NASA SpaceX Crew-9 soars: Nick, Aleksandr, and a furry co-pilot take off to bring Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore back
SpaceX Crew-9 mission successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday. This mission is significant as it marks the first human spaceflight to launch from Space Launch Complex-40. The Crew-9 team consists of NASA astronaut Nick Hague, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, and a «furry friend» named Aurora, who serves as a Zero-G indicator.
Launch and Mission Timeline
The mission commenced with the Dragon spacecraft separating from the Falcon 9 rocket in the second stage. It is expected to autonomously dock with the International Space Station (ISS) approximately 28.5 hours after launch, at around 5:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, September 29, while traveling at a speed of 17,000 mph. This autonomous docking marks another milestone in SpaceX's ongoing partnership with NASA.
Historical Firsts
Hague and Gorbunov became the first crew members to sign the White Room at the end of the crew access arm at pad 40. The White Room is a designated area that connects to the spacecraft and has its roots in the Gemini program, named for the white paint used in the area.
The Significance of Aurora
A unique feature of the Crew-9 mission is the inclusion of a «Zero-G indicator,» which provides a visual cue that the spacecraft has reached microgravity. Nick Hague remarked, “I just so happen to have a furry friend with me,” as he celebrated reaching microgravity. “We got a Falcon on board...This one’s a multi-flyer, though, was on my first flight with Aleksey and I, and with Aleskey and I and
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