SpaceX's repatriation campaign for astronauts stranded on the International Space Station

An American and a Russian flew to the International Space Station (ISS) yesterday with two fewer crewmates on board than originally planned. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and astronaut Alexander Gorbunov launched on time aboard the “Crew Dragon” spacecraft belonging to tech billionaire Elon Musk’s private space company SpaceX from the Cape Canaveral space port in the US state of Florida, as live images appeared from the US space agency (NASA). . Show.

Departure had previously been postponed for several days due to the effects of Storm Helen. The weather remained the biggest concern. Rain and storms shortly before the start meant risk. The Crew Dragon is expected to arrive at the International Space Station today. There, the crew will conduct scientific experiments over several months as part of its mission.

In fact, astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson were supposed to be part of the now-launched “Crew 9.” However, they had to vacate their seats so that astronauts Sonny Williams and Barry Wilmore, who were stranded on the International Space Station due to technical problems with the Starliner spacecraft, could be returned to Earth.

Williams and Willmore were actually supposed to spend about a week aboard the ISS. However, due to technical problems with the Boeing Starliner aircraft they flew to the International Space Station in June, NASA then decided to return the spacecraft to Earth empty. Williams and Willmore are now scheduled to return to Earth with Hague and Gorbonau in February.