October 8, 2024
SpaceX launches Crew-9 astronauts from upgraded Florida platform to return Boeing Starliner crew home

SpaceX launches Crew-9 astronauts from upgraded Florida platform to return Boeing Starliner crew home

A unique SpaceX mission is underway.

A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off today (September 28) at 1:17 PM EDT (1717 GMT) from Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, completing the Crew-9 astronaut mission was kicked off to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA.

“That was a nice ride,” NASA astronaut Nick Haag, the commander of Crew-9, radioed SpaceX’s launch control after reaching orbit with crewmate Alexandr Gorbunov of Russia. The astronauts will arrive at the ISS on Sunday, September 29. You can follow the mission on our SpaceX mission live update page.

(Image credit: NASA TV)

It was the first-ever astronaut launch from SLC-40, SpaceX’s first launch pad in Florida, which has seen many unmanned launches over the years. SpaceX and NASA spent two years upgrading the platform with a new crew launch tower, access arm and emergency escape slide to prepare it for astronaut flights.

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