Tropical Cyclone Nine could hit Sunita Williams's rescue mission launch

The mission is being launched with two astronauts and two spare seats for stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore to return in February 025.

In Short

• The mission faces a potential hurdle in the form of Tropical Cyclone Nine
• It is approaching the Gulf of Mexico and Florida's west coast.
• The Flight Readiness Review for the Crew-9 mission has concluded

Nasa and SpaceX are gearing up for the Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station, with a potential launch date set for Thursday, September 26.

The mission is being launched with two astronauts and two spare seats for stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore to return in February 025.

However, the mission faces a potential hurdle in the form of Tropical Cyclone Nine, which is approaching the Gulf of Mexico and Florida's west coast.

The Flight Readiness Review for the Crew-9 mission concluded successfully at Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The review determined that SpaceX's crew transportation system, the space station, and its partners are prepared for the launch.

Nasa astronaut Nick Hague will serve as the mission commander, while Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will act as the mission specialist. The duo is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket.

Meanwhile, the Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to roll out to Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday, September 24. A static fire test will be performed to ensure the rocket's engines are functioning correctly.

A final dress rehearsal will be conducted to simulate launch day procedures.

Nasa, SpaceX, and the U.S. Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron are closely monitoring Tropical Cyclone Nine. The storm's approach could potentially impact the launch schedule, and officials will continue to assess the weather situation as the launch date approaches.

Once launched, the Crew-9 astronauts will spend approximately five months aboard the International Space Station. During their stay, they will conduct various experiments, research demonstrations, and perform maintenance spacewalks.

As Nasa and SpaceX prepare for this crucial mission, all eyes are on the weather, which will play a significant role in determining whether the launch proceeds as planned on September 26.