Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, United States - September 28, 2024

In an unprecedented move, SpaceX successfully launched its Crew-9 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking the first time a crewed mission has taken off from this historic pad. The Falcon 9 lifted off at 1:17 p.m. Eastern time, carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft named Freedom.

The mission, described by some as a "rescue operation," aims to bring back NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been on the International Space Station since their arrival on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner in June. The decision to return them on Crew Dragon was necessitated by concerns over the Starliner’s performance issues, particularly with its reaction control system thrusters.

NASA officials, however, have been cautious about labeling this mission as a rescue. "It's more of a crew rotation mission," stated Steve Stich, NASA's commercial crew program manager. Despite the semantics, the urgency to bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth has reshaped the original Crew-9 lineup, with astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson being reassigned to make room for the returning astronauts.

The launch from SLC-40, rather than the usual Launch Complex 39A, was due to the latter being prepared for another significant mission, NASA’s Europa Clipper. This shift required SpaceX to adapt, including modifications to the crew escape system at SLC-40, which now features escape chutes instead of the wire-mounted baskets used at LC-39A.

The mission faced a minor setback when winds during a static-fire test blew soot onto the spacecraft, necessitating last-minute cleaning and repainting to ensure the spacecraft's functionality in orbit. This incident highlighted the differences in environmental conditions between the two launch pads.

As the Crew Dragon Freedom heads towards the ISS, expected to dock around 5:30 p.m. Eastern on September 29, the focus remains on the safe return of Williams and Wilmore, who have spent months in space longer than initially planned. Their return journey, coupled with the scientific and logistical achievements of the mission, underscores the evolving nature of space travel and the adaptability required in the face of unexpected challenges.