NASA shares reduced Crew-9 team that will return stranded astronauts from ISS

Aug. 30 (UPI) -- NASA on Friday shared the reduced crew for its upcoming SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station in order to accommodate the return of the stranded astronauts of the Boeing Starliner.

The space agency announced the decision Friday to send only NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard the mission, which will launch no earlier than Sept. 24.

Hague, a pilot, will captain the two-person mission, while NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson will be made eligible to take part in a future mission.

Cardman had previously been announced as the mission's Commander.

"I am deeply proud of our entire crew, and I am confident Nick and Alex will step into their roles with excellence. All four of us remain dedicated to the success of this mission, and Stephanie and I look forward to flying when the time is right," Cardman said in the agency's statement Friday.

NASA said it chose Hague and Gorbunov because the agency had to "balance flying a NASA crew member with previous spaceflight experience to command the flight, while ensuring NASA maintains an integrated crew with a Roscosmos cosmonaut who can operate their critical systems for continued, safe station operations."

The SpaceX Crew-9 mission is launching with two empty seats to allow stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni WIlliams to return to Earth in February when the mission concludes.

Wilmore and Williams launched in June as part of the first Boeing Crew Flight Test but have since been stranded aboard the ISS.

NASA confirmed Thursday the technically troubled spacecraft will return to Earth next week without the two stranded astronauts.

Earlier this month, SpaceX said it had agreed to delay the Crew-9 astronaut launch until Sept. 24, to accommodate the issue.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft remains stalled at the ISS because of issues with its propulsion system that have led to safety concerns after its initial flight.

NASA decided Aug. 24 to return Starliner from the space station uncrewed.

"While we've changed crew before for a variety of reasons, downsizing crew for this flight was another tough decision to adjust to given that the crew has trained as a crew of four," NASA Chief Astronaut Joe Acaba said in the agency's statement Friday.

"I have the utmost confidence in all our crew, who have been excellent throughout training for the mission. Zena and Stephanie will continue to assist their crewmates ahead of launch, and they exemplify what it means to be a professional astronaut."