Falcon 9 • Crew 9

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a Dragon spacecraft carrying a new crew of four to the International Space Station. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster returned to Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Following the decision to return the Starliner astronauts aboard the Crew 9 Dragon, the mission was commanded by Nick Hague. He was accompanied aboard the Dragon Freedom by Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov to start a six-month expedition to the station. Delayed from Aug. 18 due to the extension of the Starliner Crew Flight Test mission and delayed from Sept. 24 & 25 for separation between launches from pad 40. Delayed from Sept. 26 due to the potential impacts from future Hurricane Helene.