASA prepares for Crew-9’s launch and the Starliner’s return, these developments continue to draw attention to the complex dynamics of spaceflight, highlighting both advancements and challenges in human space exploration.
